Fear & Loathing in Lhavit [Zeva]

People are going nuts all over the city. Allister finally meets his own kind.

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The Diamond of Kalea is located on Kalea's extreme west coast and called as such because its completely made of a crystalline substance called Skyglass. Home of the Alvina of the Stars, cultural mecca of knowledge seekers, and rife with Ethaefal, this remote city shimmers with its own unique light.

Fear & Loathing in Lhavit [Zeva]

Postby Allister on September 8th, 2018, 2:15 am

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55th of Autumn 518 AV
11th Bell


Allister wasn’t sure what time it was. All he knew was that there was a strange mood in the air; he could smell it. As he marched along the bridge between two of the central peaks, he had yet to learn their names, he found himself wanting to stop and stare at the sky. The clouds were different here. It was almost as if he could lift his quarterstaff and feel them move around the smooth wood the way water bypasses a rock caught in the current. Lhavit was beautiful but it was a massive city sprawled out across the side of a mountain...five mountains. Riverfall had been large enough and Alvadas never seemed to end but after being stuck on a ship for season after season, the kelvic was not used to such exertion so it was with a pragmatic mind that he donned his weapon as a walking stick almost daily.

The buildings made of glass glistened in the midday sun and the man’s canine senses caught drafts of the port below, the earthen trails that wound down the mountain as well as the aromas of food laced with exotic flowers and herbs which capped each peak in a unique blend that caused the giant grin on his stomach to growl. Allister had money in his pocket; weird little stones that were made of pretty colors, but money nonetheless. It was an odd feeling to have some semblance of self-sufficiency. The kelvic was not so delusional to think that he could make it on his own. Madeira had proved time and again that his decision making skills were far below what a normal person should have. The former slave attributed most of it to a true lack of the value of things. Some people knew what something was worth or that certain things were not worth fighting for while others were.

The hyena had a strange taste for life. He loved simple foods best because his pallet was unrefined and fewer flavors meant it was easier for him to discern which he liked and which he did not. The kelvic liked clothes but didn’t know what was fashionable. In fact, everything he owned had been scavenged from the bodies of men killed in a shipwreck and the hyena enjoyed the salty smell ingrained with the materials. Having been exposed to the great life of luxury in which his bondmate was raised, Allister was confronted by the greed that possessed so many people and found that he prefered to not have a lot of ‘stuff’ simply because it was too hard to carry and track. Idly, his right hand reached over and twisted the brass charm of an anchor on his wrist as the black gaze turned towards his destined peak. His stomach tightened in need for food and the sailor had been paid so he could afford snacks all on his own -a feat he had never accomplished before.

Food was important. Basic clothes were important. Shinies were not. People were not- well, most people. Emma and Jomi were ghosts and the hyena had met two or three kind souls over the years but Madeira was not a mere mortal. Allister held Madeira above everything and while love often did that to a man, his affection was past reason to full-blown worship which boded poorly for anything or anyone he deemed as a treat to her. Perhaps even more terrifying was that if the blonde spiritist felt threatened by anyone she could simply ask Allister to deal with them and he would; violently. Daniel the sailor had been an innocent, a young monolith that marked a fork in the road. His only sin was taking an interest in a pretty girl and trying to impress upon his competition that he was a superior choice. Many would have agreed but the result was exposing the wounds of violence deeply seeded in a broken mind. Allister had become a beast that day and it had not troubled him for even a moment. No, life was viewed differently by the hyena.

Careful steps on the long bridge took some time for the sealegs to adapt. Allister was nimble but he had on boots that weren’t tied and a quarterstaff which required a bit of balancing on its own. When a huge gust of cool wind came along and caused the connecting path to sway over the misty clouds that obscured the deadly fall below, the hyena was staggered. He reacted by twisting his abdomen to prevent his top half from passing over his feet and off to the side of his center of gravity. The wooden staff actually gave him an advantage. When gravity pulled one way, he cast his arms and the staff in the opposite direction which shifted his weight slightly in his favor. He bent his knees and let the long leather coat, once a vibrant purple was now faded into a stormy kind of lavender, conceal him as he squatted down. When the breeze passed, Allister looked from one side to the other then peered down- the long, long way down, before he stood up and made his way to the desired chunk of mountain.

Shinyama Peak. The kelvic grinned wildly. He was one mountain closer to home and the best part was there was a place that had something to do with rabbits which just sounded delicious. The kelvic took a few steps towards the more populated area and stopped. He heard something- something that sounded a bit like a large dust up. He tilted his head and moved cautiously around to one side of some trees and elected to move in the shadows for a while. HIgh light from Syna’s face made creeping about difficult but the din of whatever was taking place covered the small noises his boots made as he tried to be quiet. A few more steps and he’d be close enough to see into the square. His nose tingled with its heightened awareness of smells and the unmistakable, irresistible and metallic aroma filled his nostrils. Blood. The real question was- how much had to be spilled to overpower the mashing of scents found on a busy city block? Allister didn’t know the answer to that question but he intended to find out.
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Pain without love is meaningless
Love without pain is selfish
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Allister
The Answer to Boredom
 
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Fear & Loathing in Lhavit [Zeva]

Postby Allister on December 12th, 2018, 3:11 am

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Black eyes shut for a few ticks so that his other senses could adapt and gather a read upon the situation. Being a scavenger breed of kelvic had certain advantages- namely scent and hearing. The dog in him was able to pick up things most humans could not and even his ears seemed to work more efficiently even as he stood upon two legs. There was no small amount of people mixing it up in the public space just beyond the little hovel that provided a back rest. Allister could detect sweat, blood and the strangely erotic scent of fear and panic amidst the swell of sweet aromas, floral arrangements and spiced dishes. A tingle rose up his spine as the slight elation trickled over the edge of his cup into the bond. The hyena did not consciously hide things from Madeira and that certainly wasn’t his intention but it was also something he did not think to consult her on as his present state was simply to observe. His ears tickled at the sounds that filtered down to his location. The din separated slowly and revealed two distinct classes of noise.

The first group was angry. They shouted and taunted while others simply released their inner beasts upon those around them. Some of it was frightening but it was also intriguing. What had made these people so mad? Had they been wronged? Allister did not know. There were some who spoke languages he did not understand and there was much that the former slave believed he missed solely in translation of the ones he did recognize. The other cries were of those who were forced to react. Chaos, scrambled orders, terror, pain and the still small wail of resistance all rose up to clash with the violent tones of the aggressors. It seemed to be a very heated battle that raged atop the pretty mountain. Allister pondered on whether or not this was happening elsewhere or if it was an isolated incident.

Suddenly, a woman holding a small child bent her body around the corner of the building where the kelvic had planted his feet. Her rough breathing mixed with the strangled sobs of the little life clutched against her chest announced their arrival before he could sort out the patter of slippered feet as it rapidly approached his position. Allister took a few steps along the shadowed wall so that when she arrived, he was at arm’s reach. The woman sighed as she felt the relief of being safe and out of the fray. When the kelvic spoke, she squeezed the young thing in her arms all the more tightly and turned to stare at the stranger. As always, the pale skin, ugly deposits of ink and black eyes made their unsettled impression. The woman screamed in fright and began to back away babbling nonsense about mercy and not hurting the baby.

The kelvic simply smiled his daggered grin. Then, without warning, he made two long strides to close the distance between them. His strong hands took hold of the young mother and her fine silken robes by the shoulders. Since she held her offspring in both hands, she could not resist him. The more powerful man towered over the smaller figures and squared his shoulders to the woman’s. He dropped his left foot back and spun then both back into the shadows of the building. More cried for help and pleas for an abstinence of violence. The kelvic only grinned wider -if such a thing was possible. Allister kept all of his motions interconnected as if he were dancing. Once the sun could no longer touch them, the pale man with sinewed arms drove his body into the family of two. He pressed his larger frame down upon the woman and cradled her and her child in his arms with a firm but unpunishing embrace. Allister flexed his arms and his legs to create a prison of muscle and bone from which there was no escape. His face rested near the mother’s but she trembled so fiercely that Allister was drawn into a stalemate for several moments. Finally, the former slave whispered very softly in his impish tone. “I’ll not hurt you. I just need you to be quiet.”

Then, he let go.

Allister moved back over to the corner of the house and peered around into the square with his back against the cool wall. For the first time, he surveyed the damage and smirked. It was an all out brawl and people were fighting for their lives. HIs hackles raised but in excitement, not anxiety. There was much he could do but first… first, he was going to have fun. With a grin of pure elation, the hyena slowly became aware of his astral presence. That is to say, he allowed himself to lose focus on the rest of reality. The blur of actions in the fight scene, the whimpering shovers of the mother to his blindside and the ever dying light of the sun all lost their crisp demeanors and outlines as the magical nature of the novice mage was dialed into focus. He found his arm at the shoulder and pulled at the threads which held the appendage to his torso. After a few moments, the limb’s veiled apparition of itself floated out in front of the swirling black eyes. The playful scavenger guided it with his mind out into the dust and despair that was growing larger with every passing chime.
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Pain without love is meaningless
Love without pain is selfish
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Allister
The Answer to Boredom
 
Posts: 180
Words: 243321
Joined roleplay: May 9th, 2017, 2:31 am
Location: Where ever she goes
Race: Kelvic
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Fear & Loathing in Lhavit [Zeva]

Postby Allister on December 12th, 2018, 3:12 am

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There were two men pummeling another with their arms like clubs. A woman was wrestling a man from behind as she clawed and bit at his neck and shoulders while he flailed about in an attempt to remove her from his back. Three young men were locked in a struggle to free a fourth young man from the grasps of two Shinya monks who had blood on their wraps and in their eyes. So, even the law keepers were affected by this madness. The hyena giggled. He moved the hand about to the first of the three groups. He balled up his astral hand into a fist and lined it up with one of the attacker’s faces. Then, at a whim, he lowered his aim then cast his knuckles into the throat of his target. The enraged being gasped, choked and clutched at his throat but he didn’t seem afraid or any less focused on the man curled into a ball beneath him. After a few moments, the fellow coughed gruffly then stood to his full height and resumed his onslaught. Allister was perplexed. He fired off two more quick, sharp jabs into the man’s reddening neck. The first brought a gurgle and the second released a gasp.

These attacks brought the man to his knees and Allister watched as the fool tried to breath. His comrade didn’t seem to notice at all and kept going in his destruction of the man on the ground. The hyena was confused but he had crossed a line and must finish what he started. Madeira had taught him the importance of follow-though. She kept her promises. So shall her bonded. The kelvic dropped another double tap into the targeted man’s throat with his balled up fist of astral energy. Purple of skin and eyes blued with glassy clouds, the once angry participant of a mob clutched at his neck and fell over with a very soft wheezing.

Allister turned his attention on the second man and adjusted his approach this time. The hand floated around in front of the new target. With an intense stare, the hyena flexed his long fingers out then closed them slowly against the thick neck of his new plaything. He could actually feel the tension this man’s body held in its tendons. With a grimace brought on by the strain of his prolonged magic use, the former slave was not done so he pushed through the sudden tingling that hung from his shoulder. He closed his fingers and thumb around this man’s neck. The stranger did not seem to notice or care. The beating rhythm of his blows hadn’t even slowed. So Allister clenched his fist more and more until he felt his own blood rushing in his temples. He squeezed his hand into a fist until he felt something snap and the man’s arms dropped lifelessly to his sides and the body heaved over. The hyena released his hold and felt a shiver run up his spine.

Had he just made another poor choice? He clawed at the bond for his goddess. She couldn’t undo his mistake but she could make it all right again. With the icy blue stare reflected in his bottomless black pools, he recalled the soul of his wayward limb. With care and grace, he found the loose threads of body and appendage then slowly wove them back together. It was odd this time. He had lingered too long, perhaps, or pushed too hard. His fingers -his actual fingers- tingled with the pins and needles accustomed to follow when one slept in a poor position.

Allister glanced over his shoulder and saw the woman was now standing over the small child who was standing on the ground. It seemed that she was calmer now and was doing her best to make the lad feel safe. He smiled. He would be a parent soon but Madeira would be the soothing voice in their child’s ear. The kelvic would be the dagger in the backs of those who breathed violence towards his family. His right hand fidgeted with the bracelet around his left wrist. The leather cord was hot but the anchor was cool in his rough fingertips’ hold. The ashen figure relaxed and smiled a slight, toothless smile and felt his body sigh with muscular release. It felt good to witness this moment of compassion and love. Allister had so few memories of such things that this was something he would likely remember forever.
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Pain without love is meaningless
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Allister
The Answer to Boredom
 
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Fear & Loathing in Lhavit [Zeva]

Postby Allister on July 11th, 2019, 12:57 am

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Allister breathed heavily though his nostrils, the pale hoods flared from the strain. The woman and boy seemed to be prepared for a mad dash for safety -if such a place existed. For all its splendor and self-worth, Lhavit was a city not unlike the underbelly of Kenash. The seething hatred which brawled in the streets was unchecked and made a poor impression upon the kelvic. They had fled here under the advisement of people Madeira trusted so that they could build a better life; a free life. Free from judgment. Free from the restraint of the Craven overlords, the Kenash slavers, the blue brutes and their covetous mind for small blondes… yet things seemed so awry.

The hyena held up a pale hand towards the small, scared family. “Wait to leave until I get their attention…” Allister rolled his head from left to right and then back again which released several pops and cracks from the tendons and vertebrae in his neck. His hand still tingled but he clutched the quarterstaff in both hands with a readiness in his posture. The woman who screeched at the man was closest and the group wrestling with the Shin would be a far more convoluted situation to enter so the former slave thought it best to try his hand at the simpler rumble first.

Into the dust, the untied boots carried the tall frame of pale sinew and muscle. His voice rose up above the woman’s but not so much as to attract a bigger crowd. Allister had been pummeled by a horde -or so it had seemed- and was not eager to meet that fate again. The raspy tone was a perfect fit for the events that transpired. The scuffle built its own rhythm which brought to life the words of a shanty the sailors sang on the voyage from Alvadas to Riverfall.

“The pictures tell the story
This life has many shades
I'd wake up every morning and before I'd start each day
I'd take a drag from last night's cigarette
That smoldered in its tray
Down a little something and then be on my way”

The man spun around and fell upon his knees. The harpy had all but stripped one side of his neck as well as shredded parts of his fancy shirt which looked all manner of expensive and bright. “Help me!” He shouted. Allister winked at the fellow then began to twirl the staff from one hand to the other in a figure eight of sorts. It was clumsy, awkward to behold and yet displayed -at least- that the hyena would not let go of his weapon so easily. Rather than answer, however, Allister simply continued to sing which now drew the face of the rabid woman though her nails did not release the man held captive beneath her fury.

“I traveled far and wide
And laid this head in many ports
I was guided by a compass
I saw beauty to the north
I drew the tales of many lives
And wore the faces of my own
I had these memories all around me
So I wouldn't be alone”

The woman seemed to dislike the song and the encroaching stranger so she sprang from the back of her victim and made a straight dash towards Allister. The hyena only grinned in emotional desolation while his hands slipped into a fighting grip upon the staff. Muscles tightened and arms shifted to that one end of the weapon was loaded with a huge force just waiting to be released upon its target.

“Some may be from showing up
Others are from growing up
Sometimes I was so messed up and didn't have a clue
I ain't winning no one over
I wear it just for you
I've got your name written here
In a rose tattoo”

When the woman lunged for the kelvic, he uncoiled his stance and let the tip of his staff fly. The switch of his arms caused the air to whistle slightly around the wood -an odd contrast the the shriek of the woman. When wood met skull, there was a sound like the swat of leather on skin and then their little corner of the square was silent save for the soft chorus set free from the pale and dry lips of the former slave. Black eyes stared down upon the woman who was heaped at his feet; her breaths were shallow but even and blood ran from a gash in her forehead. Red wine mixed into the sands and soils while the world slowed down for a few moments.

“In a rose tattoo
In a rose tattoo
I've got your name written here
In a rose tattoo.”
Image
Pain without love is meaningless
Love without pain is selfish
User avatar
Allister
The Answer to Boredom
 
Posts: 180
Words: 243321
Joined roleplay: May 9th, 2017, 2:31 am
Location: Where ever she goes
Race: Kelvic
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Plotnotes
Medals: 2
Featured Thread (1) Overlored (1)


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