[Crooked Playhouse] Unfamiliar Territory [Ifran]

[Kiou]

Kiou nodded once more as Ifran took a sip of his own glass of water before glancing about once more, listening attentively as Ifran spoke about this building, and stating that he would try and answer Kiou's other questions, if he had any. Of course he had some. About this strange building and about Ifran himself, but he decided to curb most of them, for fear of offending the man or overburdening him. Shifting his gaze back to the man, he said, "You speak of this city as if it were alive. Is it? Or is it just the trickery of one of these gods?" He had heard that this city was home of one of the deities that many people worshiped. Ionu, if he remembered correctly. He wasn't all that into the whole gods idea, and he wasn't sure if he'd ever be. He had yet to see one of these almighty beings, so he felt no need to worship someone or something he had never met, let alone even seen. But he would not criticize someone for their beliefs. If they chose to worship some stranger, then let them. It was none of his business. He only hoped he had not offended this strange man by his words, however. "Also, if I may ask, what exactly are you?" he asked, politely, glancing at the man's extra limbs before shifting his gaze back to Ifran's face. This was one of the strangest people he had yet to meet face-to-face, and he had never seen anyone with so many arms before. He tried to speak politely, not wanting to offend the man with his question. It wasn't meant to be hurtful, but simply asked because Kiou was truly intrigued and confused.

[Ifran]

"It may very well be alive," he hazarded, "though I cannot say for sure. It might be a dream within Ionu's mind, or a real place, or its changing shape powered by something else. I am not a wizard myself, nor a priest, and so my understanding is limited. "As for what I am," he said, "I am an Eypharian, a desert people out of Eyktol. I come from Ahnatep on the southern sea. My people have as many arms as the river god whose blood runs in our veins, though there are some whose blood is not pure who have fewer arms than this." He was distantly related to a minor god, which was part of the hauteur of his people, but he gave no evidence that he was offended by the man's skepticism.

[Kiou]

Kiou glanced away from the Eypharians face momentarily as he spoke, stating that this strange city may very well be alive, but from that point on, he wasn't entirely following the man's observations of the city, though he did agree with Ifran's statement that his understanding of the whole thing was limited. Kiou himself felt that that was doubled in his case, seeing as he had never really concerned himself with subjects to do with magic of any kind before in his entire two years of life. As Ifran continued to speak of himself, however, Kiou shifted his gaze back to the man,listening curiously, though he was still, for the most part, lost as to what he said. Never before had he heard of the Eypharian race, nor of a place called Ahnatep. He had only every now and then overheard someone talking about the region of Eyktol, but knew next to nothing about it. As to the river god he spoke of, Kiou had no idea who or what he was talking about, but figured that the Eypharians must have some measure of power, considering that they had the blood of a god running through their veins, as Ifran had just stated, and figured that this man may have more than others, those who Ifran referred to as not having pure blood, considering that he had so many arms. Kiou gazed coolly at the man, even though he had not understood a majority of what had just been said, before speaking. "I have never heard of the Eypharians before," he blatantly stated, his light green eyes never leaving the many-armed mans face. "You may or may not have already guessed it, but I am not exactly what I appear to be. I am, in fact a Kelvic," he announced, unmistakeable pride lacing his words, perhaps as a result of the proud beast hidden within. "A lion Kelvic, in fact."

[Ifran]

"Ah," he said, blue eyes lighting with understanding, his suspicions confirmed. "Kelvics are known to me, at least. There are many in Ahnatep, especially those that enjoy the dry heat on the edge of the desert, or the sea and the sun." Many were slaves, of course, but while there would always be cruel people who took out their own miseries on those less powerful, it was not as barbarous a custom as many in other regions seemed to feel. The slaves of the House of the North Winds were frequently ornamental, having lives as easy as a housecat's. In fact, many of them were housecats. He considered for a moment how it would be to have a pet lion Kelvic; certainly many would be impressed, and Kiou would have a life of fresh meat and fresh women, the which could only suit a male lion. But he smiled at the thought and let it go. If he counted the possibilities inherent in every person he met, well, it was important for one raised in the jungle of highborn intrigue that was Ahnatep. At least, his part of Ahnatep. "Perhaps someday you will see Ahnatep, then," he said. "The climate would be more pleasing to a lion such as you. It seems that Alvadas and its illusions confuse Kelvics even more than the common man. When senses are treacherous, where does one stand?"

[Kiou]

Kiou listened curiously as Ifran briefly described the town of Ahnatep, though when the Eypharian mentioned the sea, he gave a brief, almost unnoticeable scowl, before his features returned to normal as Ifran continued speaking. He hated the sea. He had hated for as long as he could remember, which, honestly, wasn't all that long since he was born a mere two years ago, but not for any physical reasons. In all honesty, he thought the sea was beautiful, especially at dawn and sunset. His feelings for the waters surrounding Mizahar were more on a personal level, what with his father having been a Svefra and all. And, of course, it was a well known fact that a majority of felines made it a priority to avoid water, though he simply used that as an excuse. He actually liked the water, surprisingly, it just happened to bring back too many memories that he was trying to forget, and those that were simply best forgotten. "Perhaps one of these days," he stated plainly, though it was evident that it would likely be quite some time before he actually went. That is, if he ever went. Only time would know. When Ifran spoke of Alvadas and it's many petching illusions, however, Kiou couldn't help but agree with the man wholeheartedly. The many various illusions that he had run into in his time in this particular city had already begun to annoy and confuse him, and he was beginning to understand why he so hated magic. He had first run into it in a small settlement, not too incredibly far away from Alvadas, at least by his standards, where there had been a traveling magician of sorts. The man appeared wild, what with his blood red clothes and what were most likely fake jewels adorning this ridiculous hat, though Kiou was able to see that there was nothing all that special about the short man, other than a small scar over one eye. The man only performed simple illusions and magics, most of which the small crowd had seen before, being so relatively close to Alvadas, the City of Illusions. To Kiou, though, he thought of it as unnatural, and soon walked away from the less than exciting spectacle. "It has been...quite an experience," he agreed, bobbing his head slightly. Kiou more than agreed with Ifran's rhetorical question in regards to one's senses. Without his senses, he would have been dead long ago, a case which is true for all races, though he figured Kelvics replied on them more so, for even when they were not in their true forms, their senses were still probably stronger than most others. "Without senses, one would not be still standing," he answered quietly, shifting his green gaze slowly about the room. "I don't know how people can stand all of these petching illusions, created by some god, all of the time. I would likely go mad if I ever lived here," he stated, shifting his intense gaze back to the Eypharian before him before taking a tentative sip of the water he had been given moments before. "No offense, of course," he said swiftly, not wanting to insult the man, though whether or not he meant it, he was not absolutely sure.

[Ifran]

"None taken," he assured him. This was the city of the Alvads, not of Ifran himself, and they were in agreement that the sheer abundance of illusions was an annoyance at best. The wonder of it all had worn off for Ifran some time ago; now he was merely biding his time waiting for Ionu to take notice of him. "The illusions in Ahnatep, at least, can be seen through with a clever eye and a quick wit. Here they are too perfect. Too perfect." He repeated the last thoughtfully as if he were meditating upon some thought too complex or amorphous to be articulated yet, and he would not bother as most Kelvics he had known were not keen on anything philosophical. "Well," he said. "I suppose I shall let you go, loose you upon the city. But I live here at the Playhouse, live and work, so if you have need of me, this is where you will find me."

[Kiou]

Kiou raised an eyebrow slightly at the Eypharians statement about being able to at least having a chance of seeing through the illusions of his home town. That is, if one has the wit and the eyes for such things. Things which Kiou was profoundly lacking in. When Ifran repeated his last statement, the lion watched him curiously, not quite sure if it had some sort of underlying message. He figured it likely did as he observed the man somewhat zone out, as if pondering the subject on a deeper level, one which a simple Kelvic would likely be lost upon, and Kiou was somewhat relieved when Ifran decided not to press upon the subject further, instead saying his farewells to the Kelvic. In response, Kiou gave a curt nod, before speaking. "I'm sure my travels will bring me back here, though more than likely it will be these petching shifting streets, when I least expect it," he replied, offering a slight smile, though he knew that, almost assuredly, that he would be led back here at the most unexpected time by this petching City of Illusions, though he was beginning to wonder whether he should be blaming the city and it's illusions, or whether the blame should fall upon the patron god, this Ionu, who started the whole thing with his petching illusions. Either way, he had no doubt that, before he left this city for more traveling, that he would be back. Until then, who knew where the winding streets would lead him. "Well, I will likely be seeing you later, Ifran of the Crooked Playhouse. Farewell, and may you have a fine night," he said, offering a slight bow as he pushed himself away from the wall. It was a farewell that he had seen many times before in his travels, and he had always thought it a tad over the top and polite, but it seemed appropriate at the moment, so he decided to use it, though he couldn't remember the exact words, so he improvised. That, and the fact that it was the first thing that had come to his mind. It didn't really matter all that much to him, though. It was sometimes beneficial o be polite. Sometimes. With a slight wave of his hand, and a dazzling smile, Kiou casually made his way to the door and exited back out into the chill night air, not once looking back over his shoulder. When he was back out in the fresh air, he let out a slight sigh, turning his gaze skyward momentarily before starting off down a random alley, not sure where he was going exactly. What a curious city this was, this City of Illusion that was Alvadas. {{Exit}}

[Bedlam]

Thread Completed!

Ifran

Experience:
1 Observation

Lores:
The Royal Cat, Kiou

Kiou

Experience:
NA

Lores:
Six-Armed Ifran
An Odd-Angled Theatre

Notes:

Kiou, please use the default text size. Yours isn’t hard to read, but it takes just a pinch extra effort, and that adds up over time. Also, I still think Kiou is very, very civilized and human in thought, considering that he’s a lion.

If you have any problems with the rating please, contact me, and we can talk them over.