The Broken Circle

[Ja'soth]

FIRST DAY OF SPRING AV 510

Spring has come to the world, life wakes from its slumber and stretches its colorful arms. The sweet perfume of flowers fills the air and the great trees stretch their green arms and blossom with their beauty to color the forests. It is in this time that the Spires residents give their offerings to Caiyha it is the time of renewal.

But it is also the time that restless spirits and those dedicated to corruption and destruction also stir. These forces oppose the renewal of Caiyha and only desire harm to the great Circle of Life. One of those forces stirs in a cave some where in the Talderan forest. It is a great, gray Jamoura who kneels at an obsidian colored altar, his wrist drips blood upon its glossy surface. The creature mutters a prayer in a guttural tongue.

I offer myself to my lord,I give myself to corruption and chaos. I surrender all that I am to the Defiler.

Unusual words for one of Caiyha's children. Then again this gray Jamoura no longer considers himself one of those children. He prays fervently to Rhysol, the foul defiler of all that is pure and good. He only hopes that he finds favor in the god and that he will be allowed to worship with mind and body in tact one ore day. For him this is his service to rid the world of cursed humanity, the foul creatures that tortured and treated his kind with disdain.

Flash to Syliras in the rooms devoted to Zaital Consulting. There a young kelvic named Avi sleeps peacefully, draped over her bond-mate Terminus Norin. Their sleep would be far more disturbed if they knew the goings on in the north at this time. This is soon to change.

Avi finds herself transported somewhere deep in the forests of her native Taldera a city high in the great Bloodwood trees. Among these trees are streets of loving vines and buildings of living insects. Luminescent butterflies light the streets at night and the Jamoura lope there at one with Caihya their mother. She would recognize the city as the Spires, home of the gentle,giant ape-like beings. She is drawn deep within the city toward a pair of giant,multicolored butterflies whose wings part at her approach it is as if she were expected. She is continually drawn deeper into the grove beyond until she is drawn to a circle of Bloodwoods taller and larger than any she has ever seen, nothing touches these trees that is not living or natural. Jamoura reside in these trees each one meditating, totally unaware of their surroundings.

From the trees a sweet voice like the flow of sap whispers to her.


Avi, my dear Avi. You probably wonder why I have called you here of all places? The voice waits for Avi to answer.

[Avi]

Avi slept on, even though in her dreams, she was soaring, flying on outstretched wings. She still flew constantly, even if she stayed closer to Terminus these days. But big birds like her were meant to fly, which was where she had been before returning to Terminus to drape herself possessively over him. She was taller than him, after all, so as much as she may have wanted to rest on top of him, she wouldn't risk smothering him, and that meant just covering him and showing that he was hers. Over the towering trees, through the crisp skies... she knew the way. She'd flown it countless times. She'd stopped through there. She knew where the children of the First Druid lived and how they lived, devoted to Caiyha, Eyris, and Qayala all, in a quiet life of peace and learning.

This was the Spires.

The home of the Jamoura.

She stopped at the edge of the circle, perching, becoming human. She stood, unclothed, her long black hair all of the cover she could need or want, walking slowly, deliberately to the middle before lowering herself to her knees, head tilted upwards to the canopy. Her eyes were a peaceful ruby, palms resting on her knees, her thick, the highlights in her hair glinting in the darkened twilight. She knew the voice that spoke to her. It was the voice of nature, of the First Druid Herself. She knew her most appropriate form for the goddess of nature was her Owl, but her talons would rend and tear at the boughs and leaves and vines here. This way, she did not damage the structure. One would do best to leave nature as they found it, not torn and damaged. This grove was sacred. But why... why had she brought her here? "There's something wrong?" Avi guessed. "You want me to come to the Spires?"

[Ja'soth]

The trees seemed to whisper among themselves, telling of times and lives past since this was the repository of the Jamoura memories of their past lives. Though Avi didn't know it she was at one of the most sacred sites the Jamoura had and it was fitting that Caiyha should call her from there. But there was an unnatural stillness in the air like something was creeping up. The the voice spoke again

Yes Avi. I need you to come to the Spires. My children need your help The voice this time was the sad song of a creature that had lost its mate, equally as beautiful but with a sadness that could bring tears.

Not all my children acknowledge me as their mother. Some have defiled the path of nature and seek unnatural means to their ends. They are filled with hate and hurt. One of them seeks to defile the birthplace of my children. Hurry Avi before he completes his task. Take companions if you can you will not be able to do this alone.

The sad song turned urgent on her, the First Druid knew there was not much time before the Gray Jamoura received his answer and the Spires were distant.

[Avi]

Avi closed her eyes briefly, letting nature rustle around her, listening to the song of the trees. She found she couldn't keep her eyes closed for too long - something irked her, lingering at the back of her senses. That something was not quite right. They was well-conveyed, dream or not. Her eyes opened again, now more sapphire than ruby, wide and staring upwards, lips parted slightly, as she breathed with those around her. Jamoura that had turned away from Her path? Well... it was only natural. There were always bad apples... and one bad apple could ruin the barrel. She sucked in air, letting it whistle between her teeth.

"I understand," she nodded slightly, thinking quickly. Bring others... Terminus... no. He had his own duties in Syliras to the Triad. While she could bring him as her way of keeping him out of harm... bringing him was exposing him to more in a place where he didn't have the others, and she would be occupied... No. Terminus would have to stay there. She couldn't very well bring Nya, as much as she would want her to have her back in a fight - and Abashai - they had their own things to deal with. But she would see who and what she could bring with her. She could find others. The Jamoura were rarely willing to fight... but in defense of their people and their homelands... perhaps Avi could make a case for it. She would fight tooth and nail for Avanthal... surely the peace-loving Jamoura could be encouraged to help fight for their Spires.

"Sorry for my rudeness," Avi lowered her head. "But have you anything more to tell me? With your leave I'll go from here... and take air. I'll fly when I wake up." Term would understand.

He would have to.

[Skroth]

(Continued from The Main Gates)

Skroth fingered his monocle once more as he studied the alien being floating before him. The creature had a seal-like tail and large butterfly wings, both in hues of silver, with the latter splattered with purple. It appeared to be male and had an aura of sadness about him, even though it wasn't explicitly expressed in his features. The Jamoura had never encountered one before but he has read and heard about this race of perpetually melancholic people.

A most interesting specimen. More importantly, Skroth mused, was this the individual Mother Caiyha spoke of? He must find out.

The Jamoura cleared his throat, expelling a rumble of a sound, like an impending landslide. "I am called Skroth. The city may seem confusing to a new arrival such as yourself; allow me to escort you. But first, if you will permit me, I must deposit this at Grath's." He indicated the tree trunk he bore on his shoulder. "He may have use for it as firewood.

"Come, speak to me of what has brought you here while we walk." Skroth paused mid-stride and regarded the stranger once more. "...While I walk."

OOC: Ja'sothDo I get xp for my cheap attempt at using skills in The Main Gates? lolz

[Nimvahlis]

A flutter of his iridescent wings and Nimvahlis was face to face with a massive Jamoura that was probably over two feet his better as an Ethaefael. This mountainous simian stood before Nim, who found himself keenly aware of the Jamoura’s monocle. The stranger introduced himself as “Skroth”. It was interesting, if not a bit odd to Nim, that the Jamoura were so friendly. Skroth proceeded to inform Nimvahlis on the naturally confusing nature of The Spires, and how he would be delighted to introduce the Akvatari as a mother bird introduces a chick to the concept of flying. What a concept it is… The city of the sky, built in the canopy of great trees. Nim felt flashbacks of a similar city, built upon the rocky cliffs of an island. Akvatari swarmed about the city, much like the Jamoura inhabited the abodes of the Spires. Nim shook off the swimming sensation and followed the Jamoura.

”I am… I am, Nimvahlis.” A great surge of sadness welled up within Nim as fragments of his Akvatari name washed away with the tide. His melodic voice damped even more, ”I have no reason for my arrival, other than my lack of necessity elsewhere. Truth be told there is nowhere I ever need be. It is not pleasant to be forgotten, to be unneeded.” Nim lapsed into silence and continued flying behind the Jamoura as they moved towards “Grath’s”.

[Caelum]

Dappled sunlight slid across his eyes, causing him to flinch even as his horse pulled up before the Gate with a restless, knowing huff. Rote words were tumbling from his tongue, things of visiting, of having nothing to claim, accent still awkward with vague music of a place so foreign that it caused syllables to stumble over themselves even after seven, bitter years. He hardly heard what he was saying, what the Gate guard might have been saying back, for the hunger was swelling in his chest to claw and to clamor with familiar pain.

Only the sun was still in his eyes and he remembered that he was not supposed to be hungry anymore, not for food, at least. That realization had him dismounting, an exhausted spill from the saddle, watching the stranger world turn around him. It focused finally on a pair of a wings and a larger, Jamoura companion not so far ahead, their shadows warping across new spring's precious greenery but failing to dim it.

His mouth twisted down. His hunger momentarily abated. It was not what he was looking for, but he supposed the stars that had urged him here did not know that. Stupid, stupid stars.

[Ja'soth]

(Avi) The trees begin to whisper to you, speaking with the soft whisper of the leaves.Hurry Avi my child. The Dark Jamoura Hramath seeks the means to defile the Spires and turn my children against me. Fly as soon as you can. Terminus will understand, he is your bond mate..he understands you.
At that time the dream ends and Avi awakes to find Terminus peacefully sleeping under her and around her as he is entwined with her. However his eyes are open and he is facing her. He speaks softly and gentlyI don't know how, but I know you have to go. I wish I could go with you. Tell me what you can, I'm here for you.

(The Spires Outer City) Nimvahlis and Skroth have found each other and are exchanging pleasantries. Skroth gets the feeling that Nim is one of those he is to find. There is the feeling that there is another, he sees in his mind another being, one who bears the marks of the forsaken, the cast out, the Ethaefal. He also sees in his mind a Vantha woman who is more than she seems. The trees beckon to him to find these two for they are his companions on this quest from his mother Caiyha.

(Caelum) You also feel the trees whisper to you. You get the image in your mind of a large,monocled Jamoura and a Akivatri. You feel that you should find them..or that they will find you. You also see the image of the Vantha woman. You get the impression that this is what you were drawn to this fantastic place for.

[Caelum]

The stranger did not get far past the Gates before the stupid stars did their worst. Vega's reins dangling loosely from digits bared by fingerless gloves, he lifted his hands to cover them like a child, attempting to deafen the insidious and decidedly disturbing sound of the trees delivering upon him an orison. Seek this. Do that. What right had the goddesses and gods of Mizahar to beckon him? Damn you, world. Damn you.

Only the whispering failed to fade, no matter his internal cursing, and the black stars behind his closed eyelids swirled into visions. They flashed and flickered, burrowing themselves deep inside of him not unlike the creeping, parasitic vines that dug trenches into the bark of even the eldest redwoods. The images were shot into him like spores, leaving him gulping in a breath even while slowly, reluctantly lowering his hands.

There was nothing to be done for it now, he realized, standing in the long, green shadows of the trees. The urge to shoot those magnificent plants a vulgar gesture was barely suppressed. A soft click of his tongue to his horse and with resigned footsteps, he ventured heart-sore into the Outer City, searching for those cameoed in dryad dreams.

[Avi]

Avi nuzzled him before tapping his nose, cuddling close for one last moment before leaning in to kiss him, cupping his cheek with her hand. "I'll be back when I can," she told him as she climbed off of the bed. "But She needs me. You look after yourself. No overgiving. 'Kay?" She made a mock ferocious face at him before crossing her eyes at him. She didn't bother to dress - clothing in general annoyed her, even if she accepted it as a necessity in public - but grabbed her backpack with the spear, slipping into the darkened hall before making her way to her perch on the roof. Bag in place on her back, the straps adjusted to their needed length, Avi crouched, bare feet on the wood, and stretched, becoming the owl. With powerful wings she launched herself into the sky.

---

Spring was in the air.

Avi loved Taldera with all of her heart. It was her homeland. It simply wasn't the frozen, wondrous city of Avanthal, so far south, but it was still home, in a way. She had landed just outside of the city, transforming in the trees, before donning her clothing. Some people liked light colours, but Avi always preferred something darker... it reminded her of her feathers. But on came the black cotton vest with the white-grey stitching that was vaguely reminiscent of feathers, and the plain black trousers. She pulled on her boots, affixing her feather ornaments into her black hair with its violet-blue highlights. For many, wearing cotton early in the season was far too soon. But Avi was not many. She hadn't spotted anyone on her trip to the Spires that she could bring into something like this.

Hramath, Caiyha had called him. Avi had committed the name to memory, along with what details the goddess had given her. Another Jamoura that sought to corrupt and damage the Spires. Head high, her hair shining behind her, the feathers occasionally flashing and winking in the light as it glinted off the opalescent plumes. More of these feathers hung from a large spear that she carried in one hand like a walking stick. The young woman made her way past the butterflies at the gates, and continued to make her way into the city, ruby eyes wide as she touched the greenery here and there, tracing it with light fingertips.

She wasn't going to be able to do this alone. Owls, by their very nature, were solitary. Kelvics less so - they needed a bondmate. Avi coped with both by swinging back and forth between the extremes. Sometimes she was glued to Terminus' side, sometimes she was off doing her own thing. She made her way further into the Spires, calling cheerful greetings to various Jamoura as she passed, all the while looking for those who might be willing, one way or another, to go on an adventure with her. It wasn't like Syliras, where you never knew who was a resident and who was just visiting. Outsiders in the Spires tended to stick out. The rule of thumb that Avi was going by was that if it wasn't a gigantic gorilla, they likely weren't from the area.

That was when she spotted Caelum.

How could she miss him? she picked up her pace, her hair half-flying behind her. "Hihi!" she called out to him, closing the distance between them, mindful of the horse. She had been nearly kicked once at home by an Avanthalian sleigh horse, and while she'd only got the wind of it, she knew it wasn't something she wanted to be on the receiving end of. He had a strange sort of loveliness to him, and Avi almost kind of wanted to reach up to touch the horns. Not that she was going to. She was pretty sure he was an Ethaefal. She'd seen a few others, only rarely, but she had. She was beaming goodwill at him, standing a head shorter.

She was definitely Vantha descent, if her appearance was any indication - what with the bright, strange eyes, the burnt-almond coloured skin, and the long hair with the streaks. "I'm Avi," she greeted him. "What brings you to the Spires?"