Eo looks you right at you, his garnet-red eyes pleading at you not to look away. "He likes to get to know elens he thinks are 'special'. If he knows who you are, he's taken an interest in you."
Egret holds Kallik's hand tightly as Eo leads you through the thickening crowds of merchants, farmers, carts, wagons, and pogonas. Barely audible, she whispers, "Promise not to let me get lost?"
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Quietly listening to to Inam and Eo talk but paying far more attention to those strangers around them and the tiny hand gripping hers. Looking down at Egret and nodding, "I will not lose you." Merciful Forest do not make me a liar.
After a few more paces Kallik looks down again, "Would you like to sit on my shoulders? Should make it easier for you to see the city you are showing me." And harder for me to lose you."
Egret claps her hands and yells, "YES!" Climbing like only a sylph can, she is on your shoulders before your ears have stopped ringing.
Several blocks away from the Temple, the scenery abruptly changes. The sturdy, well-fitted stone buildings dedicated to Temple business give way to leaning shanties, buckling roofs, and crumbling mortar of the Dims. The street you are on, which runs perfectly southeast, is well-cobbled, but you can see the side-streets quickly deteriorate into dirt, mud, and worse.
The residents change, as well. The self-satisfied looks of priests and merchants, striding confidently about the Temple, are replaced with hollow eyes of want and need. Elens of all four races glance sideways at you; most avoid your gaze.
Further into the Dims, you see a tall structure in the distance - an arena of some kind. It may have once been quite a sight, but a large portion of its walls have collapsed. Black smoke rises from the center. In fact, the smell of smoke hangs all around you.
The elens in this area are not just downtrodden - they are angry. These elens stare at all of you with open defiance, and mutter under their breath. Others sit forlornly outside of burnt-out husks which may have been homes or shops. Among the harsh whispers you hear the word "sylph" several times.
With a nod, she mumbles "Would that be a good thing, or a bad one..."
Grinning silently at the child's antics as she takes in the changing scenery. Spying the arena, the young sylph's mind wanders back, 'Didn't someone mention a problem at the arena? What was it? Eh, must be my imagination.'
Looking back to the small child, 'Was this the right decision? Should we have come this way? Is it safe?'
As if reading the air-folk's mind, Etrah gives her a sharp peck to the cheek, glaring at the elen.
"Oh, right. Of course, he'll keep us safe." she assures herself as they continue to venture deeper into the neighborhood. As with the other ifrits in town, she makes certain to not look any of Volcano's Kin directly in the face. The word 'sylph' being tossed around repeated....she finally has had enough. "Yes, I"m a bloody sylph! Yes, I'm of the dead god! HAVE A GOOD LOOK! We can't all be born of the true 'Warrior'! We can only strive to venerate his ways." she screams to nobody...everybody...
Regaining her composure, after a painful reminder from her companions, she grumbles in a much softer voice "Uh...I'm sorry about that. I...that was wrong." Rubbing the side of her face, a lump quickly welling up, she looks down to the dirt.
Laughing as Egret climbs her like a tree and lifting her hands to hold on to Egret's calfs, "Let me know if you want down and feel free to tell me about this city while you are so close to my ears."
Trying her best to keep her muscles relaxed as the scenery changes. I miss the forests and the hills. What a miserable place. Always remaining conscious of the small child on her shoulders and as aware of any potential threats. There was nothing to really prepare Kallik for the drama to erupt from the apparently fiery sylph.
Whirling around to stare at Inam with a look of confusion. Poor Inam, the whole world is against her. This rift among our people is far to cruel. Moving closer to the sylph and nudging her shoulder, "There is nothing wrong with objecting to peoples scorn. You are a honorable and kind elen. The Warrior is blessed to count you in his number."
A rock, badly thrown, lands near Inam's feet. "Sylphs is what burned down the arena! Poisoned th' players! Caused th' fires! Get the volc out of here!" An angry buzzing chorus of voices follows this last statement. The individual faces of the elens--mostly ifrits--all wear the same ugly expression as they begin to blend into a mob.
Eo looks about, wide-eyed, utterly shocked by the crowd's reaction. Egret's grip around Kallik's shoulders tightens, becoming painful.
Images, sounds, memories. Mixed up like Sky's own Tears...
Bright lights. Dark voices. Pale skin. The overpowering smell of ether.
"Surely the limbic..."
"-amygdala releases the hormones triggering-"
Masked faces, floating. Glass eyes watching. Green cloth.
"-opportunity, observe a small incision in the corpus..."
"-systemic application of lithium could-"
A droning voice. Potions healing body, burning hand pushes.
"-notic state will be adequate for basic knowledge..."
"One must consider chirality when assessing the efficacy of a potion..."
Sharp cutting. Blood welling.
Convulsions
swallowingtonguedyinggurgling
"Celerity!"
"Infusion, twenty-"
Time passes.
"Ibinu...do you remember me...? Doctor Neuros?" Bone-white skin surrounding cold silver eyes. She asks you a question, but you cannot focus.
"...very good. We'll have you on your feet in just a few minutes..."
"...rest of your day. And here is your portion of the promised material..."
Still looking down, refusing to meet their gaze, she answers. "I do apologize for the misfortune my kind brought you. I am not them. I am but a weak servant of Volcano... I came to see what troubles Hearth has laid upon you so I may strive to improve your lives."
'They have their right.' she considers, I must remember my place...
"Would you allow me to investigate those responsible for the destruction? Perhaps I could see that your arena is reconstructed...though of that I can not promise expeditious construction."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Head pounding Ibinu tries to collect his thoughts but they scatter to the wind, what did I do? Doctor? I don't rem... he trails off as he looks around confused. "What happened?
Inam's passive response deflates the crowd somewhat. A few of them spit on the ground, and another stone smacks her in the shoulder. Suddenly, the high, bright sound of a brass bell comes from the Temple, which looms in the distance. The elens trudge toward it, neither quickly nor slowly.
Eo mutters, as if afraid to draw attention again, "Midday ashbread."
Egret whispers into Kallik's ear, "This is worse than I remember. Why are they mad at us?"
Some details begin to come into focus. Your old curse; the uncontrolled rages; the alchemists and doctors in the old military hospital that were so interested, and eager to help.
You swear the doctor was next to you a moment ago, but judging from how cold you are, it is likely you've been standing here for several minutes, or even half a candle. A winter wind gusts for a moment, then the day is still again.
You may be able to find your way back to the hospital, but there is no guarantee. To the south and east, you see great billowing tents - a marketplace of some kind. To the south, great plumes of steam rise endlessly, obscuring your view of half the city. Close to the north are the city walls, and beyond that a gargantuan statue depicting a sinister cloaked figure hunched over a cauldron. A trick of the light makes it seem as if the gruesome hag is looking directly at you. To the southwest looms the Great Temple, huge obsidian blocks reflecting the yellow-orange light of Volcano, far to the north.
Shivering in the chill and muttering to himself, "well s&~+, this isn't what I wanted..." Ibinu let's the frustration and annoyance build up and prepares to let out a scream of anger, which usually helps control his rage. Something in the back of his mind clicks and his brain switches gears. Images of chemicals and ingredients flash to his mind. Specifically portioned amounts, mixed together, tempered with flame and bottled... that might help the body heal faster and probably taste like... what was that orange fruit called again? His mind flashes to another concoction and he starts looking around frantically for a place to write down how to make it, his anger completely forgotten.
Ibinu starts heading towards the marketplace and checks his pockets and/or pack to see what he has to trade or sell.
Instinct makes Kallik try to move in-front of Inam but the child on her shoulders chains her in place at Inam's side. Moving one hand up to hold Egret by the hip and glaring at the crowd,
Lightly squeezing the leg she is holding and glancing up at Egret, "They are angry because they are ignorant. They are angry at the lost of that arena and want to take it out on someone and the culture that developed after the Sky fell has left the sylphs cruelly trapped as the whipping boy of the rest of the elen. That is something that needs to stop"
Turning to Inam, "Are you injured? And I was not lying about Volcano being lucky to have you. Do not let those cur's force you to bend to their will." Those monsters stole her pride!
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"I'm fine." she replies in a flat tone. "It is my place in this world. Have the social graces not reached your homeland? For this, I will never look a proper ifrit in the eye. It would be disrespectful to do so. I will however strive to better this world in His name!"
Turning to the downtrodden heading for their meal, she calls out "Have you any leads I may pursue on those that burned your arena? Or shall I start from scratch?"
Turning back to Kallik, she adds "Please don't judge them harshly. They have done nothing wrong here. It is the way of things."
Looking towards the burned out ruins, she starts in that direction. "Eo, if there is any insight you may have on this place, it would mean a great deal to me if you shared it."
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Sucking in a sharp breath and resisting the urge to shake Inam. Muscles tense and staring Inam in the eyes, "No your place in the world has the same value as any other elen. Ifrits are not better than any other simply by being an ifrit. Elen can only justly claim to be better than others if they have earned it by the virtue of their actions."
Not bothering to mask the hostility in her tone, "I can judge them as harshly as I want because they invited it with their unjustified judgment of you. They have done everything wrong. The Gods gifted us with minds. Minds that we are supposed to use. They are mindless in their hatred. That is a grave sin, blasphemy before all the Gods. They squander their gifts. Wasting them on the easy option. Treating sylphs like surfs, like slaves. When they should have been embraced and comforted."
Glaring at the retreating figures, "They do not deserve your kindness but you are giving it never the less." Glancing up at Egret, "That is what makes Inam a wonderful elen. To show kindness in the face of apathy. This is a difficult thing to do and is a beautiful way to treat the gifts the Gods gave us."
Eo nods at Inam, but does not answer her question right away. Looking at Kallik, he says, "Not all ifrits are like that. Have I ever treated any of you like that?" Taking a deep breath, he continues, reluctantly, "And...you know...it goes both ways. If you wall yourself off, how is anyone supposed to connect with you? I still don't know your name, and that makes me feel like some faceless servant."
"Anyway, uh, I'm hungry. I brought some cheese and bread and stuff. There are a couple benches over there. Inam, did you want to know more about the Dims, or about the arena in particular?"
Ibinu frantically fills in the formula that is bouncing around his brain. When that is done another pops in and goes on the next page and so on...
When his mind finally gives him a chance to breath he looks around, not sure how much more time has passed. He slips the book into his pack and looks around, thinking, I better find a place to stay or at least where I was staying before I do anything else. This city is strange yet familiar. Remembering something about staying at the temple he heads southwest, hoping his memory will improve about the specifics.
Staring at Eo with a frown and clearly mulling over his words before giving a response, My apologizes Eo. I did not intend for you to feel like that was against you. It was meant more so against the social system that has evolved. The one that makes it so sylphs cannot look an ifrit in the eye."
Shifting uncomfortably on her feet, "And I owe you another apology. I have allowed my anger at So Khong to affect how I treat others. Kallik is my chosen name. You have been nothing but kind to us and I never intended to cause you to feel less than what you are."
'Why is my statuesque companion upset by this?' she wonders as she turns to look at Kallik, confusion in her eyes.
"It's a matter of principle my dear monolith. They are right to act as they do..." Pausing, as Kallik laments to Eo, she adds "I wondered if you would allow our guide in."
"As for the information I'm currently seeking, lets focus on the Arena and any local sylph tribes we should watch out for. I'm sure you could easily fill my feeble mind with useful tidbits.
Ignoring the blabbering sylph, Etrah hops down at the mention of food. Fluttering to the young ifrits feet, the chick pecks gently at his toes.
Glaring at Inam and speaking in a low growl, "Your mind is not feeble! And they are not right to act as they do!"
"And Inam, it's one thing if you want to show that deference stuff I guess, but I agree with Kallik - don't be down on yourself like that. All I know is that you're brave and p-" He looks down and lets out a bark of surprise. "That tickles, Etrah!" The young ifrit does an awkward dance as he tries to avoid the chicken's beak, being careful not to accidentally step on him.
Walking briskly toward the bench to evade further tickling, Eo sets out hunks of cheese and large pieces of bread for everyone.
Ibinu tries to think of the proper response, do I bow, kiss a ring, beg? Oh heck, I'm confused, no reason to make stuff up... With a greatful smile, Ibinu blurts, "oh thank you very much kind sir, my mind is all jumbled up right now but I think I may have resided here recently." He takes a breath to slow himself, "I was hoping some familiar things would help focus my thoughts."
Smiling weakly, she offers "Thanks Eo, but I've not earned my right yet. I will wait till that time and it will be all the sweeter for it." Glancing to her companion, the sylph chuckles. "I think he's hungry. Shall we sit?"
Looking up to Kallik, she tries to explain. "They aren't at fault here. It's how society works. There will always be those of lesser blood the others will pity or chastise. If not my kind, perhaps the oread? Though, your kind tend to have thicker skin, they are also more difficult to shove around."
Pulling the bread apart and eating small bits. Quietly listening to Inam's reasoning before responce, "But if those that you say have better blood tried to help those with the so called 'lesser blood' then this society would be better off."
Gesturing around, "Imagine how much better things would be if scenes like this did not happen. Only those who did wrong were penalized and not whole groups, not people who look like the wrong doer. If people did not mindlessly lash out and actually thought about it. You had nothing to do with whatever happened to that arena but you are guilty in their eyes never the less."
Glaring at the arena, "That is not right. Elen are not mindless though many seem content to act as if they do not simply to ease their guilty conscience."
"So, before the brutbreve match could get started last night, all the players started screaming, clutching at their faces, stuff like that. Only one of them survived. It was poison, but the weird thing is it was a bunch of different poisons. The players get blessed by a censer before the game starts, and I guess the sylph priest was crazy, or a spy or something?" He takes a bite of bread and cheese, and swallows before continuing.
"Anyway, a bunch of other elens got poisoned too - sylph servants handing out bad champagne, stuff like that. There was some kind of explosion too, but I didn't hear what that was from. So, between fear, anger, and I think there were even some poisons that kind of drove elens crazy, the riots spilled out into the streets. The arena got destroyed from the explosion, and half the neighborhood got burned down before enough of the Watch showed up to do anything about it." Eo swallows again, but this time with a sour look on his face. He puts the food down, his appetite gone for the time being.
Not being hungry at the moment, he attempts to politely decline anything large and nibbles on the remainder. Starting cautiously he begins his recent recollections. ”A bulk of my memories are mostly blank. I seem to know the basics about a few things but am not sure what exactly I have done with most of my life. One of my concerns is that I may have done terrible things and was attempting to erase those memories.” He decides not to divulge his concerns about the anger flareup that occurred earlier, ”but I don’t feel like I’m a terrible person... I just want to help people and help them learn to help themselves. Maybe that is my attempt at repentance, maybe it is just who I am.” Ibinu begins mulling over his purpose for a few moments, allowing his listener an opportunity to respond.
Taking another bite, she chews it slowly, before speaking again. "Did the Watch happen to get any samples or detain any of the sylph in question?"
The woman looks over to her fowl companion. 'I suppose we should at least search the ruins for clues...perhaps we can find a witness willing to share.'
Etrah greedily scarfs down the supplied pieces of bread, ignoring the others as they convers.
"They caught one guy, some weirdo that's laughing about all the people that died." Scratching his shoulder, he says, "By the way, sorry for not thinking about everyone in the Dims being so mad right now. I should be smarter than that."
Ibinu ponders the larger question a moment, gazing into his own thoughts. Snapping out of it, "ah, I'm sorry. I am pleased to learn your name, 'Keee-lah'" he attempts, slightly butchering the unusual sounds. "The one thing I do recall clearly is my name, Ibinu. Though I'm sure there may be a family name as well that I do not remember." He shrugs, "but I think I shall worry about additional names at a less trying time. The question then, is what happened to my memories and why." He begins speaking quickly, rolling thoughts together as they come to him. "It is quite possible that I was willingly or forcibly subjected to some unknown process that may have resulted in my memory loss. I have a feeling that the individuals responsible went to great lengths to keep me in the dark about the details. But until I know more I do not think seeking them for answers would be wise." He looks up at Kee-La, "do you know anything about me that might help jog some memories about my purpose here?"
Pondering the information a moment, she glances back to the burned out arena. "We should still look through the ruins while we're down here. If we're lucky, we'll find something the Watch missed."
'Not to mention the locals seem to be occupied with the midday bread...may not be so welcome next time.'
Groan at Inam's easy acceptance of guilt but not wanting to spend the whole day fighting about it. [i]She may think this is over but it is far from it.[/ooc]
"Taking a look around might help."
Lightly stroked his silver goatee, he says, "Ibinu, I am, among other things, a healer of mental distress and afflictions. Would you consent to undergoing hypnotic therapy, either today or at a later date? I believe you would find it both enlightening and relaxing." He gives you a grandfatherly smile.
Eo stands up, brushing breadcrumbs from his fine green vest. "Here, I'll show you the best way. It's pretty big, so we're actually a fair distance away even though you can see it."
"Ah, I suppose that makes sense. Would you be able to arrange a face to face for us?"
Making her way with the others towards the Arena, she snatches her companion up. Placing Etrah back upon her shoulder, let lets out a strange almost moaning sounds. "Ha! I think he's pleased with your cooking Eo."
Ibinu continues his questioning.
"If I may ask, what sort of things other than worship occur at this temple? What I'm really looking for, at least for sometime later today, would be a place where I could go use my skills to help people. Are there outreach programs or maybe even healing centers nearby? I will also need to figure out where I will be staying tonight, if here or if elsewhere."
He stands up, brushing non-existent lint from the black-and-red flames on his inquisitor's robes. He adjusts his glasses. "My friend, I have other obligations which, unfortunately, I must attend to. As I mentioned earlier, while I have not been permitted, previous to our fortuitous meeting, to contact you directly, I do know where you are currently being quartered within the temple."
The inquisitor claps his dry hands together lightly. An instant later, a blood-red ifrit in pale robes approaches and bows to Kỳ lạ. Without even looking at the ifrit, the undine says, "Show...Ibinu," he draws out your name, savoring it, "to that lovely closet that So Khong has them holed up in."
As he turns and walks away, he calls over his shoulder, in the same friendly amused tone, "I believe your friends will have more to say regarding what this Temple does and how your skills might best be used. Vulcanus vobiscum, dear boy."
The ifrit remains half-bowed, patiently waiting for you to say something or follow him to what is, apparently, your room.
Looking back at Kallik, still wearing a silly grin, he says, "That'll be kind of tough. If an inquisitor was asking, that would be one thing, but you guys are, I don't know, unofficial allies of the Temple? A mediator-in-training and some out-of-towners aren't going to get very far asking to see a dangerous criminal."
Still on Kallik's shoulders, Egret has been softly trilling to herself, in the way that some musically-gifted sylphs can. "Why do you want to meet a crazy guy that laughs at hurt elens?"
He turns to the new elen and introduces himself with a similar bow, rattling off a greeting, thanks and question in one quick burst.
"Hello, I am Ibinu. It is a pleasure to meet you and I thank you for helping me out. I am a curious person so while we walk, if it does not offend you, I would greatly appreciate if you told me a little about yourself." He then follows the ifrit out of the room.
Smiling she replies "Yeah, he's a bit strange....he did walk out of a forge though so...it's to be expected. I agree with my friend here. Find out why he revels in such things and just to see what he knows."
"I think we can convince them to let us have a look."
A figure skulks out of one of the many large cracks in the arena's wall - a glaring, pock-marked ifrit. From about sixty feet away, he shouts, "Seems you've lost yer way, eh? For a little donation, my friends will be happy to show you the way home, safe and sound." He sweeps his hand behind you. Etrah pecks Inam, who takes a brief glance back. She sees five, maybe six, grim ifrits, all equipped with slings and fist-sized rocks. They are fifty feet behind you, spread out in a loose arc.
I don't think it will be necessary to talk to this elen about my beliefs and purpose. He seems to already be set upon a path.
Feeling a surge of energy granted by his companion's peck, Inam assess the situation.
Recognizing the elen's racial heritage, Inam immediately looks down. Keeping her eyes averted she announces "We've no desire to cause any trouble with you. We are here to solve the issues that lead to the destruction of this wondrous sporting venue. We have heard the reports of the dastardly sylphs laying waste to the match. We simply want to ensure they are brought to justice! If you wish to delay their justice, or simply don't wish them to be brought to justice, we will leave you be."
You are led through a small side entrance on the ground floor of the Temple. Inside, a labyrinth of identical-looking hallways and doorways confuses your eye and tires your mind. The only relief in the unending black obsidian is the occasional symbol of Volcano - a red triangle set into the wall. After a dozen or so twists and turns, the elen bows and gestures to a simple wooden door.
Inside is a simple but clean room. There are beds and small amenities for four elens, and a writing desk. The room on the far side appears to be the bathroom. There are subtle signs of the room being lived-in: a rumpled bedsheet, a copper piece on the floor. On the writing desk, there is an intriguing drawing in bold pen-strokes of a small sylph girl and a grim female oread sitting under an unusual pine tree. The female oread seems...familiar. Someone you knew from before?
"...chicken, right?..."
"-spawn and walk away from it!..."
Without a word, the ifrits melt back into the shadows. As far as you can tell, you are now alone. Eo grips Inam's shoulder and exclaims, "Whoa, I didn't know your voice did that! I don't know if that was scary or inspiring!" He looks at his own hand, realizing he has kept it there longer than propriety would dictate. Pulling it back quickly, he coughs awkwardly and mutters, "So, uh, come on! I heard the worst of the damage was centered right on the field... He walks away without waiting for a response.
He begins crafting a few normal elixirs, referencing his recently written formula book to make sure everything is exact. After that, he sits and begins the complicated process of crafting a mutagen. Taking a close look at the swirling colors in the vial, I hope I don't need to use this, but I better have it.
After completing these tasks, he organizes all his chemicals and reagents into pouches on his outfit for easy access and packs his kit up. He carefully pads everything in his backpack to prevent breakage even if dropped to the ground. Looking around he picks the bed least likely to be currently used, hangs his outfit over the edge of the bed next to his armor and takes a nap, exhausted.
"Thank you Inam." Nodding to Inam and moving to follow Eo.
Also that is lame!
and so is that!