OOC :
Anyone is welcome to join this job thread. Alternatively, if no one is interested then I'll continue it as a solo.
Much of the text in my first post was from another thread which I had started with someone but got abandoned. Usually I would just submit it for grading, but I also realized that it was no longer consistent with Sayana's frame of thought, since after the 11th she would no longer be 'hiding' by using morphing. This was found out later in OOC time.
Anyways, enough of my preamble and here's for making the most of an earlier started thread. PM me if you want to do extra plotting, otherwise we can just go with the flow.
Much of the text in my first post was from another thread which I had started with someone but got abandoned. Usually I would just submit it for grading, but I also realized that it was no longer consistent with Sayana's frame of thought, since after the 11th she would no longer be 'hiding' by using morphing. This was found out later in OOC time.
Anyways, enough of my preamble and here's for making the most of an earlier started thread. PM me if you want to do extra plotting, otherwise we can just go with the flow.
Fall 8, 517 AV
As Sayana idled near the front gates of the Institute for Higher Learning, she held up a silver hand-held mirror and touched up her face. Quite literally. Most of her face was a pale creamy colour, yet some parts were looking rather tanned – the consequence of not maintaining utmost attention to her morphed features. With a pair of fingers she rubbed at her cheek where the darker colour shone through and willed her djed to lighten and match the pale rosy shade of her other cheek. The Eypharian also did a few minor adjustments to her sandy hair, particularly at the roots and tips which had lost some of the blonde colouring. Breathing in deeply, she once more activated her magic and polished the tips of her curly locks.
One bell of work, a small but constant drain of djed, but the feeling of freedom like no other. With morphing she could be anybody, and anybody could… A dark figure suddenly caught her attention. Somebody was leaving the Institute.
“Ravosala! A smooth ride to any destination in Ravok, comfortable plush seats, pleasant company to relax to after a long day’s work…”
The Eypharian stood at the back of her boat, with a pole in hand. She was garbed in a black robe, but only her high arms utilized the sleeves while the others stayed at her sides concealed under the garment. The figure in question approached, and soon she saw that it was a rather large man with a gruff and bearded face.
“Relax after a long day’s work? The day has only just begun. But who would say no to some charming company?” The man answered as he approached the edge of the dock. “Nickolai, pleased to meet you.” He said and held out his hand.
Sayana nodded vigorously and felt obliged to shake it before helping him into the ravosala. “S-Sophia,” she replied. “Where to?”
“Ah the Fighting Pits. Nothing like a good round.”
With his genuine smile and gruff attitude, Sayana found herself immediately taking an interest or even a liking to him. She pushed off the edge of the dock with her pole and was both unsure of the precise destination yet also unphased by the fact.
“I’ve heard that Acolyte Luluria has returned from her mission in the Sea of Grass. What an adventure that must have been. Wish I could have been there. Not that those savages would have much in the way of gold or treasure, but we might be getting some new drykas slaves in the fighting pits. Or else laboring on the Lakeshore or the North Ravok Outpost. They say they’re good with animals. You like a good ride?”
Sayana found herself sneaking glances at him as he lounged on the plush seats. Still poling away, she had no idea where she was going. She suddenly thought it would be a good idea to turn right and promptly angled the boat in the new direction and pushed off the side of a building. “Oh yes, riding horses can be quite exhilarating,” she replied with a silly grin. It was only after she spoke that she realized how tremendously naïve she must be acting. It was all fitting to her persona, was it not?
“And Luluria herself, now there’s a beauty and a marvel. I’ve always had such good fun at her sermons. Just couldn’t keep my eyes off her.”
Sayana was also having trouble keeping her eyes off him. The frequent glances, the feeling at ease, not needing to hide…
Petch petch petch, when was the last time she had been properly utilizing her djed to keep up her morphing? The pieces suddenly flew together as she realized that this wasn’t just some coincidence that she was batting her eyes and warming up to the stranger. These were not her thoughts.
As her heart pounded in her chest as she resisted the urge to reach for her mirror. Whatever damage there was, it was done. All she could do now was play along. “Have you been on any adventures Mister Nickolai?”
The conversation carried on and she forced herself to relax to the subtle manipulations of her thoughts. She flirted profusely as a result, and she found herself being strangely guided by various directions that popped into her mind.
When they finally reached the Pit, Sayana was more than glad to let him off. She bid him a good day and collected the fare, but was relieved to no longer be the target of the whims of the hypnotist. Nickolai had offered some interesting information, yet it had been a true test of her resolve to be toyed with like a puppet.
The moment he departed into the crowds, she tied up her ravosala to the dock and pulled out her mirror. Petch, it was all gone. All her earlier work at disguise and morphing had reverted back to her original features. And Nickolai knew it. She wasn’t sure what was more disconcerting, but nevertheless she was half tempted to abandon her work until she was once again safe under a disguise.
However, the advantage and disadvantage of having a recognizable ravosala was the fact that people could call upon her service at a moment's notice. A voice, or even voices, called out to her and the Eypharian whirled her head around looking for the source. While not quite in a preferred situation to take on passengers, it would be worse for business to start turning people away.