[The Spires]Main Gate - The Winding Way

[Neekra]

[FLASHBACK] Date: 14th of Summer, 512 AV Time: Late Afternoon Place: The Entrance of the Spires It’s time to find a home. You’ve been a loner for far to long. Your shame is gone. Go on. Get! The sight of a mass of long, slender trees sprinkled with dusty snow had been in her eyes for quite some time. Next Fall she would have completed a full year on the frostbitten terrain. Though she would admit it, it was better than the constant watch of her parent’s master’s watch. Ever since being thrown out of the home that she was born in, she traveled the vast spaces of the woods around Avanthal in her wolf body. Countless tracks reminded her of paths she has already taken and her senses sharpened as she learned the ways and methods of the environment around her. She knew the hiding spaces of small mammals and the breeding grounds of several species of birds. She tracked the currents of the wild creeks and tested the taste of the fish that swam their great lengths. She spent her nights on cliffs and hills with a clear view of the night sky, watching the stars tiptoe across the sky and howling lonely songs to the many faces of the pale moon. Life flowed around her and she had the power to bite down and stop it. Winter was the only thing that stopped her in her tracks and put a living fear in her heart. The brutal winter wind forced Neekra to hide with her tail tucked between her legs and wait until it decided to let her go. She found herself hiding away in a small hollowed out rock near the edge of a creek. Her body compelled her to move out in search of food so she had no choice. Into the white wilderness she trekked in search of the smallest morsel to eat. The wolf poked her nose into small nooks in the dead trucks of trees until she felt the body heat of small animals inside. Then she clawed and gnawed through whatever was between her and her next meal while the horrified victims inside franticly jumped around and scratched her nose with tiny claws. But it was never enough. She always got what she wanted. Spring came. Then summer. Her routine remained the same. The Avanthal hunters rode throughout the land like proud warriors on the backs of their Dire bears. They rode past her. She recognized the Kelvic among their mounts and their Kelvic recognized her therefore her coat was safe from their arrows and blades. Neekra would watch as they traveled in packs across the snowy white terrain and talked to each other as they rode side by side. She paid a special amount of attention to the way they lead their Kelvics. There were no forceful commands or ruthless demands. There was a bond between them and even Neekra could see that it was a beautiful thing. The only changing factor in her life was her size and slack in the iron collar around her neck. In the next few seasons, if the bulky metal was not released from her neck, her breathing would be restricted and she would inevitably die from suffocation. With the daunting thought of a shorter life than she was already cursed with, she padded her way southeast and followed her nose to find new civilizations. Her journey put her skills to the test. Monsters of all sorts appeared from behind trees and out of the dark shadows. They launched at her with blood crust claws and razor sharp fangs, aiming to turn her body into an unrecognizable pile of meat and fur. She fought off her competitors with massive fangs and the will to live. Neekra would survive. She was held captured by the nightmarish months of winter and escaped unharmed and ready for the next task. She treated these monsters the same way. Tearing at their flesh. Sinking claws into their vital areas. And gaining energy from the smell of their blood. Some ran off wounded and scarred. Others fought to the death and gave Neekra her next meal. A couple gave the wolf a good chase until she lost them far behind. Suddenly, the scent of society filled her nostrils. Her ears flickered as she took a deep breath of fire, charred meat, and the dominant smell of human flesh. She also notice a distinct smell that she related to human but had a more “wilder” smell to it. As she neared the city, the sun was low and distant orange lights danced in the trees. She picked up her pace and crossed the walk way into a new environment. Hopefully, she would find someone to break the collar from her neck or a nice warm fire to curl up in front of and sleep peacefully without the threat of the silent night laying heavy on her mind. To be contiuned... ~Neekra~

[Sshanivenzafir]

61st of Autumn Zafir wrapped his blanket tighter around him, glaring sullenly at the rain as the small caravan moseyed along. For days they had carefully made their way, slowly and painstakingly across the tundra and he had slept comfortably for most of the journey. Truly he had nearly been in hibernation, buried in snake form underneath layers of blankets and clothes until he had woken and accidentally shifted to human form. Try as he might his control was still lacking and he couldn’t seem to make himself shift into his more diminutive size. The caravan had not been happy to have him but they did not abandon him to the terrible cold either, they let him travel with them but insisted he ‘help out’. But he was beginning to lose patience, no longer was there frozen grounds with horrible frozen water that pelted without remorse but endless trees and rain. “Ho-how much farther?” “Not much, dad says it was a few bells away a few bells ago.” The Dhani eyed the child because that had been the most unhelpful thing the child had said all day. He didn’t ask again and returned to staring at the rain, scooting back each time it dared touch him. He didn’t believe the child, there was only trees and more trees, which wouldn’t be so bad if there were something to entertain him. Zafir let his mind wander to the thought of shoving out one of the other passengers for a laugh but the thought of being stranded in the rain stilled him. Well, that and the sudden stop in motion. They must have finally reached the city. In his eagerness Zafir ignored the rained and hopped out of the caravan to stand with the ‘leader’ of the traders. But there was no great city, just more trees and rain. The Dhani let out a hiss that cut off at the sight of the leader walking up one of trees. He understood then, his nest had entrances hidden underground, buried beneath rocks to keep out outsiders. Obviously these people thought they had been just as tricky. Returning to the cart Zafir bid the humans a stuttered goodbye, his face flushing and move quickly after the leader and was greeted by a gorilla. A talking gorilla to be precise. He supposed he had heard of stranger things but he had never seen anything stranger than the creature speaking before him. It explained their laws while escorting them into the city where there where more of it. “Um…thank you.” “You’re welcome.” The creature said, if he was right they were called Jamoura (according to the traders leader), whatever that meant. Turning to the city he did not bask in its beauty but he did wonder where he was going to sleep.

[Skret]

14th of winter 512 av
Skret felt truly alive in this forest, for the first time she felt like she truly belonged somewhere. She wanted so bad to let her animal form free and soar between the trees but she knew she was much less vulnerable in her human form at the moment. She would just have to wait until she found the town that old man had told her about. She was told that it was a town built in the trees and that a peaceful race of ape people live there.
she was sick of fighting and looking for a peaceful refuge amongst the trees sounded almost to good to be true.
Despite the joy she was experiencing from her new surroundings she was still very alert and keeping an eye out for any possible dangers. she already encountered a few beasts on her way through these woods and was lucky enough to be able to hide from most of them before they spotted her.
she had been following a pathway she found in the forest floor and had recently noticed the foliage getting much denser recently. She saw two especially large trees up ahead and as she got closer she felt the uneasy feeling of being watched. This was not a feeling Skret liked at all, her eyes rapidly darted around to find the source. She looked up and noticed a bridge made out of vines and branches she relaxed a bit assuming she had found the village. she investigated the area and found a stair case in one of the trucks and climbed it. when she got to the top she was greeted by one of the Ape people He introduced himself as one of the "Hahk'Shatara" and briefed her on the rules and customs of his city and offered to show her around. Skret timidly agreed and was taken to the most scenic locations of the city. Skret was so happy she cried a little but didn't let the local see she thanked him for his help and went on to explore the city herself.

[Vaspira]

21st of Winter 512 AV

As Vaspira walked down the long, nature filled, winding path she wrapped her mothers bladed coat tightly around her lithe body. The rain kept drizzling down making it extremely foggy and chillier. Her eyes instantly began searching the trees and brush as she passed through two large trees that seemed to lead up to the sky. Vaspira suppressed the growl of unease that wanted to escape naturally. Eyes were upon her, watching her as she walked down the path. Vaspira kept her body tense in case those who watched intended to attack her.

Vaspira continued down the fog shrouded, winding, dirt path feeling more eyes upon her. Vaspira stopped in her walk and looked around ready to attack if need be. She felt no danger so she decided to keep walking. As she walked she noticed she passed something a little different in the foliage. Vaspira frowned and walked back inspecting it.

It was a staircase leading up. Vaspira frowned not really understanding and looked around. Vaspira shrugged her shoulders and began to go up the staircase. She heard movement to her right and left and enormous humanoid ape like creatures appeared. Vaspira tensed and drew her cloak close to her as she watched them look at her with intelligent eyes. They seemed to smile in a non aggressive way. One of them introduced himself as the "Hahk'Shatara" and explained where she was, the rules, customs, and lead her up the stairs to the city. Once in the city he left her.

Vaspira looked around at the beautiful nature like city and inhaled sharply. Something was pulling her towards the Shrine of Navre...

[Gabriel Velox Furox Mors]

20th of Winter, 512 AV

Running at full speed in white tiger form, Gabriel's breath heavy from the long run through the forest having to occasionally stop to fend off creature's that can match or surpass his speed. Calm the whole way, His sack attached to his back by a rope that fits tightly with one leg and his head through it. Wondering and anxious of what it will be like if he is able to reach the spires. With those thoughts he gains a second wind, smiling a tiger smile making this form more intimidating.

Reaching a path near the 2 trees he had been warned about when he set out on this journey he stops, rearing so the sack will slide off his back and fall to the ground. Shifting to his human form was always a pleasant sensation, as his human form comes in full, checks himself once over to make sure. Shuddering the last time he forgot to make sure all of him was human, a human with a tail, sure does attract alot of attention. Ruffling through his bag and grabbing his: shirt, pants, twin kukri, belt, boots and cloak. Due to the chill he quickly slips on his pants and shirt, standing up he slips his boots on and straps them closed so they stay snug, putting on his belt as he straps it closed slips the Kukri onto their sheaths crossed on the back of his belt. Pulling on his cloak he slips his bo staff in the open slit in the back of the cloak pulling the strap that holds the staff to his cloak.

A chill crawls up and down his spine as he walks between the two trees along the path. Keeping his hood down so as to be able to have full use of his sight and hearing. After walking a small distance, Gabriel squints as he notices what looks like stairs, hoping its not an illusion he walks to them. Taking a deep breath he walks up 2 steps, as his feet left the forest floor the spires appeared before him. "Welcome to the spires." the voice of someone. As he looked he saw a Jamoura, fascinating creature. Smiling "Thank you.". Thoughts race to the knowledge that the spires are rumored to hold. Walking up the steps to begin his journey in the spires......

[Aradia]

65th of Winter 512 AV
7th Bell (7am)
The Spires Entrance


Aradia had been on a long and winding journey through the forest, which seemed to grow before her eyes. The trees started to become taller, the foliage thicker, and only grew larger the further she went along the path. What she found even odder was the fact that the path looked like it was barely traveled on. There were no deep grooves on the path, no signs to tell her which way to go, and peculiar enough there was no guards that she could see. Aradia patted Shadowmere her bloodbane, as she was becoming restless and did not like this path as much as Aradia did not like it. Aradia knew the path was walked on before, or there would be plant life on or very close to where she was walking. But there wasn’t it was a clear path winding deeper into the massive trees that lay ahead. What have you gotten me into now Red? Aradia asked herself, shaking her head slightly as Shadowmere trotted on nervously. Red was her half-brother, whom she had not had much contact with. They only briefly met, but she still held him dear to her heart, and would protect him with her life if she had to.

Aradia brought herself out of her thoughts as she passed through two prominently large trees on either side of her and Shadowmere. Aradia saw a set of stairs up ahead and frowned, how was she supposed to get Shadowmere up those stairs and into the city. Aradia approached the stairs, and Shadowmere exclaimed rearing up, almost throwing her off the saddle. Aradia jerked the horse’s mane, as she did not ride with a bit and reins, making the horse go backwards. She dismounted and patted the side of Shadowmere’s face and looked up the stairs. Aradia yelled up the stairs, “Hello, some help would be nice!”

Aradia was expecting a human guard, that was lazy and rude, but was actually was greeted by a few ape looking men, that were huge to say the least, and intelligence danced in the depths of their eyes. Aradia gasped and took two steps backwards, out of fright, and Shadowmere bared her fanged teeth at the ape men.

“Sorry, we did not mean to startle you Miss. Your horse must go to Jakobi’s Yard.” The ape man pointed in the direction of this Jakobi’s Yard. “He will take care of her for free there. When she is at the yard you may come back and enter the city.” The ape man’s voice came out in a grunting grumble, his common hard to understand. Aradia nodded her head, with a small smile on her face. The ape man that talked to her just nodded his head once and turned his back to her, walking back up the stairs. Aradia shrugged her shoulders and went the way the man pointed to deposit Shadowmere, as there was no telling how long Shadowmere would have to be there, since Red was going to pick her up on his Wind Eagle sometime today or tomorrow. Aradia sighed and brushed the horses neck, as they entered this Jakobi’s Yard.

Aradia was greeted by a tall dark skinned man, obviously physically fit, and very handsome with a kind smile on his face. Aradia’s face blushed as her thoughts turned to a place that would get her into a great deal of trouble. She cleared her throat trying to banish such thoughts as she spoke to the man, ”I heard you are the one to take the horses to?” The man nodded his head so Aradia went on talking. {b]”Great, glad I found the right place, I was not sure at first no offense. Anyways this is Shadowmere and she is a bloodbane, she isn’t purebred, so she has a few interesting… quirks. Are you going to be able to take good care of her? She eats raw meat, not grass. She can survive on oats and grains though.”[/b] Aradia was obviously worried that this man was not going to be able to take care of her companion and friend, she was not easy to get along with, and she did not like anyone besides her rider.

But the man approached Shadowmere, talking in a soothing and comforting voice, brushing her nose softly. Shadowmere of course was eating this attention up, which Aradia could not blame her, she would be liking such attention from such a handsome male herself, hell Aradia probably would neigh like Shadowmere was. Aradia shook her head, smiling at her as well as the man. Aradia dismounted from Shadowmere and thanked the man, named Jaokbi, and explained to him that she did not know how long it will be that he had to take care of her. Jakobi did not seem to mind though, his passion was to take care of the horses, and there wasn’t that many here anyways. Aradia waved good bye to the handsome man, with a kind smile on her face, and blowing Shadowmere a kiss, hoping Jakobi did not think that was for him, she would never be that bold with a man.

Aradia finally made it back to the hidden entrance, which was only hidden by eyes that did not pay attention. Once you saw it the first time, you could find it every other time after that, and she began climbing the stairs, being met by the large ape men again, which startled her. They told her they were the Jamoura that greeted people and called themselves something that started with a ‘H’. Aradia wasn’t sure how to say it, but had them point in the direction of the Wind Reach Trading Post, where she would meet her brother, hopefully later on today.

[Andrew Semallis]

50th of winter, 512 AV

Andrew had easily gotten past The creatures on the road, but had difficulty finding the city itself. He had wandered for hours on end, going through different paths. Just when he had almost given up hope, he found the entrance.

A Jamoura walked out and greeted him. "Ya know, you should really make this place easier to find. I probably would have died in the forest if I hadn't done it somewhere else." Andrew said, his soulmist completely calm.

"I am sorry, outsider. It is a part of our culture, and a means of protection." The Jamoura replied in his naturally deep voice.

Andrew thought back to all of the horrible things that he witnessed people do. His soulmist became slightly chaotic as he thought of how dangerous the creatures and citizens of Mizahar are. He quickly regained his composure. "I understand. So can I enter? I promise I won't haunt anyone." He said.

"Come. I will show you around." The Jamoura replied, before he did just that.