Open [The Red Diamond Tavern] Come Sit By the Fire

[Svasra]

Svasra Snowsong "A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots." -Marcus Garvey Timestamp: 47th of Winter, 512 AV It was the beginning of evening, the stars twinkling sharply over the crisp white land of Avanthal. While the moon reflected off the glittering snow, it gave a brilliant sheen to the air, making the walk out at such an hour enchanting. The breeze that brushed along the walkways was a tad warmer than usual, perhaps the cause of the ice breakups that put seal and walrus hunting on hold. It skipped along in an idle fashion, sometimes dying out only to push back a hood suddenly. Some Vantha chose to stay in doors these days, and keep their windows shut. With the tensions between the Hold peaking, relationships grew taunt and even strained, the death of Iceglaze looming in the mind of even the most brave. The adventurous kind, maybe even oblivious ones though, disregarded the guards on duty, the prowling Icewatch, and the malignant air of the city. They would amble through the familiar streets and come to the tavern that welcomed all with its bright lantern and frowning guard. Maybe they looked over their shoulders, or walked in large packs, but come they did, as many did during these cold nights. Inside, the fire roared with its cheerful passion, coaxing warmth in to battle the chill bought in by the swinging door. The bar was almost filled with patrons a mix between disgruntled hunters and general night-time alcoholics. Friends huddled around tables, crouching forwards, shuffling out of the way of the servers. The atmosphere was lively for now, fermented drinks flowing faster than rivers, conversations punctuated with burps and gulps. It was this type of night that Svasra sat near the fire. Her flickering eyes took in the people deep in their drinks, trying to guess character, what would get them to sit and listen to a story. What they would enjoy. A legend full of actions, Svasra guessed, but not too long-winded. Something that would only take ten or so chimes. Even less, perhaps. Outerwear abandoned beside her, listening to the cracks and pops of the wood, a nice background to her winding thoughts. "A mug of hot chocolate please," Svasra told the server that had approached. For a few more moments, the storyteller made a couple more assumptions. It wasn't extremely hard seeing as many become obnoxiously obvious with emotions when under the influence of alcohol. She toyed with the idea of offering a tale to a small group of people, or try to see how many of the tavern would listen if she just started. To tell a tale to the entire crowd would mean pitching her voice loud enough to quieten them all, and she didn't think everyone here would like to hear stories from a young Vantha woman. With this in mind, Svasra briefly offered her calling card. Her voice rung clear over the noise of the patrons, an invitation for entertainment, and a chance to share their own tales. "In the depth of darkness, adventurers' tales are told Whether they be of the day, or of ages old Near the fire the story weaves, to stave away the night So come and sit, listen well, to hear each and every plight."

[Vaspira]

Vaspira had not been Avanthal that long, nor had she found a lot of information out about her father yet, which made her slightly upset. This city was so much different from the Suvan Sea and the Spires. It was a frozen city, with huge polar bears, and danger lingering in the arctic air, which made her hair, stand on end. She stayed in her kelvic form, as she had yet to buy any clothing, scaring some people as she passed or entered buildings in animal form, others knew of “the naked people,” as some would say. Vaspira sniffed the frost laden air, letting her nose lead her to the fire she smelled not too far away. The scent of burnt wood and embers filled her senses, and promised her of the warmth that would soon wrap its heated finger’s around her body. Vaspira’s black leopard body shivered slightly at the thought of that fire, her mind rushing ahead and imagining her curled up at the fire place, taking a small nap.

Vaspira roared in exasperation, making some of the people close to her jump and back away. It wasn’t a threatening roar, just a “I am ready to be there!” type of roar, but they must not of known that. Vaspira shrugged mentally and padded through the snow, looking up and seeing that Syna was barely visible, as Leth was coming into reign the sky. Stars already danced in the evening sky, as she made her way in what was called The Red Diamond Tavern. It was an odd name, but slightly better than Grath’s Rest. The Grath part was intimidating to Vaspira for some reason.

Vaspira casted her thoughts to the side, for now anyways, as she walked into the tavern as a man was exiting it. Vaspira hurried under his legs, almost making the older man trip, receiving some curses at her behind. She turned and growled at the man as her tail swished back and forth, and then returned her attention to that fire she smelled. She glanced around the room, some astonished faces meeting her’s, gasps echoing in the now quiet tavern at her arrival. Vaspira held her head high though, she didn’t mind the attention, the more eyes the more famous her name would be, even if it was spoken on a ill tongue. She sauntered up to the fire, looking up at a dark haired woman, which was beginning to tell a story. Vaspira had never really heard a story before, besides the one’s her mother would tell her when she was younger, so she curled up beside the woman in front of the fire, waiting for her to go on telling her story. Her ears perked up ready to listen to every word that came out of her mouth.

[Svasra]

Svasra Snowsong "A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots." -Marcus Garvey Svasra waited as a few pairs of interested eyes turned to her, showing they were listening as they moved their chairs to face an ear towards her. She smiled towards them and raised her arms as she called up some tale to tell of a hunt when another joined the Tavern. This creature was surrounded by an impatient aura, growling at a man who'd gotten into her way. Silence fell briefly over the Tavern as gazes swiveled to the uncommon Kelvic. Not that Kelvic were rare within Avanthal, quite the contrary as they were a regular part of daily life. Unfriendly Kelvics though were less prominent in the accepting society of Avanthal, though with the crimes going on, who's to really place an assumption on any race now? Svasra paused, and watched the panther closely, though there seemed to be no malicious air within the eyes that pinned hers. The panther slowly walked over with a confidence that caused wariness, and calmly settled beside the young Vantha as the feline perked its ears. "Greetings," Svasra said quietly with a polite nod towards the Kelvic. She had to admit she was thankful the being stayed in her animal form, as a naked woman or man within the Tavern was .... well not exactly forbidden, it wasn't encouraged. Especially during the peak hours when drunkards wouldn't think before they sauntered over to pick on some poor Kelvic that would've been tired from the shift. With a tilt of her head at both audience and the silent animal at her side she politely asked an opinion. She was the type of storyteller that liked to tell something the audience could relate to, whether it be about their hold, or perhaps a hunting trip they'd just returned from. "Perhaps the story of how the Polar Kelvics first bonded to our Icewatch?" she inquired, and waiting for the response.

[Vaspira]

The vantha woman looked down at Vaspira and quietly spoke to her rhythmically with a polite nod. Vaspira could not understand this language that she was speaking, but she figured it may of been a hello or something. Vaspira just licked her lips and nodded back, waiting for the woman to tell her story as she felt the warm fingers of the fire, heating her chilled fur. It was so pleasant she started to purr happily, as she licked her paws, stretching her deadly claws out as she licked between them too.

Then the woman mentioned something about Kelvics, which made Vaspira stop mid bath, and look up at the woman. She was asking something of the audience, that Vaspira could only assume was about Kelvics, even though she could not understand her language in the slightest. It interested Vaspira, that was for certain, so she gave a little growl and pawed the woman’s leg, to get her to go on. The woman didn’t seem to notice her so she put both of her paws on the woman’s knees, lifting up to be in her line of version, and growled happily, the purr still in the back of her throat. She stayed there staring in the eyes of the woman, hoping that her actions did not frighten her, and that she was getting her message across. She would hate to have to shift in this public place, and show off her beautiful naked body to its patrons, but if she had to she would.

[Svasra]

Svasra Snowsong "A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots." -Marcus Garvey A few heads bobbed in assent, and Svasra smiled with a nod. She doubted there would be any protest to such a tale, as it held their Goddess and Queen Morwen right in its very heart. Where she was all the time, really. A growl sounded by her knee, with a heavy paw clapping down. Instinctively freezing, Svasra looked down to see the panther staring at her. "Do you not want to hear it?" she asked politely, tilting her head. For a moment they just stared at each other, then the panther raised herself up and planted both paws down, heaving her body off the ground to level their gazes. A rumble practically vibrated her petite body, though Svasra couldn't see any malicious or malign nature within the vibrant eyes that stared into her gray-blue ones. Svasra and the panther kept that way for a moment before the storyteller briefly raised a hand to stroke between the feline's ears - cats liked that, right? "I'll take that as a 'Yes, I want to hear it,' growl, how about that?" she asked, though nudged the panther's paws in a motion to take them off as the weight was beginning to hurt. "Kelvics it is," Svasra said with a small toss of her arms, straightening and smiling at the audience. "We all know how the Spires were not always in the reaches of Taldera, in the peaks beyond our barren winter. No, their treacherous paths and dangerous nature stretched all the way here, covering Avanthal and its land. It wasn't called the Spires then. It was just called Winter, the land of Winter, the forests of Winter, Ice and Snow. Morwen's domain. "Morwen wished for her people to live in peace and harmony of their hearts, though the Holds would not come for years later. The problem that stood in the way though was the one most dangerous creature to lounge in the territories the ancient Vantha were trying to sustain. This big, looming, loud, and treacherous creatures ate anything, tore down everything, and struck fear into every heart." Svasra leaned forwards slightly, her silver-y gaze brightening. "The polar bears were not average to be taken out with a well-placed spear. These were huge! They were large enough for a man, his gear, and another man to fit comfortable - though they obviously never thought of riding such beasts. This bears hated the wood and the Vantha, taking their young ones, wives, and destroying families. "No one could understand why the polar bears were so bitter, why they held such a deep-rooted aversion to the Vantha, even the ones that seemed apt in caring for every animal - the ones who would eventually form the Frostfawns. They were desperate to eliminate the problem, and even turned their gaze towards the South, the hot and steaming south where even more evil might reside. "They couldn't see how they would continue on to live here though. How could they? The bears were getting worse and worse as the Vanthas stayed longer and retreated farther, their numbers dwindling. Morwen watched this, horrified to see her people suffer and fall under the great blows of the polar bears." Here she paused and strove to involve the audience, as on a long night such as thus no one wished to just sit down. "What do you think Morwen did?"

[Vaspira]

The woman stroked between her feline ears, and her tail started swishing back and forth. She was a feline after all, and it felt nice to be stroked between her ears every now and again. Vaspira nodded her head to the woman’s question, and moved her paws off the petite woman’s lap when she nudged them, her weight must have become painful. Vaspira yawned loudly and laid back down, closer to the woman’s legs now, with her ears perked up ready to listen to the story that was going to be told of Polar Bear Kelvics.

When the woman started her story she mentioned the Spires, which made Vaspira lean her head up, and cock it slightly to the side. There were only certain words she could understand, the rest with a melody, her voice like a lullaby as she told her story to the people in the Tavern. Although the Northern Reaches were treacherous, at least to her. But Vaspira supposed the snow people did not like the green nature of the Spires, so she just shrugged it off and continued to listen intently to the woman’s story. Even though she did not understand her, her voice was nice to listen to.


The Vantha woman stopped in the story, asking the audience another question. Vaspira sat there and looked out at the crowd, wondering curiously what she was saying, a little annoyed she could not understand her.

[Svasra]

Svasra Snowsong "A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots." -Marcus Garvey "Nothing! What could she do, she has no control over Kelvics!" "Of course she does, she's a goddess!" "Also, all of our Kelvic polar bears have Kelvic polar bear children, that is her influence!" "That's the cold!" "Don't be naive!" Svasra quickly saw the ire rising in the Tavern as alcohol spat words that could be later regretted - if they remembered, that is. Quickly, Svasra rose to ensure her voice would project over the noise of arguments. "Morwen found a baby polar bear. He was curious, and silly, often tripping over his own paws as he raced after the others and his parents. Morwen watched him grow up, over the course of a Season, watched his change from foolish to cunning and serious. She watched his habits and talents, how he was raised, and the things that inspired his soul. Morwen began to have a feel for the spirit of the polar bears, and their ways. Understanding. This understanding strove her to perform an action so powerful it changed the fate of the Vanthas, and saved their wintery world. "Morwen turned her intelligent gaze to a Kelvic pair within Avanthal. A panther mother," here Svasra touched the feline's ears, stroking them gently, "And an Eagle father. It was usual for two Kelvic parents to have a non-Kelvic child, and then have the Kelvic gene jump in generations in the future. This two were lucky though, and Morwen saw the Kelvic life within the mother's spirit. It had barely begun on its own, let alone choose a form to take. This was where Morwen came. "She breathed a bit of herself into the budding soul, and granted it the understanding she, herself, had learned while watching the polar bears. This understanding became part of the child, ingrained into mind and body, and slowly influencing the child to choose the form of a polar bear. "When the child was born, her parents knew the life of a Kelvic burned within her soul. They raised it with the caution of her unknown form, understanding the risk of their child shifting in a malicious manner out of instinct. When their child did change, little Lakia, they found something much more worrisome. "Could you imagine an enemy you'd been taught to hate from the moment of entering Avanthal appearing in your living room?" Here Svasra leaned forwards slightly, a movement she often did when wrapping up a story. "A Kelvic polar bear stood before them, keen eyes blinking back at the shocked expressions. Lakia had no idea the implications of her form, nor the change she would bring to the Vanthas who were becoming less and less in strength. "Morwen approached the child soon after her turning four, an adult age for polar bears. She took Lakia aside and said in her voice of winter and snow, "Child, I have asked you to bear a great burden, and understand if you do not wish to do the favor I ask of you. You will know how to speak to the polar bears in your animal form, and I beg that you go to the polar bears and ask them their reason of hatred. Perhaps it is something that man or goddess can repair." Lakia did not even think before she nodded and went to do Morwen's task. "She slipped when the town was busy, and no one would miss her. She didn't know how the polar bears would react to a Kelvic of their kind, and only hoped they would let her return if they were displeased. Shifting into her animal form, Lakia searched for the polar bears, and found them resting in the cold sun. She approached warily, speaking of peace and allegiance, of trust and hope. "The leader watched her approach carefully, rising to massive paws and staring with a piercing gaze. The scars across his pelt did nothing to quell Lakia's nervous air as she lowered her head in quiet respect. 'You are one of us, yet not,' said he. 'I am one of you, and one of the Vanthas, Lakia replied, raising her head. 'You speak of Vantha, a beast I do not know,' the old leader snorted. 'They are the human prey you never got the chance to know,' Lakia said bravely. 'You are one of them? The ones who kill our prey, and take over our lands?!' the male roared, taking a step forwards. 'I am one of them!' Lakia took a step forwards also and raised her head in pride. 'I am also one of you!' 'Why did you come to us?' was his own response as he stopped his approach, a growl rumbling deep in his chest. 'To make peace, and find understanding,' Lakia said simply." Svasra beamed at her audience, which had grown slightly, and inclined her head slightly. "Kill her, or not to kill her?" she asked in a gruff voice, the same tone she used to speak for the old leader of her tale. Svasra stopped and looked at each patron, "Kill or let live?" she grumbled, obviously wishing a response from each person whose eyes she met.

[Vaspira]

The outbursts of the drunkards made Vaspira’s fur stand on end, and a growl rumble in her chest. She was about to stand up on all fours and roar loudly for them to be silent, but the Vantha woman’s voice rose up above the arguments, as she continued to tell her beautiful story.

Vaspira listened intently raising her head up peering at the woman as she continued with her weaving of the story. The woman stopped, asking them a question. Vaspira could not help the little growl of disapproval. Vaspira pawed the womans leg, growling with disapproval still that the woman had stopped, then peered out over the audience once more, to see what they had to say, hoping they did not get into a drunken argument again. Vaspira was not that patient with drunkards, plus she was impulsive and would react without thinking if they got on her nerves. Vaspira sat up on her back legs, her tail swishing from side to side, as she waited for the story to continue.

[Svasra]

Svasra Snowsong "A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots." -Marcus Garvey The moment Svasra involved the audience a displeased growl went up at her side, a heavy paw beginning to shift her leg. Looking down, Svasra grinned. "Don't kill her?" she asked, rubbing the space in between Vaspira's ears. "I agree." When she looked back to the audience a few others seemed displeased with the interruption also, since it was break in the spell she wove. Ah, bad decision. Well, we can't all be perfect storytellers. Svasra quickly took up the mantle and worked to place them back under the spell, weaving her story passionately and richly, " 'Let us hear her out, she deserves a voice for the part that is one with us,' one male bear said quietly, rising. The leader swung his head to look at the young bear and nodded slowly. 'Speak then, and you shall be heard,' the leader commanded, nodding to Lakia. She took a breath, leveled her gaze and raised her chin. 'You have been killing the Vanthas, for reason unknown to them. And what they think is undeserved. You not only take away lives, and rip apart families, you keep the Vanthas in constant fear and a ruling distaste towards us from this fear.' Lakia blinked her sharp gaze, and shook her head, 'The land is wide, and we are wise. We should be at peace,' she finished. "For a moment no one spoke. No one moved. How could they? Lakia waited, watching the leader think this information over. 'You think we kill without reason,' the leader said gruffly, 'We see a race of humans who have not only invaded our territory, but also tried to take the scare prey that feeds our young.' Lakia had nothing to reply to that, only inclining her head. 'We can share the prey hunted.' 'The polar bears are not weak! We do not need to eat from the hand of a Vantha as you call them,' the leader snarled, spitting out the name of the humans he had killed. 'Then we will hunt less! The Vantha belong in the forest with Morwen and within her winter!' Lakia protested, though she forced her voice less demanding as to not anger the powerful polar bear. "Suddenly, Lakia got an idea. She stood up on her hind legs with an excited grumble, bob of a tail quivering in excitement. 'Let us live in perfect harmony,' Lakia suddenly exclaimed. 'Perfect harmony does not exist with invaders.' 'Protect the Vantha,' Lakia said urgnently. 'WHAT?!' Even the other polar bears, who had been watching silently, were appalled by the idea. 'Why in the world would we do that?!' 'Because the Vantha will provide you food and shelter, and ensure every single one of your young is cared for and brought up to full adulthood,' Lakia promised. 'That is a large promise you make, little cub, how can you be certain you can keep it?' the leader said quietly. 'It is the only way I can see the Vantha and the polar bears existing in harmony. We both belong in this frosty world. And the polar bears are not the only enemies of the Vantha. We, though, have a better chance of protecting the Vantha than their spears do. We can work together.' "Again silence invaded the ranks of the polar bears as they shifted and looked at each other warily. Murmurs began to erupt from the back, shifting like waves as they crested only to fall back to a soft sound when they realized their growing volume. It happened over and over in an almost lulling motion, though Lakia stood still as she waited for the leader to respond. " 'I will give you my answer mid-day tomorrow,' was all the leader said as he turned away, waving his paws to the others to part as he wandered off to think. Lakia bowed her head to the others and went her own way as well. There was nothing else to do but wait. "The next mid-day approached quickly, and Lakia waited outside of the small camp the Vantha had set up. It gleamed in all its icy brilliance, though Lakia could not find beauty within it today as she waited for the leader and the polar bears to arrive. Mid-day came . . . " Here, Svasra paused for dramatic effect. " . . . and then it left. Lakia felt heart-broken, lost, and confused. Not only did the leader not give an answer, he just didn't show up at all . . . "Until a sharp scream rent the air. A horrendous and horrified screech that sent chills down every back and sent eyes wheeling about for the source. Only Lakia was already set off running, clothes abandoned as she changed. Her paws pounded the earth to track the sound, running towards it full tilt. "When she came upon it, Lakia saw a huge polar bear snarling and nipping. It was not fighting a Vantha, or even some sort of animal. It was fighting another polar bear that was smaller, and already had red staining its pure fur. Lakia watched in horror, as did the Vantha that had been caught off-guard by these two suddenly bursting out of the foliage to lock jaws. Seeing another bear didn't help and the Vantha let out another throat-rasping scream, scrambling back. Lakia growled in an attempt to reassure the young woman, though she only placed a hand over her stomach and stumbled farther. "Lakia quickly changed into her human form, though she stood naked and freezing in the cold. Holding out her hands, she took the Vantha away from the fight. Although the two shifts so close together exhausted her, Lakia forced herself to change once more, practically groaning at the drain of energy. She lugged herself back to the fight where both males were tiring. 'You are an old fool!' 'You are young and naive, I am leader!' she heard them yell at each other, the younger voice rasping and full of anger. "When she was just about to burst through the dividing trees, a harsh yelp cut off rent the air. She froze. For a moment not even the birds chirped, and Lakia slowly peeked through the branches. In the space cleared by the rocking bodies of the two bears, the young male stood triumphant. He didn't appear happy though as he stared down at the huge leader, and the red that stained his paws where it had pooled from the gash across the neck. A lucky hit. " 'What went on here?' Lakia softly asked, moving towards the young male. His head jerked up and he stiffened, only to cast his gaze downwards. 'He went off on his own to give you the response. I followed him, because he planned on saying no . . . he ran into this Vantha . . . this innocent woman who was pregnant . . . and attacked her! Well, went to attack her. I intervened, and we started fighting.' His voice grew pained. ' . . . He was my father, but I knew I needed to protect the woman . . . she reminded me of the other one who had visited when I was young.' 'A woman visited you when you were little?' Lakia asked curiously, taking a few cautious steps forwards. 'Yes, she was . . . beautiful for a human. Tall, graceful, and smelled of nothing but ice.' 'Morwen,' Lakia murmured in astonishment. 'You must be the polar bear she took the shape from,' she continued. The male bear now seemed alarmed, looking up at Lakia. 'I am the one who showed her how to make a polar bear human? he asked confusedly. "Here, Lakia could only smile. This must be the polar bear that had made her who she was, and the female padded closer to nuzzle the male's neck. 'She took your spirit, and must have seen how pure it was. Then gave . . . a little bit to me.' When the two looked at each other, they could almost see the pieces of each other the other held. She found the strength to go back to her camp, something she doubted she could do after the recent shift. He smiled and held his head higher. 'We will protect the Vantha,' he vowed. "When the polar bears came into the camps, at first the Vantha were alarmed and scared, a few polar bears being wounded in the beginning confusion. It wasn't until Lakia explained and showed the polar bears could understand her in her animal form, did they warily begin to accept the protection of the polar bears. Each polar each was assigned a warrior as a human counterpart, one that could aid them, though at the beginning it was really to monitor how the polar bears acted. "The first time the polar bears saved a child from a Talderan Sabretooth trust began to begin between the two races. When the Whitevines and Frostfawns saved a cub from certain death, they began to see each other differently. When Lakia bonded to a female warrior who rose as a commander for the others, the previously demeaning monitoring between polar bear and Vantha became a tradition. And when Lakia and the young male had all polar bear Kelvic children, they knew this was a bond that would never break between the two races." Svasra paused for a breath, but also because this was truly the end. "Eventually the true polar bears become assimilated with the Kelvics until only polar bear Kelvics remained. It is now said that every polar bear Kelvic has a piece of the spirit of Morwen, the piece that she used to breath the first polar bear Kelvic into existence. Not to mention the silent grace of a panther and the fierce bravery of the eagle." Svasra finished to the drunken applause of some and she couldn't help but toss her mitten around in case anyone have a silver miza or so they would be willing to spare for the entertainment she provided. It was rare seeing as Vantha were known for their storytelling, but sometimes if the story was good enough the teller got a nice tip for their efforts. It was too rare though for Svasra to make a living off of storytelling, which is why she chose to work the Red Diamond Tavern as a barmaid. After she drank a sip of the water someone had brought her, Svasra looked to the Kelvic panther with a smile. "And how did you like it?"

[Vaspira]

Vaspira seemed to be not the only one that wished her to continue, and when the woman got the hint, she wove her story once again, with passion. Vaspira stayed sitting on her hind legs, looking up at the woman with wide feline eyes, as she told of how the polar bear kelvics first came to be. At the end of the story, she held out her mitten for tips, Vaspira tilted her head to the side and looked at the mitten, if she had her pack with her she would of tipped the woman, as it was she did not carry anything on her person, it made for lighter travel in this frozen city.

The Vantha woman grabbed up a glass of water, taking a sip, then looked at her with a smile asking her how she liked the story. Vaspira wished she could tell her how much she liked it in words, but she did not feel like shifting, yet anyways. So her response was to lick the woman’s hand, purring deep within her throat. She hoped the woman got the idea of how much she liked the story by that gesture. Vaspira padded around to the chair that sat across from the woman and jumped up into the chair, sitting in it as if she was a human, yet she was still a panther. She tilted her head to the side and growled at the woman playfully. She wanted to know this woman’s name, yet she did not know how to ask her this in her current form. Vaspira looked around at the drunken men now turning their attentions back to their mugs. She shook her head slightly at that and brought her attention back to the woman. If she were to change, a naked woman sitting in a tavern would be slightly rude, yet Vaspira never really cared about those things. She wasn’t very modest when it came to exposed flesh, she thought highly of her body.

With that decision in mind, she shifted, in a swirl of beautiful lights that lasted only a few seconds, she changed into her human form. The change brought a swift kick of exhaustion, but not overly so, she would manage to shift again with no problem. Vaspira looked at the woman with her ice blue feline eyes and smiled warmly at her, ”That was a beautiful story you just wove. Although I must say that I did not understand a word of it. Yet your voice was very lulling and melodic. I am new to Avanthal, so I can not speak this language you people have here.” Vaspira’s voice came out with a pleasant and warm tone, as she brushed her messy ebony black hair behind an ear, and looked into the eyes of the woman, ignoring the gasps of the men now drunk from the ale as she sat there naked. Thankfully they were near the fire, so the chill from the outside that slipped in was not so bothersome.