In High Spirits (Liandra,Closed)

[Indigo]

Timestamp: 88th of Winter, 511 AV Location: High Spirits Spiritism shop Time: Early Morning Purpose: Liandra learning about Spiritism Status: Closed. Moderated for Liandra only please The old waterfront store had definitely seen better days than this tired old winter morning. The above ground section of High Spirits had become what one might call a fixer upper-to be nice. Its vibrant turquoise paint had faded into a dull gray-green on the constant ocean breeze and the front steps sagged with rotted wood. What had once been beautifully appointed bay windows facing the sea, were now dusty and a few panes were cracked. It was a shame that the place had fallen into such a gloomy state of disrepair. Beneath the layered grime and weather beaten exterior was sturdy, expensive wood that had lost its luster. The solid beams carved with fanciful and intricate shapes were glorious back in their day. Nessela opened the front doors with their rusty squeak rivaling the ache in her own ancient old bones. Her long white hair was tied in a knot at the nape of her, a few recalcitrant wisps escaping to frame her lovely pale Konti face. At two hundred thirty-nine years old, one still had to look carefully to find any sign of her advanced years. Nesse walked over to the large goblet on the corner table and checked on it. What looked to be a large, beaded necklace encircled the floor around the table. Seven glittering gems gleamed quietly in the dim predawn light, giving no blatant evidence of their strong magic. Two ghosts sat on the couch by the door, chatting animatedly amongst themselves. "Just like a young Nesse she was I tell ye!" He exclaimed, his hands shedding Soulmist as he gesticulated toward the ocean front. His ethereal female companion nodded at the juicy bit of gossip of a newcomer to Riverfall. "T'was slender as she, but blue she was. No hair though--just fin or horn looking things on her head. Kind of pretty, albeit in a foreign sorta way." As Nessela went slowly about her morning routine, she listened to the pair with half her attention. She never knew when their chatter could prove useful. She set the kettle on for tea with a slim, graceful hand that belied her age. The old Konti sprinkled fresh ginger into the tea cup, thankful that she'd stopped by Sanctuary last ten-day. Though reluctant to admit it, she was feeling every one of her years. Once the hot, fragrant tea was ready, she sat down on the couch next to the spirits and smiled at them. "How's today's news shaping up? Anything interesting happening in Riverfall this morning?"

[Liandra]

Liandra looked down at the flyer she had received when she arrived earlier that morning. There was a section labeled city laws, and she began to review it carefully. One never knows what strange laws may exist. But this city seemed quite peaceful, and its laws seemed to reflect that state. She smiled. She was going to like this place, especially since most of the people seemed to be blue like herself. As a visitor, she read that she was called a Kuvan. Her eyes widened as she read that all Kuvan would be expected to learn how to fight. Why would she fight, what with all these strong men around? She didn't even know how long she was going to stay. She was walking along the oceanfront and was now trying to make heads or tails of the map. She was surprised at how many people were bustling about, at the busy nature of the city. She'd been to a handful of other cities, but none were as beautiful or productive as what she was seeing here. She was paying no mind as she ran right into a solid wall of blue muscle with a resounding oof. Even before she could apologize, the man held out a hand for her. She looked up and saw that in his other hand he was carrying five large sacks of some product or other. She took his hand, looking up at the beaming smile he was presenting her. "My apologies beautiful, you appeared out of nowhere like those ghosts at that rundown shop there. Creepy things I tell you." He pulled her to feet effortlessly, followed by a subtle wink. "The name's Kolane, I hope to see you around." Liandra blushed as she watched his muscular form walk away. What did he mean by a shop with ghosts? She knew ghosts existed, but had yet to meet one personally. She smiled, there was more to this place than her boring home of Charbosi, and she hadn't even been here for a day. She looked at the shop, which was a slight bit of an eyesore in such a beautiful city. Dilapidated was definitely an accurate description, did ghosts like such a place? She felt that curious tug in her mind, the one that forced her into all kinds of situations. But she could never say no. She walked up the steps, being extra careful, for they looked to be quite unsafe. She pushed open the door, popped her head in. "Hello? Is anyone here?"

[Indigo]

"She seeks you Nessela. And it looks to be the Kolane boy she's speaking to right now." "I knew his father three or four centuries ago. Very nice Akalak." Nesse followed their gazes to look out the window and smiled gently. The young man had a habit of lurking around the shop before gathering his courage to come in preceding every mating session. Some people might've called him superstitious, but when your entire race was at stake, others would consider him prudent. He'd been a customer for half a century now, insistent on removing any possible bad spirits in an area before even making a deal on a Konti, a Kelvic or the like. His father was the same way and the old Konti was glad of it. She advertised completely by referrals and word of mouth. People were funny about ghosts and spiritists sometimes. They were usually divided into the two main camps of scorn and avoidance or uneasy acceptance tinged with fear. The Konti woman slowly stirred her tea, and through lowered lashes, she watched Liandra approach. There might have been a polite hesitation as with a greeting of all new things, but no underlying fear was evident. The Charoda was in good color, looking young and in her prime. She gave a tiny smile at the thought of the hungry Akalaks that would look upon Liandra with a never to be filled desire. It's not that the girl was ugly-far from it actually. Her ocean toned skin and eyes gleamed and her powerful stride worked under a lean willowy frame. But this girl was -not- for breeding with the natives. A whispering started amongst the random spirits within the shop, though they lacked the Soulmist to be seen. Nesse sipped her tea and listened casually to their comments of urgency. 'She is the daughter you are seeking. A female of no breeding value will be lonely like you.' 'Young and strong, she could help you with carrying the last of your items downstairs before the storm.' 'This is why we urged you to get the Reimancer to build the waterfront cave beneath the store eight seasons ago. She has arrived two days before the devastation. Then she will-' The abrupt sussuration of multiple voices was so sudden, the silence rang louder than the gentle chiming of the opening door. "Hello? Is anyone here?" Queried the soft voice of peculiarly accented Common. Nessela smiled a kind welcome as she moved to her seat at a beautiful mahogany table, and gestured for Liandra to join her. Speaking in benevolent Common, she answered, "Yes dear, right over here. Come share some tea with me on such a fine morning. There is much to be said in short time young one."

[Liandra]

As Liandra adjusted slowly to the change in light, she noticed a very strange silence. It felt like she had interrupted something. Her large, bright eyes were quickly scanning the area. She was searching for something, but wasn't sure what. What do ghosts look like anyways? As she was peering away, a voice made her nearly jump out of her skin. "Yes dear, right over here. Come share some tea with me on such a fine morning. There is much to be said in short time young one." She turned and saw a smiling face seated at a wooden table. The woman had nearly scared the Laviku out of her. She was gesturing for Liandra to sit, as if she were an old friend. Liandra paused for a moment, her eyes taking in the woman before her. She had long white hair, and was quite beautiful. Such natural beauty, with that skin tone and hair color could only mean that she was a woman of the white isle. A Konti woman, a race the Charoda were very fond of, for they were daughters of Laviku. Liandra relaxed a bit at this, she'd never heard of an untrustworthy Konti. As Liandra approached the table, she took in a few more details with her large, pupil-less eyes. She saw a large cup of sorts on a table in a corner as well as a worn couch. Liandra suspected that this woman entertained several guests. With a reputation for ghosts, how does one have many guests to entertain? She assumed that most places weren't fond of them, despite her own curiosity about them. Just as she neared an empty chair, her webbed foot stepped on a cord of some sort. Liandra looked down and saw a long string, with various adornments around the table. What a strange decoration. Liandra had heard of tea, but had never tried it before. She sat down in the chair across from the Konti woman. And why wasn't there much time? "Um, hello. I hope I'm not intruding." She appeared a bit timid, she was never good with social graces. "I'm, uh, Liandra, is this a shop or something? I was told it was, and I'm sort of... new to this beautiful town."

[Indigo]

Nesse hid a smile at Liandra's sudden start and poured the fragrant tea into a second cup. This young woman must surely be the one her ephemeral friends had mentioned earlier. Nessela watched as the Charoda carefully observed her surroundings. 'The girl feels their presences with the correct instinct. So much potential in this one.' The old Konti thought with approval, that is until Liandra's misstep. 'She stepped on the Ghostbeads!' 'If we did that, we'd be scattered to Akajia and back again!' 'She's not a spirit like us you silly old coot.' "Watch your step youngling. The Ghostbeads shouldn't be disturbed." She softened the chastisement with a gentle smile and arranged the sugar, lemon and cream on the table. "It's not an intrusion at all. I did invite you to come and sit, yes?" Slim, graceful hands bent to the calming ritual of tea with a practiced manner. Once completed, Nesse gave a quick, shushing look to her spirited guests on the couch. The keen old woman watched the young woman's pupil-less eyes roaming and scanning the room, trying to take in every detail. She was definitely the one she'd been waiting for, for quite some time now. Yes, this Liandra could very well be the one she might pin her hopes on. Nesse repressed the swell of hope under a cautious barrier, taking care to keep her countenance friendly and receptive. "Well met Liandra. I am Nessela, and this is my Spiritism shop." Nesse took a sip of her ginger tea with lemon, pausing over it to enjoy the delicate scent and tart tang of well-made tea. After a chime, she placed a steaming cup before the lovely young woman and urged her to try a sip. The spirit pair could no longer contain the curiosity and moved off their couch to stand just to Liandra's right side. They gossiped and whispered amongst themselves, almost cooing over her youth and foreign nature. 'I've heard that her kind are one of the children of Laviku.' 'Have you now? There are rumors that they tame huge, wild seahorses to bend to their will by just talking to them!' 'The girl has webbed fingers like Nessela. I wonder if they and Konti are related somehow.' 'Ah it's those striking eyes of hers that are prettiest, I think.' Allowing them to work out their insatiable inquisitiveness, she asked Liandra, "What brings you to Riverfall? Are you looking for a place during the coming storm?"

[Liandra]

The Ghostbeads? What an odd name for an even odder decoration. And why mustn't they be disturbed? She kept the question for later. The woman sitting was named Nessela and this was a... Spiritism Shop? The woman sipped at her tea, and Liandra wanted to try it herself. She lightly grasped the cup that was placed before her, her webbed hands absorbing the warmth it gave off. She brought it slowly to her lips, and took a small swig. It was quite delightful! She wasn't sure what it was or what it contained, but by itself it was an amazing treat. It warmed her belly, and relaxed her quite well. She would have to find more of this... tea. However, she stiffened a bit. Chills were tingling up her spine, like if she were being watched by an unseen predator. She shifted slightly in her seat, and she began looking around, her eyes looking for a source. The large orbs, however, saw nothing that they hadn't already seen. Then what was this feeling? Nessela's question brought her back to her usual senses. Why was she here? She'd heard when she'd arrived that there would be a storm coming soon. But surely a city such as this could survive Zulrav's trials? Zulrav was after all, a fair god. He would try you, and if you survived, you passed his test. "I saw the city from afar, and was entranced by it's beauty and allure. I had to seek out the mystery that I knew would be within. No such city, not even my own Charbosi, has captured my curiosity nor my interest like Riverfall has. The people here are like jewels upon the face of an even greater diamond. I must see more, know more of this city. I did not learn of Zulrav's impending trial until I had arrived at the docks." What was this Spiritism she had spoken of? Her shop didn't appear to have many goods, so what did she sell? What service did she provide? And where were the ghosts that Kolane had mentioned? She assumed that if there were Ghostbeads, whatever those were, that there would be ghosts. She was a bit disappointed. Another shiver danced up her back. She looked swiftly to her right, feeling as if something were there. But she saw nothing. What was wrong with her senses? What was watching her? She continued looking around for the source, but still couldn't find anything.

[Indigo]

Nessela covertly watched the girl from beneath her lashes. The cold shivers didn't go unnoticed and she highly approved Liandra's intuitive reaction. Many people had passed through those doors, with nothing more than a dismissive shudder of cold. The Konti held back a smile as the girl tried to see a ghost without Soulmist. Yes, she might do just fine. "Indeed." The woman agreed with her. "It's a grand thing to be a female here in Riverfall because they treat us like gold. The Akalaks of this city are brave, honorable and handsome men. Did you know they actually have a law against the harassment of women and children?" She gestured for the Charoda to drink some more tea to fight off the ghost derived chill. The pair of ghosts got a bit careless in their jostling for position near the girl and one of them caught an errant heel on the edge of the Ghostbeads. He yelled in pain, hitting a sound that didn't quite register in human hearing; but it was damn close! An odor similar to burnt hair rose up from the broached edge of the beads and one gem gave off a small bit of whitish blue defensive armor mist. Nesse schlocked between her teeth at the unpleasant whiff that thankfully lasted only a brief chime. Acutely aware of Liandra's response to her spirited friends so far, she watched the girl with close scrutiny. This was as good a test as any to see if she was the nervy, timid type or the startled, but curious personality Nesse needed in an apprentice. It was a tell-tale moment that would forever decide if the Konti woman would retire alone with her vast knowledge or finally pass it onto the next generation of spiritual sensitives. After quite a short while, all sensation of cold dissipated along with the presence of the ethereal pair. The older woman decided on a bit of toast with her morning tea and offered some to Liandra as well. "Just how much would you like to see of this city?" The old woman knew Liandra would instinctively react to the barrier breach and the strong but brief scent. If she didn't miss her mark, which wasn't usually often, this girl had an extremely high sensitivity just waiting to be trained. As casually as possible, she set about toasting the bread and gathering butter and jam, all the while keeping an eye on the Charoda.

[Liandra]

Liandra didn't know that law. She really needed to read that flier a bit more closely. A city of hard work and honor? So far nothing had reduced her interest, but rather, kept spurring her on to stay. Liandra sipped at her tea once more, letting the warmth fill her from her very core. She was not used to such... polite and proper meals. She'd been traveling for many years now, never staying in one place long enough to call it home. She was afraid her manners may come off as rude. She moved to set her cup down, when a massive spike of that odd feeling shot through her. It was sudden, fast, and short, like hearing the cry of an injured velispar cub, coupled with a smell she didn't recognize, a burning smell. She looked around her once again. A small bit of white and blue caught her eye from the floor. Curiosity spurred, Liandra peered over the side of the table at the Ghostbeads, unknowingly ignoring the Konti woman. Did it just do that? And what exactly was done? The more she scrutinized, the less she noticed the temperature returning to normal. Nothing more was happening. Slightly disappointed, Liandra sat back up, now seeing a bit of bread being offered to her. Liandra was never particularly fond of bread, but seeing at how tasty the tea was, she didn't refuse. She quickly bit into it with her razor sharp teeth, all three rows of them, remainders of times past, listening as she was asked another question. She nearly choked laughing at the question. Trying to mind her poor manners, she finished the bit of toast, and answered, "I want to see it all. Every single bit of it. I know there's more to this city, and I'm fairly certain we aren't alone in this room. Something is going on here, and I would like to know if Kolane was just pulling my tentacles about there being ghosts here. Are there ghosts?"

[Indigo]

Liandra had looked in the right place at the right time, used her senses and not just trusted in them, but pounced on them. It was highly unusual to find such a fearless intelligence that wasn't paired with hostility. She was impressed with the Charoda's observations and immediate conclusions she'd drawn. The look of intense scrutiny changed to a very relieved smile and Nesse took a satisfying bite of her toast before answering the surprised young woman. "Indeed young miss, there were a few spirits showing curiosity about you." She nodded her head as she continued, "Hmm the Kolane boy is quite correct. He comes here fairly frequently and makes use of my services. Not the sharpest Akalak around, but he has some good manners on him and his money is as good as anyone else." The Konti finished her toast in a few neat bites and wiped away the crumbs. The girl had not just noticed the obvious smell, but saw the shielding on the beads as well. She was almost aggressively curious about seemingly far more than just Riverfall. Liandra smacked of ambition and impatience but she had a keen mind which caught Nessela's interest. Something nearly prescient nudged at the back of Nessela's mind that made her pause for a chime. A dark spirit, deprived of Soulmist dived for the table unknowingly guarded by the Ghostbeads and it growled low and deep just before it was painfully obliterated. The sinister incident incited the old Konti to quickly take on someone and fully train an apprentice to watch her back. The spirits had spoken and it was her job to listen to them. "Yes. You'll do just fine." She said cryptically, sipping the last of her tea.

[Liandra]

The spirits weren't the only curious ones in the room. Liandra wanted to see one first hand. With her own blue eyes, she wanted to see a ghost, not just their parlor tricks. She was beginning to grow impatient at all this polite conversation, but she wouldn't show it. She wanted to see a ghost, come Dira or high water. She was thankful this woman was going to teach her, but her curiosity was getting the best of her. She was about to speak to the "ghosts" to have them show themselves, when she heard the woman say, "Yes, you'll do fine." She was accepted! She just about cheered aloud, her eyes clearly showing her excitement. Wait, accepted as what? She didn't even know what went on here, aside from the fact that there were ghosts, and beads that ghosts didn't like and... hold your seahorses. Was that what she did? She... kept ghosts away from certain things? So they don't cause trouble? And if some ghosts cause trouble, that meant that maybe some were good, perhaps the ones that were in here now? Liandra would get back to what she was accepted as in a moment, standing up and stepping outside of the Ghostbeads. "I'd like to meet one of you Ghosts please. My name is Liandra, and I'm from Charbosi." Afterwards, she look toward the curious Konti woman, and ask, "What have I been accepted to? I'm still not quite sure what you do here, but I can guess you some how... keep ghosts that cause trouble out of places they shouldn't be?"