[flashback] Sneaking away!(antar)

[Coren]

3th of fall 510th Location:frozen falls market Coren let out a bored sigh as he watched crowd walk by his fathers stand on the market, the many carvings and sculptures made by his father, his rather impressive craftmanship neatly displayed for any passerby to see and hopefully catch their fancy. His gaze once again traveled over the mass of people walking past their stall, letting out another sigh as nobody was even looking at their wares. By morwen's icy crown why wasn't anybody coming over here and show some intrest in something so that he could get his dad talking with the customer and use that distraction to leg it! He didn't want to waste his entire day being stuck in here behind the counter, he wanted to waste it in the park just lazing of! Just as he was about to let go of the hope that he would get out of here anytime soon a rather pretty woman stopped at their shop, a bit of interest on her face as she took a look at the carvings. A mischievous grin made its way onto his face, though the leather facemask he was wearing obscured it from sight. It seemed he had found his way out of here. He quickly tapped his father on his shoulder. “Father, we might have a customer.” he said in a cheerful voice. The older man turned around and gave a suspicious glance at his hooded son, who just continued to look at him, happy about the fact that aside form his eyes you couldn't see a thing of his face, the mischievous smile on his face would no doubt have given away that he was planning something. “Didn't I drag you over here to help deal with the customers.” In response coren just nodded. “Sure ya did, but do you remember last time I tried to sell something to a woman?” coren couldn't supress a slight chuckle as his father just dropped the issue and stepped over to help the customer. After a few moments of waiting, making sure that his fathers attention was completely tied up, he tried to slip away as quietly as possible and get enough distance between him and his father. Getting away and be scolded at home was one thing. But if he was caught right now he didn't even have time to enjoy some lazing around before his ass was thrown to the bears! Still it seemed one of the gods was smiling on him today, because even with his amateurish attempt at sneaking away he made it out. oocknow it isn't the best, but it will have to do.

[Antar]

Upon the deck in the center of the Frozen Falls Market, Noth stood there gazing at the frozen wonder that stood before his eyes. The Tanvalis Falls of Avanthal were a prime spectacle to behold. It was astounding that a small force of nature such as the element of water could be permanently caged in ice as the stream fell from above. The jagged, hewn rocks closest the falls were a testament to the long years the waterfall had been ensconced in the winter's embrace. The appearance was a sheer contrast to the distant smooth slate where the water had worn its path over time immemorial. From below, his eyes were drawn to small parts of the rock face which had pocked and marked by cracks and divots formed from the ice when the water froze and expanded beneath the rocky surfaces. Together, all these elements combined to create something which drew the eye to the scenery around it. Add in the refraction of the Fall light, and Noth would honestly say to anyone that asked: the Tanvalis Falls were simply a thing of beauty.

Something even a shallow rogue like him could appreciate as being far more pure then the average person.

He was out today, searching the environs of Avanthal to equate himself with his surroundings so that when his true task came, finding the symenestra he was here to hunt down, it would be easier. It was a basic rule of thumb- to know the lay of the land. The Falls themselves were a perfect place to help him reflect upon his situation, and order his thoughts.

The Frozen Falls was a market that catered to Avanthal's needs along with the Menagerie farther away. Together they made the heart of the Avanthal trading. As such the locations always drew large crowds which were always in motion, with female vantha chittering as they went from one store to the other as quickly as hummingbirds in flight tasting the nectar of flowers. Truly, in this mind, this place would have been a perfect hunting ground for a Sym to stalk their prey- the vantha people were just so open in the city aside from their Icewatch guardians.

Even worse than the crowds, there were always the admiring stares of besotted lovers as they spun round each other in social lovers games of cat and mouse. He'd almost been run into by a pair of teens on his way down to the falls and the pair had laughed a bit, saying something in that strange Vantha tongue before they waved an apology to him and ran off. He'd taken a few moments out of habit to see if his pockets had been picked and was surprised to find they had not. It really had been just two teens making googly eyes at each other before they pranced away to frolic somewhere else.

It was strange to be in a city that on the surface was so... peaceful.

Turning from the falls, Noth began to walk into the market, following the ''U" bend around the falls where the shops were. He wasn't out to buy anything today, just to stretch his legs and keep an eye out for anything which seemed out of the ordinary.

[Coren]

Even though coren had left his father's store behind him for the moment he still wasn't in the clear. He was still only a few meters away from it and if his father even briefly looked away from the client and into his direction he was petched so hard it would not be funny at all. Quickening his step a bit he walked tried to walk away from his fathers shop as inconspicuously as he could manage. His lack of skill and the fact that he was a vantha that was wearing winterbane cloak and a mask covering the bottom of his face was a strange sight to say the least. Ignoring the indignant whispers of the elderly, the curious yells of a few youngsters at his strange appearance and everything in between he just kept his eyes open for anything where he could hide out for a while. A big relieved smile coming on his face as he saw a shop selling clothes, the many racks displaying the clothes would make for an excellent hiding place and if he just acted as a potential customer for a while, quickly following through on that idea he made his way towards the shop, really hoping that his luck would hold out for at least a few more moments. Letting out a small sigh of relief as he could hide himself behind one of the racks of clothing. Aimlessly shifting through the clothes to keep up the guise of being a potential shopper. Waving away the offered help of the owner. After a few chimes of trying to keep up appearances he thought he would be in the clear, if his father hadn't found him now he would probably already have given up, the man knew that he would be home eventually. He just walked into the crowd, making way towards the park. Maybe he could find a calm spot and practice a bit of his shielding magic if he was lucky.

[Antar]

Moving through crowds unnoticed was a way of life to Antar. But in the city of the Vantha, it was almost impossible for a man in a dark cloak and heavier garments to blend in. For starters, even though the day was clear of inclement weather and snowfall, it was impossible for an outlander such as himself to walk around in the same manner as the vantha did. It was like their people had fire in their bloodstreams to keep the cold weather from affecting them. He swore if he ever figured out how they did it, he'd copy and sell the solution for millions of mizas after being sure to find a way to benefit himself. Keeping one's resistance to the wintry elements could mean the difference between life and dead in his hunt for the Sym. After all, anyone who visited this place would tell you it was petching cold in Avanthal!

As a few female Vantha stared at him, and giggled over his white hair, the rogue began to think things through a little more: The vantha were the only people who were accustomed of bearing the brunt of weather in their winter gripped city: and that meant any stranger should be able to be picked out rather easily from their masses. If only by the clothing they had to wore to protect them. Unsure if a Syms would need much of the same protections as he would, Antar decided to take a gander at a few of the clothing stores in the area. With a bit of luck, he might ask what other 'outlanders' had bought in the season before, the time where he suspected his quarry had come to Avanthal.

Shop to shop Antar went, as his investigation began in as low key a manner as possible. He spent chimes upon chimes browsing stores as a customer, searching for the best deals, at the lowest prices, building a repertoire of conversations about how he'd want to do a little hunting outside of the city and wondering what the best ways to be prepared were for the tundra. He didn't buy anything though, only conversed with shopkeeper after shopkeeper who seemed willing to answer a few in depth questions about cold weather gear, including pointing towards a few trap stores of their friends he might wish to check out. When he asked about what non-vanthans were buying, the stories became a myriad number of tales. Most notorious that of an akalak who seemed to wander to climb mountains that had come by a few seasons back. But no description seemed to fit the image of what a Sym would want, probably because the target was hiding his racial identity to blend in.

Thinking quietly to himself, his fatigue only grew as the subtle interrogations continued with various shopkeepers, he surmised in the future it might be wise to see if any of the holds reported any missing people. At least this gray haired vantha with blue highlights was willing to note that not many outsiders who came to Avanthal bought anything at his shop but he was sure the rogue might wish to check in the menagerie for any extra items. Sighing as he came to another dead end, Noth cordially thanked the shopkeeper and moved onto the next store.

It was a cycle which yielded no fruit in his search, but he continued to try anyways, even if the task was boring, hopefully a rumor or two might float his way later when he returned. During his time in the markets, he began to notice a few other 'outlanders' who were making their way through the markets. Some seemed to be workers, but a flash of black against the white, blues, and browns of the timber drew the attention of his notice. For a moment, he turned to glance at the disruption in question and noticed a shorter man moving through the crowd. He wasn't sure what drew his notice; maybe it was the tenseness in the man's step as he moved through the crowd, but some instinct gnawing at the edge of his mind told him to follow.

Weaving his way into the crowd behind the rogue began to follow the figure. Starting with the basics, he threw back the hood of his cloak and began to follow at forty paces, allowing the cold wind to bite against his face and bring a rosier color to his cheeks. Upon his face he plastered an easy going expression and widened his eyes to look about his surroundings. The rogue was playing the part of a common everyday outsider just glancing around at the wondrous majestic carvings and wares that Avanthal's markets held. An object of curiosity perhaps, but not one that would be taken as a threat by the man he was following. At least he hoped that would be the case if the stranger made an errant glance or two his way.

Right now there was only a bit of curiousity, and the hidden drive to determine just which species the man he was following partook... he couldn't expect his mark to walk up and hit him upside the head, but he had the inkling if no one remembered the sym at the shops, the criminal mass murderering spider might have an acquaintance around the city to buy him whatever he needed to keep himself hidden.

[Coren]

Coren was completely unaware of anybody following him, why should he even suspect somebody was following him? His father couldn't leave his cart long enough to do it and he barely knew people from outside his hold and nobody that he knew would bother to force him back towards his father's cart and resume his job. His lazyness and disregard for his hold's skill was know throughout the entire hold so they knew it was just an exercise in futility and left him for his parents and family to straighten out. And it wasn't as if there where to many criminals in avanthal anyway so why should he be looking over his shoulders? So he just went on his merry way towards the park, blissfully unaware of the shady non-vantha following him for some unknown reason. After a few chimes of uneventful walking he finally arrived at the windward boardwalk, slowing down as he began to look at the beautiful landscape, the thick layer of snow coating the though bushes and trees that where carefully grown in shapes and arches over the path's always where an enjoyment to look at in his honest opinion. After some aimless wandering around he finally came to one of the more less visited parts of the park and came to a sudden stop. This was a perfect spot to practice a bit with his magic, though he didn't see anything he could use to practice projection but he could practice shielding or even glyphing if absolutely nobody was around. Carefully beginning to check his surroundings for anybody that might be here and see him practice and play the snitch to his family. Carefully taking note of the pathway's and even going so far to check in the bushes and behind the trees for anybody that might be watching. It didn't take to long for coren to spot the man who had been following him for a while and he just gave him a friendly smile, that was hidden by his face mask and a wave. “Hello, what brings you to this forgotten piece of the park?” Coren yelled at him, no hostility or suspicion in his voice at all.

ooc: you only got 5 stealth so I don't think it would be impossible to see you

[Antar]

Noth had followed the man through the crowded lanes of Avanthal, before noticing his mark of interest make his way towards one of the more wooded areas of the city. A park of sorts which seemed as if it was bedecked in winters' splendor. Icicles on lower branches were apparent to the eye, catching the sun's radiance agains the normally dreary background of dusky branches and evergreen needles. For the second time that day, the peaceful environs of the city's delights drew something deep from the inside of the rogue's soul. A part of him, that quelled the turbulent bloodthirsty aspect of his nature, and wonder what it might be like to live free of being tied to a job he did not ask for, or want to begin.

If he had grown up a vantha, would his life had been different from the one which he had lived? If he had never run away to the streets, would he be doing what he was doing now? It was an interesting thing to ponder, but he pushed such thoughts aside as he continued tailing the individual as discretely as his meager talents might allow as the man made his way further and further into the park.

The only easy thing the job had was that tracking the robed wrapped man's footsteps was a breeze in the inches thick snowfall in the park. The hardest thing was that deep snow meant he couldn't figure out how to move fast enough to dart behind cover in an emergency. That didn't mean he didn't try to, it was just apparent the man had noticed his presence amidst the quiet of the area, compared to the birdsong in the winter weather. It was fall, and a few of the winter owls were hooting at his passage past their burrows. Even though many of them were nocturnal, they did possess a territory as they hunted and prepared for their hibernation cycles. Oddly enough he wondered if it was always winter in Avanthal if the owls even hibernated.

He'd have to ask someone. After all,snow owl feathers were able to be put to prime use as the fletching of arrows. He'd never shoot one of them, they were prime hunters, and equally adept in the dusk at hunting as they were at night.

Stumbling in deep snow, Noth tripped do to his inattention to the path, and found himself face first in the cushioning mass of a cold snow bank. Picking himself up , he cursed a little to look around for the man he was following and heard the other warmly dressed figure shout towards him and wave as he brushed himself off. “Hello, what brings you to this forgotten piece of the park?”

Silently cursing his luck, Noth plastered a smile on his face and made his way to approach as he cheerfully waved back before talking a mile a minute. "Hello there my friend, sorry, I'm new to town. My job just brought me hear you know how it is? Name's Ant, how's yours? Erh.. what's yours? Sorry I got a little lost, but wandering ever since to see if there's good places to sit and think awhile. I figure I'll eventually make it out of the park, when you stumbled into view. So how bout you my good fellow? What do you like being out here for?"

As he walked towards the man, Antar took a note to see if he could find a way to take a close look at the cloaked individual's hands. He didn't seem of the same stature a vantha would, but if he could he'd like to see if there were the typical signs of the claws the race usually possessed. But for the moment, his keen eye was watching how the other man might react, always alert for a sign of hesitancy in the other man's posture which might signal danger to himself.

[Coren]

Coren got a bright smile on his face as he managed to get that sentence of without a hitch, he knew studying the common language would have come in handy! No whe just had to get rid of the man without being to pushy, he didn't want to give the foreigner the wrong idea afterall and if he began talking around that that masked vantha was doing some suspicious things he just knew his gossip of a mom would hear about it and he didn't doubt she would be trying to figure out what the heck he was doing on his own in the park, he doubted that excuse would work again, at least not without getting looked at like a freak. When the man suddenly began talking in rapid fire common, only catching a few words in that long string of gibberish his smile was slowly replaced with a confused look, though the foreigner probably wouldn't notice it thanks to his mask. “Eh.... Could, you slow down a bit? I didn't get any of it.” coren asked in his slow and accented common.

[Antar]

Noth smiled sheepishly and straightened up to look at the masked man, as he realized the difficulty which had ensued. It was the language barrier thing, the same which he had trouble with Darren before. Many vantha just understood broken common and talking fast tended to confuse them or cloud the issue.

However, there was a bit of skepticism as he stared at the man. He knew communications problems would hinder the ability of a person to understand, but he had to consider if he was being played a fool with someone masquerading like they couldn't understand him. Even if the unwritten law that the simplest reason for something was usually true. He hadn't survived this long without being cautious.

Ever smiling, Noth eyed the man in front of him and went a little slower as he repeated the basic gist of his excuse. " Let's try the introductions again eh? I'm Anthony, and I'm lost." He pantomimed turning in all directions, furrowing his brow in a confused expression before turning back to Coren. His eyes stared straight at the other man's face as his mind tried to notice small details out of his peripheral vision before letting his features relax into a smile again. "What's your name? Are you from around here?"

Taking an educated risk, hoping he wouldn't be attacked for it, Antar extended his right hand out towards Coren for a handshake.

[Coren]

d

Coren just impatiently waited for the man to repeat his words so that he could answer whatever the man asked of him or at least try to figure out how to get rid of the man so that he could practice some more with his magic.When the man slowly began to repeat what he said again he could follow it with a bit of effort on his side, though the pantomiming was completely unnecessary and to be honest quite confusing, if he hadn't known what the man, anthony as he called himself, had said he probably wouldn't have been able to figure it out correctly, still lost? How did you get lost in the park of all things? He either was stupid or lying. He just shrugged as a small satisfied smile came on his face, at least it would be easy to get him away from here and if the man was still hanging around then he knew the foreigner was up to no good. Shaking the man's outstretched hand after a short moment of hesitation. “I'm coren skyglow and yes I'm from around here, not many people aren't. But if you are lost.” He said the word lost with some skepticism in his voice, “you just need to go that way.” He pointed to the way he came from. “Take the first path to the left and you'll come on a great broad path lined on both sides with trees that arch over the path. Just go right and you'll get out of the park and back into the city.”

[Antar]

Noth nodded constantly and politely to the man's words as he spoke. "Well, Coren pleasure to meet you. As I said I'm Anthony." He paused a moment to hear the man out for awhile as his eyes looked at Coren's hands during the handshake, they didn't seem to hold any vestigial claws or any sort that would mark him as the Sym he was here for. Though the possibility of being under an illusion was a factor, Noth at least thought it probable to rule out he wasn't a factor. "Okay, okay. I get it, that's the way out of the park. But... where do I go from there? I said I was new in town and I meant it ! I'm all turned around and have no idea where I parked my horse and tent."

A small hoot came from the trees nearby and Noth's head whirled towards it, "Oooh a snow owl. Did you know they could reach wingspans of up to seven feet? Amazing creatures, Absolutely amazing.A single snow owl can hunt almost twelve voles in a day! Now where did that come from?"

As if the thought of being lost had suddenly skipped from his mind Antar trotted past Coren for a few feet and started peering into the brush. "Did you know Coren that when they're born they're dark and spottled? Only the adult males are pure white , the females on the other hand have dark markings on their wings. Absolutely fascinating creatures. Yes, fascinating."

With enthusiasm he turned his head and pointed, "Look you can see a burrow in that tree there, just above head high. Absolutely marvelous creatures Coren. Say you said you are from around here, does that mean you're a Vantha? Oh nevermind, look there's a little fledling peeking out. Look at that! Ha Hah, Lil' Feller's stretching his wings, not long till he flies for the first time. Must have been a late hatching. Absolutely amazing creatures I tell you, Amazing."