Closed The Strange Ways We Make Acquaintances [Fraha]

[Ishgrameer Windwalker]

Time Stamp: Day Winter 19, 512 Ishgrameer had been traversing the inner warrens for a good deal of time. He was not lost, but he did not know where he was going either. In a manner of speaking he was exploring. It had been a slow day, and he’d not found much to do. On a whim he decided to explore more of the odds and ends of the corridors that littered Wind Reach. So far it had all passed by him with a minimal amount curiosity. Eventually it became a repetitious process of: left, left, right, left, right, right, and then a dead end. He turned and found a staircase that led down and realized that he had to have been at the warrens that lead to the aeries. However it seemed like a pathway that wasn’t well traveled and he based this observation on the fact he hadn’t seen another soul in some time. As he was about to take his first step down he heard some hurried footsteps coming from behind him. He turned his head and noticed that it was a Dek based on the man’s physical features and lack of well-maintained clothing. He was being chased by two men who he assumed were either commoners, or more likely Endal or Avora. The caste system here was most strange, and still made little sense to Ishgrameer. He heard one of the men shout “Stop that Dek!” Ishgrameer shifted slightly to the left; which was just enough so that the Dek could squeeze through without stopping. He noticed the Dek’s facial expression, and it was full of honest fear. It was a fear that one only knows when he is facing harm that was not warranted. As the Dek went past him Ishgrameer whispered “Make haste. I cannot distract them for long” and he flashed the Dek a brief smile. The Dek whisked past him and smiled a thank you and then descended the stairs with a shambling haste, and soon disappeared from sight. His footsteps echoed briefly before fading as well. By now the two men had arrived, but Ishgrameer had turned to meet them. He had shifted back so that he blocked their path. The man who seemed in the lead made to stand up in his stature, in order to seem more intimidating by comparison to Ishgrameer’s height. It didn’t work. However he seemed to possess the arms of a metal worker; for they were covered in soot in hardened from the hammering of metal. His face was a mixture of scars and rage. The man behind him was similar in fashion, though he possessed less scars and was younger; which he took meant that this was the lead man’s apprentice. It was then that the lead man spoke up, and said “Hey, you just got between me and an appointment of mine! That little bastard said some rather unpleasant things about my apprentice here, and I’ve been meaning to give him my opinion of his word choice.” Ishgrameer looked them both over again and again. There was a malicious intent that lingered in the man’s eyes, and in his tensed limbs and clenched fists; his apprentice was much the same. Ishgrameer hoped that they could settle this as reasonable individuals. “Perhaps you’ll just have to make another appointment. Better yet, perhaps you shouldn’t. No conflict is needed here, not in these times. Let it pass you by, and you’ll be better from it.” Unfortunately the man’s apprentice was still young, and so with wounded pride in hand chose to ignore Ishgrameer’s words. He pushed past his master and made to swing at Ishgrameer shouting “Get out of our way you blubbering fool!” and then he swung wide. Ishgrameer saw it coming and with his meager amount of hand-to-hand training blocked the blow. He pushed the apprentice back with a harmless blow; not wishing to harm him. However it was in this instance that Ishgrameer had made his first mistake. A blow came low into his midsection, and it was then that Ishgrameer looked down and saw the master with a smithing hammer in his hand. Ishgrameer fell to his knees, and grabbed at his stomach. The leather had done some good, but he still felt the strength behind the blow, and perhaps what he imagined was a few bruised bones. The apprentice took the opportunity to deliver a kick into Ishgrameer’s midsection, which pushed him back a foot. Ishgrameer rolled aside and came to rest at the top of the stairs. He stood tentatively for the hammer had delivered a rather hindering blow. As he stood he was too late, and in no condition to stop the oncoming bulrush. Both men had tackled Ishgrameer and pushed him back with their shoulders, which sent Ishgrameer falling backwards down the long staircase. As he fell he gained a score more bruises of a wide variety that someone would gain from falling down a set of stairs. Once he reached the bottom and was sprawled out on the floor he looked back up to the top and saw the two men just as they were turning around to go back the way they had come. The master uttered one last phrase “That’ll teach you to interfere in other people’s business.” Ishgrameer’s head fell to the floor as he tried to cope with the pain all alone, with only the sound of the man’s’ fading laughter. He thought he heard some footsteps coming from the level he was on, but the pain was currently consuming his thoughts, and so he didn’t notice the person until they had reached him.

[Fraha]

*What a nice, sunny day* is what Fraha would said if she knew what’s the weather outside. From what she remembered It was bright and almost sunny, but it wasn’t important afterall. The city was a labyrinth full of corners, dungeons, twists and turns much more than she’d expected. And there wasn’t an actual map to follow so the only way was indeed to ask random people about the current location and the classical non conventional “what’s over there?” question. It was still very exciting to go around new places, specially like those, Fraha would run the fingers along the cobblestone as she walked. Her leather sandals would produce a soft, delicate echo thru the corridors, but as one could clearly hear her relaxed footsteps he could find it hard to detect her clearly as black loose trousers would cover her legs and un upper body vest painted with dark grey and black lines would blend with the stone around her leaving only the forearms and belly in sight. To complete the set A black Kefia with white patterns was tied around her neck, covering the neck and the chin. It’s not the she liked black in a special way, she just didn’t like to wear other colours and besides dark has always advantages, dirt is less seen, whatever you wear it will get along well with black and most importantly it does not drag attention specially in a dungeon with little light. Designing a mental map wasn’t hard for Fraha since, with all the travelling, her mind was automatically preset to remember paths she walked. A nice system she used was to always keep in mind the origin of the place she would start from and at every turn or floor think of the origin’s location. That way even if she were to forget the path she could point the finger at the origin and make up a possible path based on her current location and the origin. She was proud oh her for this and was now wondering if this day would go on in the same way, with her walking around exploring the warrens. It was then that she heard sudden steps rushing towards her. Instinctively she touched the hilt of one of her Wakizashis just to make sure they were ready, and they were. As always her blades would cover her back giving her the security she needed, attached to the belt and placed crossed on the lower back. The size of the blade and the shape of the hilt made them very discrete yet deadly weapons. She didn’t pull them out of course but the speed of the footsteps and the sound of the breathing were still quite alarming. In seconds, from behind the umpteenth turn, a man popped out all sweaty and visibly worried. She crossed eyes with him for a second and she could notice that his expression was indeed worried. As he ran past her she looked at him, the pam sure wasn’t of the wealthiest nor of the strongest, what could he be running from? Fraha stood calm, it wasn’t the first time she would see people running away in fear, probably he was just late for a rendez-vous. However Fraha followed the man’s same path which shortly would lead her to a staircase after a short corridor. As she was getting closer, noises produced by multiple people would spread louder. “Get out of our way you blubbering fool!” were the last words before sounds of what could be described as a fighting or an awkward sexual intercourse clearly invaded Fraha’s ears. She decided to check which one of the two options was the correct so while grabbing the hilt of her left blade she slowly started to step up. But had she made one step that a tall and thin yet well defined guy rolled down. She calmly stepped back to not get involved in the gravity’s work and stepped aside of the man. “Howdy!” The tone was the same of an old farmer greeting a stranger coming to a small town for the first time. Jokes apart Fraha quickly observed the man. There were many interesting things about him, first of all he was unusually tall had long hair with white color here and there which didn’t look died, the man was most likely in pain which made Fraha exclude the awkward sexual intercourse, although not completely yet. Feathers in his hair? Well that was interesting, his eyes were closed at first but as he opened them she noticed the big dilated pupils really strange for a human. But Hey, wait, feathers in the head, big eyes, peculiar body…made her remember a certain guy she met long ago, his name was Ethan and he happened to be…”are you a Kelvic?” asked she gently, while crouching next to the poor fellow. “Cause I really think you’re a Kelvic” stated she with a somewhat childlike tone.

[Ishgrameer Windwalker]

Ishgrameer fought through the haze of the bruised pain that permeated through a few of his bones. He tentatively felt his chest, and noted that he didn’t think he had any broken bones. The hammer had hit lower than his ribcage so he was under the assumption that none of them were broken. Still as he lay there he noticed that he was not alone. Not far away in fact stood a young woman. She had an affinity for black. She was asking him something. He focused on the question as he pushed himself up into a sitting position; “Yes I am a Kelvic. You have…” he paused due to the bruising on his abdomen “a good set of eyes on you. Yes you do.” “My name is…Ishgrameer Windwalker. What is…yours if you don’t mind me…asking?” He tried to take time to breath, and not stress his body as he spoke. The woman before him was strongly built, and dexterous he assumed. She blended well with the surrounding tunnels. Assessing her Ishgrameer relaxed for he did not see anything about her that was overly threatening, not even the weapons attached to her back. Seeing her weapons made him think that he was glad he had not brought his bow, for it would have surely broken during his fall. She had an odd air about her, but a whimsical one as well. He studied her through bruised pain, and large eyes. “So what brings you to these parts? It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Despite these not being the best of circumstances. Would you mind accompanying me on a walk?” He tried to stand but found that his legs were still a little beleaguered from the fall, so he stumbled forward into her arms, trying to make sure he didn’t collapse atop her; for he doubted she could hold him up. “And perhaps assist me to get some medical attention.” He smiled despite all else, for it was always better to have company, regardless of the situation one was in. He was just glad that the Dek had escaped the suffering he surely would have received at the hands of those men. However he had received it in his stead, which wasn't a bad thing, just a painful thing.

[Fraha]

The guy was really messed up, Fraha could tell the he got hit by a blunt object judging by some dust on his shirt, slightly under the rib cage “Thanks, I’m Fraha” said she looking at him. He had also fallen from the stairs, not the most pleasurable thing to happen. Was it the man that ran past her before ? Then where was the blunt object, or maybe it was a kick? As his was looking at her with his big round eyes she noticed the dilated pupils he had. Was he drugged? Eyes like those were too rare tob e normal. However she decided not to ask due to the delicate nature of the subject and looked again on his shirt. Nothing on it looked like a footstep of some sort but what was it then? Then he spoke again. “So what brings you to these parts? It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Despite these not being the best of circumstances. Would you mind accompanying me on a walk?” Fraha made a step back, of course she would help him, he seemed like a nice person, so Fraha smiled “ I’m just wandering looking around here and there, helping beaten up people, you know the usual stuff.” She offered the left hand to Ishgrameer to help him stand. “Sure, but do you even know where are we?” As he stood up Fraha felt he was falling forward on her, the guy was really tall and it would be a waste of energy trying to keep him standing so Fraha grabbed his shoulder and waist and quickly turned him and herself so that he would lean back on the wall in front of the stairs. “Easy buddy, no need to rush, what did he hit you with?” Asked Fraha letting him go and stepping back a bit. The she wanted to know whether the running bum did it or someone else, the idea was someone else but she wanted to confirm. He didn’t look like in need of a medic, but he could use a drink, which he could also offer to Fraha thought she smirking at him briefly “can you walk now?”

[Ishgrameer Windwalker]

Ishgrameer chuckled at Fraha’s comment about why she was wandering. He leaned against the wall getting his feet underneath him again. “He hit me with a hammer I believe. I was trying to stop them from beating a Dek who must have passed you by after descending the staircase.” This time as he tentatively took a step or two he felt more assured of himself, and thankfully some of the pain from the fall had dwindled. Although he was still a tad bit sore in the stomach, nothing a little rest and perhaps a drink or two wouldn’t fix. Still it was better to drink with company and he did not think he had to time to find one of the many acquaintances he had made during his time in Wind Reach thus far. However he was now in a strange opportunity to make another acquaintance. “Are you busy? Would you mind sharing a drink? It would beat any medicine that they’d pour down my gizzard. Plus I owe you for aiding me in this moment of weakness.” He flashed a smile, and taking a piece of string tide his long hair back into a ponytail which looked slight ridiculous with all the feathers that jutted out. Taking a few steps forward towards Fraha he bowed and extended his large calloused hands “It is a pleasure to meet you”. They shook, and Ishgrameer was surprised at how his hands dwarfed hers, and then they began to walk. “Yes if we cut down through a few of these corridors we should arrive where we need to be going.” He thought for a moment of what to say. He had noticed while she was looking into his face that she had taken notice of his eyes, and he wondered what she had been wondering about them. “So what brings you to Wind Reach? Can you tell me anything about yourself? Did you see something in my eyes?” She did not appear to be from the area, and in fact seemed far from home. He tentatively touched at his hair-now a ponytail-and was glad “Phew not a feather out of place.”

[Fraha]

Fraha reconstructed, Ishgrammer was here when a Dek came running from o guy with a hammer, but Ish said “them” so there were two. The Dek runs by Ish and then by me while Ish gets his ass kicked after saving someone who may also have been guilty. Judging by the eyes and the running speed of the so called Dek Fraha couldn’t say he was too much alarmed however she nodded while looking at Ish in sign of respect for such bravery and altruism. She watched him standing up and beginning his walking. “A drink?” asked Fraha puzzled “I was pretty sure you would want to get the two that kicked your ass, of course I’ll be glad to share one” she ended the sentence with a soft smile while question herself about this eccentric bird-like friend she met. Then he bowed and his tied hair and feathers followed the movement, the guy was sure slender and his limbs were longer than the majority of people she met. She stared at him pretty clueless about how to react, but this guy sure was entertaining. She giggled and bowed her head in response “Likewise” *some big hands there…* she thought as they shook. While following him he started to ask questions, he asked three quick unrelated questions but Fraha understood the real question, his eyes. She looked at them not in the most discrete way actually. Why following him she answered calmly “I came here cause I’m searching for something, not really Important. There’s nothing too interesting I can say about me, I travelled some time now an saw a thing or two, that’s all as for your eyes,” She didn’t want to tell everything about her, nor she could reveal her purpose here to a stranger “well you probably are aware that they make you look like you’re either high on some kind of substance either very aroused either well…an owl” It just came to her understanding, there, as she spoke. She darted at him and observed the eyes the hair the feathers and the lineaments. It could make sense and she smiled somewhat amazed with the expression of a child that solves a riddle. “ahah are you perhaps…an owl kelvic?” asked she pointing two fingers on him.

[Ishgrameer Windwalker]

Ishgrameer contemplated Fraha’s words as they exchanged the handshake. She seemed intrigued about something, yet at the same time there was an air of reservation about her. It was as if she was trying to hide something from the sight of others, and she hid it well. It took Ishgrameer some good deal of observing to notice the fact she was hiding something at all. He passed it aside for the time being however so that he could continue their conversation, and perhaps discuss about it later over drinks. Oh drinks how delicious they were. Alcohol was seldom afforded to him during his life in the wild, in fact it had been one day during his youth when he journeyed to Wind Reach that he had first tasted alcohol. He hands felt small and delicate in his hands, much like most women’s’ did. They were mildly weathered though from years of use. “No. There will be time for that later. If at all. All things have their time. Vengeance shortens a life, sometimes. Justice will find them in time. Time, time…” he looked around himself at the walls, as if confused. Without the sky he could not discern the time. When she became ecstatic at the possibility that he was a Kelvic, he smiled. She even got the owl part right. “Yes I am an owl Kelvic. You are very observant. Very smart and beautiful. If you wish I could show you my form.” The last part somewhat came across as a question, and since they were alone he couldn’t see the harm, although he didn’t have his pack to bundle his clothes into. He studied her as they stood amidst their exchange of words. He wondered what secrets laid beneath the layers of her persona. He also wondered what would transfer betwixt them during drinks. Oh those delicious drinks.

[Fraha]

The answer of her new Owlish friend kind of demotivated her. What about justice? But as he spoke more about it she couldn’t but agree with him or at least understand his position. “Well, I guess you’re right, but just in case if we happen to see them again would you mind telling me?” Her curiosity wasn’t just casual, someone that follows poor people and throws other people down the stairs probably do not live a particularly honest lifestyle therefore they might have the connections she was searching for. But there was no rush, from what the old man said Wind Reach is closed until the end of winter so there was no big chance of people going away. “Time, time, time” “it’s somewhere between afternoon and evening I guess” Quickly replied she with un unsecure voice. Her friend was definitely interesting to be with, there was something extravagant about him, the looks, the speech. When he answered to her guess with a ton of compliments she blushed slightly out of surprise. The directness of his words was striking and only strengthened her impression of him. “no no it’s ok…there will be plenty of time later, eventually ” her answer was quick accompanied by a wide smile, raised eyebrows and that gesture of the hands when you say to someone that you can’t eat anymore. “I already had the pleasure to…acknowledge this curious, fascinating and nudity involving…act” She then made a few steps in the direction of the stairs and invited Ish to follow “Besides, we have a tavern to find, and I bet you’re as eager as me to wet your lips in a strong solution of fermented sugar” She spoke as of those words belonged to her but it was just a recycling of one acquaintance’s sentence.

[Ishgrameer Windwalker]

Ishgrameer nodded "Yes. If i see them i shall tell you. Yes". He noticed the blush that ran across her face after his compliments to her. He thought it interesting. He did enjoy more being in his natural form, but it was strange flying without the sky overhead, and so he was actually glad she said no to his offer. Every time she mentioned drinks he got happier. He had never had alcohol before living in Wind Reach, since in the wild the most he ever drank was water. It was a strange and delicious concoction that he enjoyed when he could spare the currency. He thought to himself of what to talk about while they walked, he had already rattled off most of his questions to her. He had complimented her. What else? "Oh do you travel much? How long do you plan on being in Wind Reach? Do you have any companions? Do you need one? Could i be your companion?" he smiled at the last part, knowing to himself that it did indeed sound silly but he had arrived at a good impression of this woman, and he found himself realizing that if she did indeed accept he would be pleased. There was something in the way she carried herself. A certain air of mystery and cunning intelligence, yet subtle kindness that he liked. He wondered what more he would learn of this women while they were enjoying drinks, and at the same time, he wondered what she was trying to learn of him, and why. Knowledge was a two way street after all, one does not wonder alone.

[Fraha]

Fraha giggled, nodding back at Ishgrammer and as they walked his answer echoed in her mind. “Well yes, I guess I can tell I travel much, of course without wings the whole process slows down …” she stuck her tongue out in a playful way ”…we’re blocked here anyway by the snow right? So I guess I’ll be staying here at least till the end of winter. Also no, I don’t have any companions, I’m pretty fine on my own and besides, it’s not easy to find someone who would be as rootless as I seem to be” As he proposed a companionship Fraha was quite surprised. “What do you mean?” She thought he was joking for a moment and almost chuckled before asking, yet an immediate fantasy about have A FUCKING KELVIC COMPANION sounded awesome! But still very unlikely; she would have to tell him her plans, and there for expose the whole operation. Yet this was a good thing to discuss but she had to know what he means and how could he ask something like this after only 3 minutes of encounter. Slowly the corridors were getting darker, almost imperceptibly now but soon it would become obvious, which kinda summoned a question. “Without torches how are we supposed to see here? Well…” she added before a quick realization “…how am I supposed to see”. She gave him a look of appreciation, it sure was a huge advantages to be a night predator, and for an instant Fraha wondered one thing and one thing only “Did you meat other Kelvics? If yes which were the most bizarre? Did you ever met like a whale Kelvic?” Fraha imagined a tiny little girl turning into a whale and destroying stuff while morphing. But still Ishgrammer’s question about companionship was stunningly interesting.