Completed One for the Road (Part 1)

[Izuyanai]

Day 1, Summer of 516AV Izuyanai accidentally poured a dangerously large amount ale as a group of customers turned to a most interesting topic. The glass almost overflowed and the amber liquid inside teetered delicately around the rim of the cup. Thankfully, the man she had been serving didn’t seem too upset. He merely downed a few gulps before their bartender’s mistake could cause any damage. “What was that about a new settlement?” she asked the table. The group before her consisted of two men and lady seated around one of the tables in the Scholar’s Demise. The men turned expectantly toward the woman, and Izuyanai followed their gaze. The woman was dressed pleasantly in bright colours. Her blond hair was kept back with a scarf and green eyes shone outward with a friendly warmth. Izuyanai guessed that this person must be a native to Lhavit. Everything from her flowing layered attire and accent suggested so. “I was saying,” she began, smiling up at Izuyanai, “that I went down to the Azure this morning, and there was talk about a new coastal settlement. I didn’t hear much I’m afraid, I was only there to visit a friend.” A new settlement sounded as though it might attract all sorts of people. Besides settlers there would be of traders, adventurers, builders, and perhaps even scholars. If word had spread throughout Mizahar, people would be trickling in from all corners of the world. It sounded like an excellent setting for the raven. Wanting to hear more about this, Izuyanai arranged her face into a disappointed expression. If she was right, the friendly seeming woman would want to help her in whatever way possible. Indeed, the woman looked apologetic at Izuyanai’s displeased expression, and continued. “If you want to know more, I’m sure that fellow is still there. He was in the Azure, bringing news in from outside the city. You can’t miss him. There was a whole flock gathered there when I passed by.” The man sitting next to the woman grinned. “Imagine going out on an adventure like that. A whole new city to build and explore.” “Yes but not for you,” the woman chided. “You can’t go running off while you’re helping me with business.” “Not to mention you haven’t paid me back for all those broken vials,” the other man chimed in, teasingly. Izuyanai smirked in pity at the man’s groan and retreated to the counter, slipping away from the cheerful conversation. Unlike those who had settled in Lhavit, Izuyanai was, well, as free as a bird. She could travel wherever and whenever she liked. There was no one obligated to miss her departure and no individual who would notice she had moved on. That was a good thing, as there was still that nagging sensation at the back of her head. Until she found the source, it felt as though her purpose would remain a mystery to her. Izuyanai had no need for anything that might drag her away from her search.

[Izuyanai]

Still, as she stood next to Roric to help him with cooking, she couldn’t help but have doubts about leaving Lhavit. The city of stars had been good to her, considering everything. She had a stable job and a place at the Towers where she had been picking up magic. The city was beautiful and safe, nestled high in the mountains like a bejewelled nest. Yet after a few seasons spent within Lhavit, it became obvious that with all its beauty, it did not have that which was most important to her. Izuyanai still hadn’t found exactly what or who she was looking for. Roric must have overheard her previous conversation and turned to her as he dumped seasoned onions into the pan. The explosion of sizzling nearly drowned out his next question. "Running off so soon?” he prodded, wearing his trademark grin. “Doesn’t sound like a bad place to start if you ask me.” Izuyanai looked up from the vegetable she was peeling and responded in the form of a quick smile. She thoughtfully flicked the cooking knife in her hands, stalling for time and instinctually checking for the balance of the blade. Though a fight with such a blade was unlikely, her hands were eager to know how best to control the piece of metal. With such a short blade, a parry would pose more danger than it would prevent. However, if one could get in a surprise hit or dodge long enough and get close enough, the blade was as seemed to be as good as any other weapon. Looking back down at the knife in her hands, Izuyanai shaved away a strip of outer skin and repeated the movements, rotating the vegetable. Soon there was a pile of shavings on the floor and she reached for another from the counter. The simple movements were rhythmic and calming even if they required some attention as to where the knife was placed. “Maybe, maybe not,” she finally responded. “It sounds...attractive, but at the same time I really don’t need to be inventing increasingly large number of ways for myself to die. You’ve spent a good while outside Lhavit, so you should know.” “I know that surviving is possible if you have the brains and brawn for it,” he responded. “If you think heading out is worth it, I’ll take care of your resignation. When you’re in Lhavit again, stop by for a drink. I’d like to hear of this new place myself.” Perhaps she had been wrong about no one noticing her departure. Izuyanai appreciated how easily Roric seemed to let her go. The bird flew when it did. There was no use trying to stop her with the tears and woes of departure. The uncertain promise of reunion didn’t sound like a social obligation, but more of a genuine wish that she would travel safely to wherever she needed to be. With Roric being so supportive, it was hard not to be drawn in by the thought of new discovery and Izuyanai's thoughts wandered to distant lands as she carried out her mundane tasks.

[Izuyanai]

When her shift ended at last, Izuyanai headed straight for the Azure Market. Roric’s blessing had helped boost her along the way and she had concluded that nothing would begin without gathering information about this new place. The problem was where to start. She needed to find whomever the woman from earlier had mentioned. However, the market seemed no different than usual. Izuyanai saw locals milling about the stalls and brightly colored fabrics waving lazily in the wind. Summer had Syna shining more powerfully in the sky, and the top of her head warmed quickly from the rays. Ducking into the shade of a canopy, Izuyanai wandered deeper into the marketplace. There was a good chance the informant was already gone, but there had to be others who had also heard his story. If she could find the epicentre from which the news spread, obtaining relatively accurate information would come easily. She kept her eyes peeled for any obvious gathering of people and her ears alert for the excited tone of fresh gossip. Suddenly, Izuyanai spotted a half circle of shoppers up ahead. Their backs were turned to her and caused the object of their interest to be blocked from view. She realised that this was what the woman meant by impossible to miss and trotted up to the group, weaving her way through the wall of bodies until she stood at the very front. What she saw was a lone man sitting on a stone bench and calmly smoking a pipe. He seemed to be a traveler or a merchant. However, Izuyanai scrutinised his attire and came to the conclusion that he could not be a merchant. If he was, then certainly his trade was not a very lucrative thing. His clothes were travel worn and faded, though it seemed to have been kept clean with some effort. All his belongings were in a large pack filled with camping equipment and a blanket roll secured on top of it. Izuyanai brought up her Auristics with a small flick of the finger, casting toward the popular stranger. All was fine and she had just started to grasp some information about the man until suddenly, the feedback from her magic left her feeling as if she were stranded in a vast sunny field. Pleasant, golden nothing stretched forever in every direction and only a pleasant breezy sensation kept her company. She guided her magic in a confused manner, looking for any emotional reading. Gradually, she realised that this was a form of suppressed aura. That stranger had blocked her, or rather lost her attempts at snooping in a rather polite manner. Since the man was obviously a skilled aurist who did not wish to have his matters pried into, Izuyanai dropped her own spell, letting the connection fade completely. As if to confirm her thoughts, the man glanced over to her and gave the slightest of winks from under the brim of his large hat. Izuyanai inclined her head in acknowledgement and took the opportunity to ask her more pressing questions. “I heard you had some travelling news?” she began. “You heard right. Got some news from over by Falyndar, if you’re interested,” he said. “New settlement. Called Syka and just across from Riverfall.” Some of newer arrivals the the crowd were also listening in curiously while others discussed among themselves. “Syka?” Izuyanai mused. “Have you been through there? If so, what is it like?” “Not much there yet, but it’s got the climate of a paradise. The ocean’s nearby and the rest of the land is thick jungle. People are looking for all kinds of settlers to help establish their city.” Nodding her thanks, Izuyanai then let herself be shuffled along to the outer edge of the circle. She peeled away from the group and headed back toward the Surya Plaza.

[Izuyanai]

For once, the mundane chatter of people hawking their wares and locals socialising became meaningless noise. Izuyanai was deep in thought as she crossed the Plaza. The first thing she needed to decide was if she was going to go or not. That would mean leaving Kalea. The same region where she had gone through so much. Yet still, she needed to move on and continue her search, trusting that her Kelvic nature would provide for survival. With that decided, the next was the method of travel. She could of course, fly on her own. However, she would not know the way, not to mention the safest routes. That left the Wind Eagles. They had carried her with the last of their trade last winter. Hopefully, with trade in full swing in summer, an appropriate route would be available to her. The Cosmos Center would be the fastest way to obtain such information. Turning toward the bridges connecting to Sartu Peak, Izuyanai soon arrived at the impressive administrative center. She entered the building and paused at the doorway, glancing around for someone to assist her. Currently, all the secretaries seemed busy with their own matter, attending to other customers and filling out various forms. Izuyanai spotting the crystal bell and stepped up to it, tapping upon it smartly. In no time at all, another secretary came bustling out from further within the Cosmos Center and dutifully took his place behind the desk. “How can I help you?” he asked politely. “I’d like to know of any trade groups leaving Lhavit. Preferably, Inartan Wind Eagle traders.” “Just one moment, please,” he said. The secretary strode away and returned shortly with a few region maps and trade schedule. He spread the maps out on the “Where, exactly, are you planning to go?” “Syka in Falyndar. Is there a route for that?” “Unfortunately Wind Eagles don’t fly that far. There’s a group heading for as far as Alvadas if you’d like. You can travel to your destination from there.” Izuyanai traced a finger along the map to Alvadas, the city of illusions and then switched over to the other map depicting Riverfall. Syka would have to be somewhere across the channel from the Akalak city. She could utilise any water routes that existed from Alvadas once she got that far. “Alright,” she nodded. “I’d like to reserve a spot among that trade group.”

[Izuyanai]

That night, Izuyanai spent the time organising for her departure. She sat on the edge of her bed, with all her belongings laid out around her. Thankfully, it wasn’t as if she had that much to carry. Everything should fit quite comfortably into her pack. The first thing to be packed away was the dress she had made, thinking there would be some occasion where it would be needed. It was wrapped in thick brown paper and tucked to the very bottom of the pack. Next went the notes and books she had accumulated throughout her time in Lhavit. Finally, all her daily sundries were put away along with her weapons. Securing the pack tightly, Izuyanai plopped it down at the foot of the bed. She looked around the room one more time, scanning the small shelf and windowsill. Everything including the table was as bare as when she had entered the room for the first time. There was an odd finality about the scene and Izuyanai blew out the candle to rest for her imminent journey.

[Ornea]

Awards Izuyanai XP AWARDS Acting 1 Auristics 1 Cooking 1 Intelligence 2 Organization 1 Observation 3 LORE Acting: Arranging the face into a disappointed expression Auristics: Recognizing the blocked aura of another aurist Syka: A new coastal settlement in Falyndar, just across from Riverfall Syka: Near the ocean, paradise climate and jungle Syka: Looking for all kinds of settlers to help establish their city Syka: Travel route, by wind eagle to Alvadas and from there boat to Syka LOOT Reservation of a ticket to Alvadas, with a Wind Reach trade group departing in summer 515 AV. NOTES Nice travel preparation thread, well written. Feel free to PM me if there's something you want to discuss. Please mark your post in the request thread as graded!