Quest Falling Down The Rabbit Hole

[Whimsy]

71st Summer, 513AV
The Courtyard of the Sky

The morning Summer sun beat down upon the reclining Inarta in the Courtyard of the Sky. So many seemed to be relaxing on the stone benches, as if they had nowhere to be or nothing to do, despite the fact that the world kept turning. It was that Summer feeling. The notion that there was nothing to do but lie in the Sun and dream. The absolute certainty that nothing could go wrong in the warmth.

Two Inarta lay together against the cool stone, seeking relief from the humid heat of the late Summer. They were clearly Avora, even Endal, perhaps, with their vinati feathered and the woman's long hair adorned with glass trinkets: she was fair, and she ran her hands continuously and lovingly through the short, cropped hair of the young Inarta man, who was lying with his head in her lap. He was pale, freckled and with piercing blue eyes, but with an easy-going arrogance, a smug smirk as the woman continued her ministrations. Clearly he was confident in his abilities to keep the woman's attentions, even if it were just for the night ahead.

"Did you hear about what's been happening at the Arch?" the woman asked, in chirping Nari. For all the ominous promise of the sentence, her tone was light and conversational. Whatever it was, the happenstances clearly did not shock her to her core.

"The Arch in Thunder Bay, you mean?" the man asked. He held his hand up to the sun, looking at the rays through his splayed fingers, as if he could catch Syna in her never-ending chase.

"Yes, Gale. What other Arch is there?" She rolled her eyes.

"Well, I don't know, Myra! An arch happens wherever there is rock. Don't condescend me, woman." She flushed, but kept silent. Gale seemed unconcerned with embarrassing his woman friend. "The story there... you know it, of course? Do you not?" Myra stayed silent, shaking her head. "You don't?"

And the loud, dramatic characteristics of the Inarta kicked in. Gale jumped up, spinning into the stone basin at the center of the Courtyard, throwing his hands up and yelling aloud:

"Do ANY of you lazy gingers know the grisly story of the Arch: of the Avora lovers, of swift and expected death?"

OOC :

Feel free to jump in and participate however you'd like, you three! Once we've established a posting order, we'll keep that for the rest of the quest. Have fun!

[Iosha]

Iosha had a busy day in the Infirmary last night with the unexpected illness that gripped the market place the bay before, so she decided to spend today collecting her thoughts before the next surprise the city decided to throw her way, so she decided to walk around the city. The summer morning was pleasant and not to hot for now, but the humidity was horrible in the morning air. She decided to wander into the Courtyard of the Sky because she could find a nice place in the shade as she looked up at the clear sky. The konti wasn't surprised at the crowd already there enjoying the clear sky and pleasant morning because she knew once the twelfth bell sounded the heat and humidity would start to climb to unbearable levels, and the Inarta would have to retreat to a more comfortable caves of Wind Reach. Iosha decided to sit on a stone bench by a pair of lovers. The konti was curious and watched them out of the corner of her eye. Iosha noticed they seem content to stay in their own little world regardless of everyone else around them. The konti could tell the love and lust in their eyes as the woman ran her hand through his red hair. Iosha took a deep breath and thought to herself, “Wouldn't it be nice to be in a relationship like theirs.” Iosha felt a bout of melancholy wash over her as she continued to watch them alone. They seemed happy together as he laid his head in the woman's lap talking to each other in a language that sounded like the birds chirping in the trees The woman looked up at her and nodded, so Iosha blushed in embarrassment, and she averted her eyes back into the courtyard.

Iosha leaned back on the rock, started to play with her long hair between her fingers, and started to think about her first love Cephei. It was a wonderful summer for young love, and she and her “playmate”, as her grandmother called her, would often spend time exploring the island of Mura together. Cephei would often listen to Iosha ramble on for bells without saying a word as Iosha kept on talking. The konti would always think the ethaefal wouldn't be listening to her, but the wonderful young woman would always repeat the most important points for the unsecured Iosha to reassure her. It was a amazing time in her short life, and she never really had the type of relationship with her vantha lover Ayume. Ayume was a passionate woman from Avanthal who would often get into intense arguments with her in the beginning of their relationship. At the time, Iosha was going through a hard time in her life, so she kind of attached herself to first person to give a damn about her. The vantha woman taught her become a stronger woman and not let everyone walk all over her. Iosha realized her feelings for the woman when Ayume was lost in a blizzard, and she braved the blizzard and risked her own life to find the woman. It was a interesting night in the cave when she found her.

Suddenly the Konti was interrupted from her thoughts by sound of a man announcing if anyone knew the story of the Arch. Iosha looked up at the Inarta and watched as he started to tell a story about the two Avora lovers and a their expected death. Iosha had to admit that she was a sucker for ghost stories or stories involving death. Her fascination might be a bit morbid, but it was a interesting topic for her since her konti gift revolved around seeing how people died. Putting her hands behind her head, Iosha listened to the handsome Inarta tell his tale.

[Kane]

Kane was enjoying the warmth that came with the summer season. The day was pleasant and he was enjoying wandering around Wind Reach. He’s always enjoyed the heat and summer had always been his favorite season, so he was incredibly happy at the moment. Though, it was about time for him to take a break. He’d been strolling around for at least a bell and a half now. A quick glance around the area told him that he was close to the Courtyard of the Sky. What luck, it would be the perfect place to take a rest. Nodding to himself, Kane made his way into the courtyard. Settling down on one of the cool stone platforms, he relaxed. There were already quite a few Inarta gathered in the courtyard, but things were relatively quiet. He could enjoy the pleasantness of the morning. Closing his eyes, Kane lost himself in his thoughts. He’d been in Wind Reach for more than a season now. Remembering his troubles acclimating to the city in the beginning brought a chuckle to his lips. For one, none of the birds had ever seemed to like him. They still didn’t, but that was a fact he chose to ignore at the time. In fact, he’d actually developed a slight discomfort of avian creatures from his stay. It wasn’t a fear, no, not at all. The whole caste system had been something that had been rather confusing at first. Kane had been lucky to meet someone who had been willing to explain things to him. Thinking back, he gained a lot of understanding of the city and its inhabitants from that meeting. A sudden yell startled him out of his thoughts, almost causing him to fall off his perch. Growling to himself looked up at the Inarta who’d spoken. A story? About an Arch? It didn’t sound like one he’d ever heard. In fact, what was so interesting about an arch in the first place? His curiosity won over his annoyance. Kane waited for the man to speak. This sounded to be an interesting tale.

[Lavira]

It was always the nightmares. And it had been since the rescue, Vira always waking before Syna's first light shone on Mt. Skyinarta. It forced the woman up prematurely and kept her from returning to the sleep she knew she needed. The Chiet shuddered as she sat on the edge of the bed, the cold sweat leaving her clammy and awful feeling. The only cure she ever really found was working the dreams back into submission, forcing her overactive mind to forget the darkness; forget the dripping sounds or the blood pounding in her ears; forget the sound of something crawling in the darkness, chittering the way those horrible whip-mites did.

The only cure was work; and work she was good at. Vira dressed and went to the nesting aeries, not greeting the two eagles that still remained (Sino and the elder matron having left for the remainder of the season, the latter of which having no further reason to remain after the heat took the mini-eaglets). Mohya was quiet, as usual, and Heshvala kept to herself, the bird aware of the attendants discomfort and choosing not to aid her this time.

Vira swept and scrubbed, brushed the chimneys, hauled food and water up, and then returned to her chamber, hoping to catch a few more hours of sleep and see if she might have the energy and coherency to work with the two broodlings of Vala's. By the time she got back, however, the common room halls were lit and Syna was riding well over the horizon. It was mid-morning...

With a sigh, she changed into her everyday garb and headed for the Courtyard with Tulaj jesse'd on her sontav. "Maybe I should talk with the healers again; am I being too paranoid about this, Tulaj?" She murmured to the albino as they came to the open-skied court and saw quite a gathering. Did these people not have work to do? It wasn't her place to remark, though; most of them looked like Avora anyways. What was more, there was a man in the midst of them apparently about to tell a story, one which most knew anyways, but was always an interesting tale.

She'd really come hoping to use the Courtyard to relax in; however, it seemed a good portion were there to do the same thing. Vira spotted at least one familiar face, however: Iosha on a rock listening to the story, too. The Chiet made her way towards the woman and sat down, enough space between them to be polite but close enough to talk. "Morning." She offered, legs crossed, arm relaxed as the harrier picked at the jesse that kept him contained and the gingers other hand gently stroking one of his wings.

[Whimsy]

After Gale's loud exclamation, the Courtyard's buzz of noise fell to a quiet hush. The Inarta knew the story, of course they did, but a well-told story of passion and death was always welcome, particularly on a sleepy summer's morning where there was much to be done but no inclination to do it. The hush would not last long, though, if anybody knew anything about the Inarta: entirely restless people.

"Years and years ago," Gale began, in a quiet hush, his voice carrying through the stone space easily so that everyone might be able to hear, "there were two Inarta; a man and a woman, both young, fiery and passionate. The woman -- her name is not remembered, forgotten as the river of time kept flowing -- was a glassblower, one who worked with smooth heated liquid and fire day in, day out. The man, a stocky man, muscled, freckled and with eyes as blue as the waters of the Bay, was named Kail, a fletcher for the Archer's Corner in Wind Reach." Gale's voice began to rise, as the story progressed.

"They met at Inclement Weather, as so many of these things begin: intoxicated and heady, the night hot in the middle of the mad Summer heat, bodies sweating and pushed against each other in such small spaces. Grinding and dancing, they locked eyes, and without thinking that this one moment would change one of their lives forever, they kissed: and not just kissed. But you men can guess what I mean by that." A hearty chuckle went around the auditorium.

Gale began to pace around the basin, locking eyes with anyone who might look at him, until he spotted a blonde woman, a Konti. Smiling devilishly, Gale jumped up and grabbed her by the hand, barely glancing at the pretty brunette beside her, and pulled her forcefully down onto the stage with him: a prop in his act. Wrapping his hands around her waist, Gale tugged Iosha close to him so that she would feel his heat and his body, and he spoke with his lips brushing her neck like a lover. Myra's glare shouted louder than words, her jealousy palpable.

"Their passion burnt quickly like a sudden bush fire, determined to destroy everything in their path. They made love everywhere they could, were caught innumerable times, and they seemed absolutely happy. But that kind of love cannot laugh: it is infatuation with the flesh," Gale said, running a finger down Iosha's pale cheek, before winking at Myra, "But how could they know that?"

"One night, they made the rash decision to fly down to Thunder Bay. They even took the Pass by night, and were lucky they did not stumble upon any of the braver predators of the forests. Once there, they considered staying in some of the residences there, but inside was no longer an adventure: they longed for something more, something daring. And then it hit them. The Arch."

Here he released Iosha, with a fling of his arm, twirling away from her as quickly as he had grabbed her. Iosha was free to leave the stage if she so chose. "The Arch! We all know it, that curve of rock at the mouth of the bay, covered in moss and based by deadly rocks. The danger didn't occur to them, and in the middle of the night, they stole away, stripping off their clothes as they went, giggling. When they reached the mouth where the ocean was laid out before them, they were entirely naked."

"But as I said, passion cannot last forever: as the forgotten woman laid down onto the rocks, Kail caressing her from above, she slipped on the algae, and tumbled screaming for help down to the rocks below. Kail simply watched, never even flinching at the snap of her neck. The woman watched Kail turn and walk slowly away, alive still but paralysed and bleeding. He told one of the Dek of the accident and returned to Thunder Bay immediately. When they finally found her in the morning, she was dead, and her brains washed away to sea."

The Courtyard was silent, each Inarta wracked with the images that assailed their mind. Gale smirked in the silence, revelling in the attention, before without another word returning to his spot beside the now-stony Myra. His lover did not look too happy, but Gale did not seem to mind too much, too pleased with himself to care. Kane, Iosha and Lavira would be sitting close enough to hear their not-so-silent conversation that followed.

"So there you have it," Gale drawled, "the legend of the Arch."

"Did you really have to caress that woman like that?" Myra hissed, glaring daggers at him. Gale shrugged, laughing, which only seemed to incense Myra further. "Well, Gale, before you interrupted, I was GOING to tell you that men have been killing themselves, jumping off the Arch. They all look the same, too. In fact... in fact, they look rather like YOU!" Grabbing her things, Myra fled the scene. It seemed her romance with Gale was truly over. She took special attention to step on Iosha's clothes as she went by.

Gale seemed unbothered by this all, lounging by his spot with a smile.

OOC :

Feel free to approach Gale and engage him in conversation!

.

[Iosha]

Iosha looked around and saw Kane sitting away from her. She remembered he was one of volunteers last spring who went with the Valintar to Thunder Bay. Iosha thought he was nice young man with a good head on his shoulders, so she decided to wave at him to get his attention. She didn't want to interrupt the story teller by randomly shouting across the courtyard. Suddenly, Lavira sat down next to her, and she remembered her from the incident a couple weeks in the ravine. Iosha smiled at the Inarta teenager, and returned her greeting with her own, “Good morning to you to Lavira. How you feeling today?” She decided to leave it simple because the story teller started to talk to the crowd. Iosha fell in love with story-telling at a early age because her mother was a bard, and she used to tell the most extravagant stories to Iosha and her grandmother. Iosha never really had a interest to learn the art in her early years because she was more focused on her magic and medicine, but it all changed when she went to Avanthal, and she learned the basics of story-telling from a old polar bear kelvic.

Leaning forward in her seat, Iosha watched and listened to the Inarta tell his story for all the audience to hear. The Inarta knew what he was doing because he quickly started the scene with the description of the two main characters a man and a woman. They were simple people in Wind Reach most likely Avora by the description from the story-teller. The Konti listened some more, and she could help herself from feeling a hint of jealously as the Inarta told their love story to the audience. When the Inarta alluded to them having sex, Iosha blushed slightly and started to giggle to herself. Iosha's violet eyes watched him pace back and forth in front of the crowd until the handsome man reach out, grabbed her, and pulled her to her feet. The Konti was a light woman, and she wasn't expecting it, so she fell into the man's arms. The man wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled himself close to him. It was forceful and slightly arousing at the same time as he held her close to his well muscled chest. Iosha looked up at him, and she couldn't stop herself from blushing as she felt his lips on her scaled neck. For a few moments, the konti forgot it was a story as he brushed his finger down his cheek. She knew if he wasn't telling a story. She would have already been pushing him away from her, but she didn't want to ruin his story, so she decided to play the part of the prop.

Suddenly, Iosha was flung away from him, and she decided to take her seat by Lavira. She looked at the young woman and said with a giggle, “Well, I wasn't expecting that to happen!” Iosha looked at the story-teller's girlfriend, and the pretty red head wasn't pleased at him or her at all. The konti listened to the last part of the story, and she felt bad for the woman because Kail didn't seem to care at all that she fell to her death. Iosha started to wonder if the story was a murder story instead of a love story. When the story was over, Iosha overheard the two lovers start to squabble. Iosha ears perked up when she overheard the rumor of the men were throwing themselves over the edge of the Arch. Suddenly, the angry Inarta woman walked straight over to her, and she stepped on the loose part of her bryda. Iosha glared at the woman, but she decided to avoid a confrontation with the jealous Inarta and stay silent. Iosha looked at Lavira and Kane and said with a silly grin on her face, “Spooky isn't it?” Iosha stood up and wiggled her finger slowly at Lavira and tried to do her best ghost impression. She gave the teenager a wink, and she walked over to the bachelor. With a spring to her step, Iosha put a her hand behind her back and walked over to the charming man. When Iosha made it to the Inarta, she smiled down at him and asked softly,“Aren't you going to chase after her? She seemed quite pissed at your performance.”

[Kane]

While waiting, Kane happened to notice Iosha waving at him. He remembered her from the incident that brought them all to Thunder Bay last season. She had seemed to be a kind person and someone Kane might like if he’d gotten to know her better. The identity of the woman sitting next to her was a mystery to him though, and he was rather sure he’d never run into her before. Still, he recognized one of them, so he decided to join them where they were sitting. He gave a nod to both of them as he sat next to Iosha. Kane decided to greet the other woman who he’d be sitting with. “Hey, my name is Kane. What’s yours?” As they finished speaking, the Inarta who had previously spoken began his story. The man was a good storyteller, and Kane was riveted by the tale he told. He’d always enjoyed a good story. It gave him a wave of nostalgia. Made him remember his days back in Syliras, listening as his brother told him another epic about whatever he happened to think up that day. No matter the subject, they were always amazing tales. Times like these made him really miss his family and gave him a slight longing for his home city. His thoughts were cut short as suddenly, the Inarta took hold of Iosha, pulling her up with him. The sudden act surprised him and many others. The expression of the woman who’d been with the man earlier caught his attention. She looked angry. Wow, jealous much. Kane wasn’t sure if he should say something about the sudden act, but Iosha didn’t seem to mind and he honestly didn’t know her very well, so he sat back and listened as the man continued the story. Normally stories of romance wouldn’t interest him, but there was a different feel to this story, one that held his attention. Perhaps it was the earlier foreshadowing. Finally, the Arch he had mentioned earlier was mentioned and Kane leaned forward. The part he wanted to hear was coming up. At this point in his story, the man flung Iosha away, and she took her seat once again. She seemed rather upbeat about the experience, causing him to smile slightly at her. At least she wasn’t upset about the whole thing. The story from then onwards took a very dark turn. Not that it became any less interesting, and he’d really been expecting something of the sort from the very beginning. This didn’t stop the image of the woman laying in the water from almost searing itself into his brain. Kane suppressed a shudder that tried to wrack through his body. Unlike the Konti’s earlier cheery attitude, the woman who’d accompanied their storyteller on the cool stone of the courtyard was upset. The woman who had practically hissed her words at him as she spoke. Kane was somewhat surprised by what she said. Men throwing themselves off the Arch? Now that was an interesting tidbit. The woman gathered her things before storming off. Kane watched as she stomped by, making sure to step on Iosha’s clothes as she passed. He couldn’t stop himself, he had to comment. “Well that was rude.” Of course, the comment was muttered on a level that only the two with him could hear. The last time he’d gotten into a fight with an Inartan woman hadn’t been pleasant. Kane found some amusement in Iosha’s show of silliness as she stood and headed over to the man who’d been telling the story only moments earlier. He listened as she spoke to him about the woman he’d just scorned. Once an appropriate time in the conversation showed itself, Kane stood and walked over to them. “Was there any truth to what that woman said to you? About the men and the Arch?” He had to admit, that was the most interesting part of the whole show he’d just watched, mostly because it had the greatest real life connection. And an inquisitive mind like Kane’s wanted answers. OOC : Sorry for the wait guys! I've been really busy these past couple of days.

[Lavira]

Vira's single eye spotted the approach of Kane from the side and she turned her head to follow him, watching as he settled down beside the two women and even offering an introduction. The teen wouldn't be so rude as to ignore it, of course, and gave a cursory smile and greeting in return. "I'm Lavira; pleasure." Simple, to the point for now.

Before she could reply to Iosha, the man began to speak and Vira turned her eyes onto him instead, listening silently as he recounted the legend of the foolhardy lovers and the abandonment of the man to the woman who had fallen. A bitterness fell over the young womans eyes as she thought of this, her mind drifting to Garren; there was an almost savage hatred that welled up in her breast at the Akalak. How used, she felt, used and thrown away. Perhaps that was the reason for the nightmares, that sense of abandonment coupling with the horrible three days spent in the darkness of that crack.

Vira shuddered, watching when Iosha was pulled on stage and carressed as though she were the mans lover and not the clearly jealous woman that sat nearby. The pretty Konti was watched in silence as the Chiet gently continued stroking the raptors wing, keeping him entertained as much as possible (and keeping her fingers from clenching at the unwelcome sourness her mind had turned to). When returned to her place beside the Inartan, Vira tried to give her a grin to encourage the humor of the situation, but it was about as real as flying pigs.

However, her attention was caught by the remarks of the young mans lady-friend, her green-gold eye watching the woman closely while listening. Men throwing themselves off of the Arch? Twins to the one now standing on his self-made pedestal nearby? That was unusual! But the healer seemed more intrigued by the man letting his girlfriend run off like that without even attempting to go after her, apologize, or anything inbetween. He simply lounged there like a...like a shmuck.

Vira, on the other hand, like Kane, wanted to know about the rumor the maiden had spoken of. What a strange rumor it was if it were true. "Aye, what of that; I haven't been to the Bay in a while. What foolishness would send these copycats your lady spoke of flying off the shallow end?"