Closed Self guided tour of Alvadas

[Durvekral Wormwood]

Spring 9th 512AV

Durvekral could really get used to this job. Not because he spared a single moment of compassion for a person's right to their mail and certainly not because it paid well. He could make more money in a half hour of information gathering than he could while performing actual, documented work. Yet, he felt very fortunate in this job because it forced him to wander the ever changing streets of Alvadas.

Certainly, there was no way to ever memorize the "layout" of this city but even just from walking around town over these last few years, he had began to recognize buildings. Not just the general appearance of a building or the purpose of it but the actual "building" itself. In these early days of the job, there were one or two buildings which Durvekral could recognize intimately. He was learning to recognize buildings through distinctive stones and shapes. He had begun to see things with such frequency that it was easy to study every aspect of their exterior. He looked forward to studying all of the buildings in Alvadas this way.

One could never truly have a sense of direction in the City of Illusions but recognizing the identity of a far off building could always provide a small edge. Another benefit of being a mail carrier was being forced to deal with all of the unexpected changes that Ionu threw at the citizens. When Durvakrel first arrived in this city, he was, quite predictably bewildered upon seeing a brick wall which had been a city street on the previous day. And any local Alvadan knows that it only gets stranger from there. A busy city thoroughfare with thick, trapping mud in place of a street. A gushing river instead of a proper street. Sidewalks paved with all manner of nonsensical materials.

Obviously, one could never prepared for the surprise of Ionu's various whims. Still, it seemed that the people of Alvadas could get used to the idea of being surprised and no one was better equipped for this adaption than the person who was tasked to wander the city all day long.

After a few outings, Durvekral realized the potential benefit of such a career. He immediately felt as though he could get used to the job and quickly learned to enjoy it.

His first day, however, was not so joyful. His first day of work felt less like an occupation and more like a hazing. It was as if Ionu almost cared to test this otherwise insignificant little Symenestra with a bit of a preview of what was to come in his new profession.

The amazing work of Thayer. Go check her out in the aesthetics forum!

[Durvekral Wormwood]

Durvekral looked at the address on the envelope. Seemed simple enough. Mercifully, he didn't have an overwhelmingly large number of letters to deliver. For now, he just focused on the single address in his hand.

"Well....here we go..." he sighed, venturing off into the ever shifting city. Obviously, he had no real route ahead of him. He wasn't exactly sure how to begin.

So, with no real plan, he started by just wandering down a street. It went well enough at first. Specifically, "at first" meant nothing more than two blocks. After that, he turned a corner and found gradual hill to climb. It wasn't just an upward grade, either. This was a rock strewn, rough mountain path. Sure, the houses were there, along the road but upward it climbed, offering no flat or stable footpath as it did so.

"Alright," Durvekral grunted. "I guess that I should start getting used to this." He braced himself and initiated the ascent up this path full of loose rock and stone. Much to his chagrin, Durvekral reached the top of the path only to find a normal street. Literally. It was a normal street. Down at its normal level. Sure, Ionu could have easily turned the entire city into a geometrically impossible shape by setting the summit at ground level. In fact, this very thing had been done before and would continue to happen beyond this day. Unfortunately for Durvekral, that is not what had happened today. On this day, he found himself high on a useless peak, overlooking the city.

Durvekral resigned himself to a simple sigh as he turned around. "Okay...I'm going to have to develop a patience for this sort of thing..."

He had walked for a few paces before meeting up with a stranger. It was odd to see someone up here. The stranger didn't seem to be going anywhere, not up toward the summit and not down to the town either. He was simply waiting for Durvekral. His eyes were sharply focused in a look of both curiosity and entertainment as he stared at the approacing Sym.

This was a blonde male of average build. He wore a yellow three peice suit with a purple shirt and socks. Above the outlandish outfit and atop his blonde curls sat a purple and gold jester's cap. As he approached, Durvekral noticed the emblem of a raven on the cap.

Durvekral was uncomfortable by the brightly dressed figure. It was certainly an unsettling place for such an individual to rest. However, Durvekral could only feel so threatened. He wondered if the figure even existed or if it was simply another trick.

Much to the Sym's surprise, however, the man spoke to him. Durvekral had not been expecting this.

"So you'd desire, daily, to encounter Ionu's tricks and traps?" The stranger flashed a dangerously eccentric, reckless grin. Durvekral even began to wonder of the creature had proper control of himself.

"Who are you?" Durvekral flatly demanded.

"Don't be evasive, we both know that it doesn't matter what inverted, incomplete, arbitrary label I have once given myself. I have been sent here to investigate sources of enjoyment and intrigue."

It was quite easy to tell that Durvekral wouldn't get anywhere by persisting any one question. That particular question was a miss; he knew that his best hope was to move on to a new one. Besides, Durvekral wasn't interested in the specifics of this man's business. He just wanted to find out if he was a threat and then act appropriately.[color=#00BF80]"What is it that you want with me?"

"Well I just told you! Do you think me a man or a songbird to sing the same tune ad nauseum? You have gained some meager attention in Ionu's fair home. I have been sent to make sure that you actually want what you think you want!"

"And what might that be?" Durvekral curled his lips into an almost invisible smile. There was a certain smugness in the tone of his voice. It was hard for Durvekral not to take a subtle comedy in this interaction. There certainly was a presence of self-righteous condescension within Durvekral as he interacted with this lunatic.

For all of Durvekral's self satisfaction, though, his seemingly sharp witted question only garnered, from the stranger, a pitying look of exasperation and almost frustration. "You poor creature, I surmise you must be slightly mad!" The man seemed to interrupt himself here. Though I suppose it all adds up if you are looking to beckon Ionu's trickery in a warm embrace..." After the brief comment he returned to Durvekral. "You are seeking out Ionu's riddles and challenges. Look at yourself! Up on a conjured mountain while wandering the streets of Alvadas! Delivering mail in this city is no task for the short sighted,"

A look of introspection washed over Durvekral's face. "Now, I get it. You're some sort of ambassador from the court of Ionu, aren't you? Listen, Alvadas can be a treacherous city. They say that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, no? I need to experience the whims and the traps in this city's arsenal. I took this job because I see an opportunity to gain an edge over my enemies and my competitors. So yes, I seek out Ionu's riddles. Not for communion with Ionu but because I seek to grow accustomed to them." After this, Durvekral hefted the bag back onto his shoulder and continued his descent.

Durvekral knew that he was talking to the representative of a deity; he didn't want to be disrespectful but he did want to be clear. He had no desire to challenge or to mock Ionu but he wasn't going to beg for aid, either. He thought that this statement would draw the messenger's ire. The symenestra wasn't looking to incite any violence but hewas prepared for a sharper tongued fool to emerge after the comment.

The expectation proved just how naive Durvekral was in the face of Ionu's charge. The comment absolutely thrilled the stranger. In keeping with this theme of madness, it was exactly what the stranger wanted to hear and it looked like this stranger felt that Ionu wanted to hear it too.

The smile that appeared on the oddly dressed messenger's face was not threatening. It didn't appear to hide anything and there was nothing mean spirited about it. It was a very simple, very frank look of joy and happiness. "Then truly, you are mad!" He offered a friendly wave of the hand and allowed Durvekral to continue on his way.

The amazing work of Thayer. Go check her out in the aesthetics forum!

[Durvekral Wormwood]

Durvekral hiked back down to the bottom of the rocky trail and entered back into the typical looking streets of Alvadas. He walked another few blocks before uncovering another trick of Ionu. The street was unremarkable and easily walkable. The odd part, however was the dozen or so "Durvekrals" who were milling about the street.

Inconvenient pranks were one thing but this was enough to creep Durvekral to his core. He couldn't tell whether these were other citygoers, all seeing copies of themselves or if he was by himself and simply having an illusory vision. Either way, Durvekral was thoroughly shaken and warily eyed every Symenestran figure that came near him. Being copies of himself, they followed suit. They glared at him with the same suspicion, as if he was going to unexpectedly lunge at them at any moment. All of the suspicious, judging, fearful eyes were too much for Durvekral. He was quite happy to turn the corner and find himself back in an otherwise normal street.

And for one brief moment, during this day, the street led to a somewhat typical destination. He soon found himself at the Bizarre. He welcomed the pleasant hustle and bustle of the city square. He decided that it was time for a little break. Despite the fact that he wasn't feeling particularly fatigued, he was well due for a rest. This respite was more for his mind than for any other need. Suddenly, Durv found himself wishing that he could purchase some kind of compass which would make this job easier.

After a few minutes of making sure to hold onto his sanity, he continued his quest. As he walked onward, he was quite dismayed to find that he had been caught in the middle of a heavy rain. He felt a little better knowing that he wasn't alone in this. Various people ran up and down the street as they tried desperately to find adequate shelter. A few moments later, this entire comfort was snatched away as Durvekral walked across an intersection and noticed that the other side of the street offered bright, blue, sunny skies with no rain whatsoever. A passerby even offered Durvekral, a brief, curt greeting, not even seeming to acknowledge the storm that only Durvekral appeared to be stuck within. Durvekral had to wonder, did the man even see any rain or did Durvekral appear, to him, to be totally dry? The Symenestra admitted that there was something fascinating in all of this.

Afew a few minutes of walking through a downpour, Durvekral turned a corner and was relieved to find that he and every inch of his clothing was totally dry. Turning around, he saw no gray skies whatsoever.

In fact he didn't see anything of much significance, just the rare, uninteresting street in Alvadas. He heard a painfully familiar voice, though.

"The task at hand is, of course, to see if you are really up to the challenges of this job." It was the same man as before; he had come back to sort of "check up" on Durvekral.

"Is it going to be your task to follow me around for the rest of my tenure in this position?" He dully asked.

"Well that all depends on you and I do hope you do a good job. You have to realize that I certainly have better things to do with my time! So many performances to stage; so many curious people to entertain! Evandiel, there is much to tend to, so my goodwill is with you. May you prove yourself, either suitable or inefficient, so that I may get some of my more pressing tasks finished before the week's end."

"Evandiel? You must have me confused with someone else. Though I should find it hardly surprising to learn that you've mistaken my identity. Locating your friend doesn't seem to be the only matter of which you are confused..."

"Oh, alright so you must not remember back that far. I am aware that Durvekral, may perhaps, be a better label for you?"

"Where did you get that information!" Durvekral's hands were starting to curl into tight, pale balled fists. His right hand was moving backward toward his holstered dagger. His frail, wispy body visibly tensed up. Was this man spying on Durvekral? Was this all an elaborate trick? Was the man trying to come off as an innocent fool? Maybe this was an elaborate setup to a robbery? Perhaps even an assassination!

"Oh stop!" the messenger laughed. "You're in the home of Ionu, of course he knows your name. Just because he's hidden from you doesn't mean that all of your secrets aren't fully exposed to him! Do you understand what I mean, Evandiel?"

This time it was not Durvekral who walked away from the stranger, it was the mysterious man who had disappeared into a sparrow and flew away from Durvekral.

Shaking his head, Durvekral continued on his way. His mind was working furiously to consider whether or not there had been any real danger to him. He tried to untangle various, hypothetical conspiracies focused on doing him harm. He worked out very single possibility of how to best protect himself. Of course, every one of these fantasies was more elaborate and ridiculous as the next. The encounter had sent him into a massive tailspin of paranoia. Still, he wasn't shaken enough to quit. In any other city, he would have been alarmed enough to flee the region and perhaps create a new identity. Here in Alvadas, it was just an unsettling machination of Ionu.

The amazing work of Thayer. Go check her out in the aesthetics forum!

[Durvekral Wormwood]

An hour after this strange visit Durvekral had finally reached the destination, though it wasn't exactly in the spot that he expected. That wasn't to say that Durvekral had expected the building to be exempt from Ionu's love of illusion. The place literally didn't appear to be inside the town of Alvadas.

Having never been there, Durvekral couldn't possibly have recognized the city of Mura, but it would appear that the buildings of this particular street had been picked up and deposited onto the street of an entirely different town, nonsensical, out of place landscape and everything.

For now, Durvekral resigned himself to simply look for the specific number so that he could deliver this letter and be done with it.

"Let's see..." he groaned in a whisper to no one. "This one is 38 and....of course..." The next house to the left was 4J. After that he saw a cast iron lawn sign which said 1038 Evergreen Way which didn't even make sense considering the fact that he was supposedly on a street which, at least at one time, was known as North street.

And so with no coherent number system to guide him, he looked at the address of each house. Luckily, this was a reasonably sized street. Durvekral would only have to walk so far before randomly stumbling across the right building.

Tired, grumpy, uncomfortable, Durvekral had finally made it. He dragged his feet up to the mailbox and slipped an unassuming letter inside.

"Alright then." He managed a tired smile and then looked into his leather bag. "Only...Six more!?!" He had a moment of panic when he realized that this was only the beginning of the days work. "I'm going to have to find a better petching way to do this..."

Durvekral was unable to see anything change before him but he heard a voice in his head. It was none other than his new "traveling partner.""Congratulations!" the voice was positively gushing with elation and pride. "You're now less than one fourth finished on the day's work!" Though biting and underhanded, there was no tone of sarcasm or criticism in his voice. The phrase that came forth in Durvekral's ear was genuinely happy and encouraging.

Somehow, Durvekral didn't feel entirely accomplished just yet.

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[Fallacy]

XP Award! Name:Durvekral Wormwood XP Award: Observation- 2 Land Navigation- 1 Mountaineering- 1 Lore: The Madness of Alvadas Lunatic or Prophet of Ionu? Delivering mail is hard in Alvadas Notes: Sent your SS Thread in a PM, but posting it here again so you can attach it to your profile. Please do this as soon as you can. SS threads are important. Thank you: http://www.mizahar.com/forums/topic38451.html In Mizahar I do not believe they have a system to number their houses, an address to deliver the mail to. Instead it will be given to a specific person, or sent to a specific place to be given to a specific person or handed off, etc. So delivering mail is a lot harder to do XD because there is no such system in place. However this is a job thread done Congratulations! Any questions or concerns about the rewards gained please send a PM