[Red Diamond Tavern] A Theoretical Lanthorne {open}

by **Val'guanis** on May 21st, 2013, 1:08 pm

The sound of delicate languid tracks breezed through Val'guanis' ears while the luscious scent of grilled meat streamed and infiltrated his senses almost beguiling most of his attention to it. "Here you go.......uhh..." The tavern wench glanced at the cloaked man cautiously catechizing herself of his presence as if she felt something suspicious. The thought was shivered by a smile constructed at her face, a seductive smile with eyes looking intriguingly edgy anticipating for the cloaked man to cogitate his attention to her but sadly, it was impossible in many ways as the cloaked man remained downcast despite how close the scent of his meal was. A silver dome cover was pulled over divulging a large ellipsoidal ceramic plate encompassed by a well mounded round meal containing three corpulent and fleshy slices of grilled elk meat with a small bowl filled with red wine sauce along with one freshly baked loaf bread sliced into five pieces and a glass of wine enough to fill a thirst worth of a bleary adventurer. "....Enjoy" The tavern wench giggled before emplacing the necessary dining utensils and vanishing away to the cookery. At long last, food right before him but of course, the Kelvic haven't forgotten his little reminder, he still kept calm and quiet and never really turned his attention to the show in front of him even though the atmosphere turned cozy all of a sudden. Spurring gently, he took one fine bite after another unaware of how dining utensils were used, he continued gradually until one slice of meat was completely devoured; dips of red wine sauce were painted all over his lips and some were on the chin. The meat was utterly ambrosial, not the typical meal he would've eaten on a cold and cozy night and certainly not with company. Discontent drew his indulgence as if the meal lacks quantity, he thought he could ask for another round but that would make him illiberal for someone who was bestowed by a great offer. Val'guanis continued to nibble off the remaining meat before ending up with the five slices of bread where he'd decide to consume or not. It was an unfamiliar sight to him, nothing his taste buds would ever relish but he observed it wasn't of any form or kind of fruit he'd picture. Val'guanis took a pinch of the bread then took it to his mouth for a bit of judgement; the taste wasn't vile for him, in fact, it was delicious, something his tongue haven't had a driblet upon. Val'guanis continued with his meal, finishing off what remained on his plate then giving his glass of wine a nice big guzzle.

The bewitching breeze of instruments harmonized together, forming a fragile tone, altering the brute noises and boozy chuckles into a crowd of silence. Most of the people's attention were lured at the stage, carefully watching with their weary eyes besotted by the seductive substance of alcohol. Except for Val'guanis which's attention was on his plate but now empty unlike before. Words gently streamed out from the performer's mouth slowly, reaching the ears of every individual. The silence was haunting but the ballad was even more as it's language wasn't of any of Val'guanis' understanding. Slowly, it bothered him, music--from the musicians--wasn't something he'd wanted, it was worse than a crowd full of noises; it was sedative, something that would unleash weak emotions concealed by a fearsome image and Val'guanis hated every single throb of it. He remained seated and faced were he was supposed to face, taking another gulp of his wine then resisting the sound from his hearing.

by **Veizor Coolwater** on May 24th, 2013, 12:41 am

Onstage doing his own mental preparations once he was able to confirm the smooth skinned female intentions were to return to stage and perform, Veizor was extremely excited. Hopefully another original would be given, the first song being of high-caliber in the ears of the Vantha, who hadn't gotten an ear to distinguish quality as of yet ironically. But he was impressed nonetheless. He was thinking of ways to pursue her, wanting to take advantage of Avanthal's new visitor, whos rarity was truly a sight. Eying her as she walked to the musicians and whispered something in their ears, he tried to read her lips. The obvious lip movements revealed "ancient" and "rhyme" but that was all he had. Quickly maneuvering to the closest musician, "Which poem did she decide to do?" he whispered under an exhale of oxygen.

"The Ancient Rime of the Mariner," he quickly replied back. Rummaging through his vast library of literature, it took a few precious seconds he could of used for preparing his own shown, but he began to remember the poem itself in bits and bits pieces before assembling it all himself. It was a tale of sailor returning from a long journey, like much how Avanthal's port has a fair share of such stories circulating around the different type of social groups.

As the Mariner began to tell his story to a wedding guest, it starts out as with his crew having good fortune. With the ship getting caught in a storm and driven off course, it was sent to a extremely cold wonderland that is said to only exist through the tales of old folk. Then an albatross appears to lead them off the land, with a sudden south wind that carried their ships through the sea at a respectable speed.

Concentrating his djed, controlling it throughout from his arms into his palm as the 'Res' flowed out slowly but surely, developing into a cloud in front of him. It was a little bit over the edge of the stage, showing that it was a considerable size but not beyond his control. With a silent invocation on his part, timing perfectly with Una's own recount of the poem at the point where the albatross appears, the res transformed into the water element. It was about five gallons of water floating in the air, before being maneuvered with the Vantha's fingers like a marionette. The long, sleek wings appeared on the side of where the body was then shown to be, with the neck and head appearing afterwards. The transparent water sculpture was complete with the beak. It seemed to be alive, water swirling around it before commanded to be stuck in place. With a thought, Morwen's mark began to glow with its own white light, signifying its usage. The albatross was bigger than its real-life counterpart, but the lighting in the tavern made the ice sculpture sparkle across the room. Powerful wings and beaded eyes that felt like you were being stared down by a monster version of the bird, was shown in its own icy wake. With another twitch of the fingers, it slowly flapped its wings to show the wind that had brought the ships outward back to the see. It wasn't too much to cause a shiver, but it would immerse everyone more into the splendid rhythm and rhyme. Then as to finish with the "spell", he had its wings pulled back in and its beak opened, as if squawking to the audience before he let go of his control. It was a splendid work of art, albeit lack of intricate details like the feathers, but nonetheless captivating to those less privy of artistry.

With the story continuing, Veizor was filling the effects slightly of his own Reimancy, so he reverted to making about only three more sculptures, each made with about two gallons of water ; The ship itself used for the voyage, the pale woman known as Life-In-Death, and the mariner himself rowing a boat across the world with an albatross around his neck. It was a spectacular show, music that was mood-setting and excellent timing of the icy props by Veizor, and a soothing voice that had bewildered the Vantha, the story itself simmered most of the tenants down but it led to a round of applause that was particularly loud. Hoping to grab the woman's hand and bow in unity, he would leave the sculptures on stage for the others to bask in its rudimentary finishing, but still pleasing to look at. "Thank you for sitting down and appreciating our differences in applying entertainment to the people of Avanthal, I am Veizor, an aspiring worker of the Coolwater hold. Please drop by and enjoy the fishing and boat crews ! That it is all from us tonight, and thank you once more!" he said with a large smile, hands going up and down in front of him as a flourish as he bowed again, before walking off the stage to an empty table to the corner. The beautiful waitress had already come with a couple jugs of water, which the Vantha nodded too.

He was feeling the effects of dehydration, was nauseous and light-headed. He began drinking the water, replenishing his body system due to the after-effects of using such Reimancy. He hadn't over-given, but he was determined to lower any effects to the bare minimum or to make them vanish altogether. After a few minutes of water drinking and simply recollecting oneself, Veizor felt better and had soon took in his surroundings once more. A lovely town was Avanthal, he would never want to leave!

by **Una Tanta** on May 24th, 2013, 11:26 pm

69th Day of Spring, 513 AV, Night

OOCHere is my post, however Cians exit post actually precedes this he just couldn't post because the previous threads coding was altered.

The water forms before her were exquisite. She had never seen magic used so deliberately before, for the little she had seen in Wind Reach was used to aid in simple tasks. The end of the poem was a stumbling mess and she felt pink heat rise to her cheeks in humiliation but the sight of the flying water had so surprised her she could hardly recall the poem let alone sink into it. Her attention was again stolen from their performance when the large man who had bought her drink rose and left the tavern grumpily in the middle of their performance. She followed his path unwaveringly, glad when he exited but annoyed by his lack of manners.

Startled from her annoyance by his hand closing around hers she stared at him wide-eyed and took a clumsy bow. Watching him act the performer and close the show, she almost laughed aloud. His words and repeated bow reminded her very much of the mariner children around Thunder Bay who would scamper around making up plays to a pretend audience. Whenever the play was over they would practically tackle each other to be the one to close the show and take the most bows. It was amusingly narcissistic coming from a grown man.

Following him off stag she followed him with her eyes unsure when he sat at a lonely table in the corner if she should follow him. Curiosity getting the better of her she swept over eyes and mind beginning to clear away from the small amount of alcohol she had left and forgotten sitting on the bar. Not waiting to be invited she sat down beside him and poured herself a glass of his water feeling the sticky lightheaded feeling that came from spending hours away from the water. Reaching into the glass she cupped the water and slowly drenching her hands rubbed her hands over her arm and legs closing her eyes and sighing with delight, there was no more luxurious feeling at that moment than the water.

She could feel the taverns gaze on her back like bubbles bursting along her back. These people are the known for their storytellers how can they think me worth such attention she puzzled. Used to seeing people that didn't look like her she didn't realize the gazes were addressing her peculiar appearance. Glancing about her while water droplets rolled down her white skin making it shimmer she scanned the crowd. Many of the Vantha looked similar but all in the tavern were once again quite rowdy, though this time there was no hostility surging beneath that she could see. There were a couple couples in the corners fingers tangled breathing into each others ears the sight of which made Una's stomach flip uncomfortably. Toward the center were the rowdier bunch gently tussling or insulting each other jovially. Between the two groups were a few quiet groups or solos sipping ale or nibbling at their late dinner deep in thought or not so subtly gazing at her. She didn't bother or dare to throw her gaze over the two men at the bar that had bought her drink though her eyes did skim over the woman she had consistently been stolen from and smiled apologetically before turning back to the man that had accompanied her.

Once she felt rejuvenated and clear headed she turned her attention and eyes to Veizor. As was custom among the Charoda she had met, her eyes met his directly. Though she often didn't mean for her gaze to be intense the directness with which she met people with them was. Furthermore, the lack of blinking and pupil-less interior typically made people uncomfortable for what she considered light and polite intention often appeared unwavering. Her eyes, a faint pink, reflected the looker unto themselves unlike human eyes, and she had met several people infatuated with the idea of talking to themselves while others were disturbed unable to see within her.

"That was beautiful." She complimented, her Char accent making the Vani less musical and more bubbly her mouth making small o's around the vowels her voice lifting at the end of the sentence as one would in Char. "How long have you been doing magic? Do you often accompany performers? Is it draining to make such impressive sculptures? How do you make the water appear out of nowhere? Does the salinity of the water make it easier or harder to manipulate because of the varying density?" The questions came forward like a waterfall rushing and crashing before she started a new one making her feel the child and him the wise all-knowing adult. The thought almost made her chuckle at herself. Gazing expectantly at him she awaited the answers her fingers stroking the watered wood in a self soothing gesture her lack of inebriation making the cacophony of the tavern more grating than before.

by **Cian Silvertooth** on May 24th, 2013, 11:30 pm

Cian ignored the man whose meal he'd bought, much like he ignored the women he had bought the drinks. The time for caring about it had passed. He downed his ale in one long gulp, wiped the back of his hand across his mouth, and dropped a handful of coins onto the table. He was sure it was more than enough, but he didn't care.

Petchin' Avanthal. He was done with it, all snow and inactivity. Not worth a second more of his time. He'd been there for most of the season, but Gods he was bored. He stood up, ignoring the performance at the front of the bar, and made his way outside.

OOCThat's it for me. Deductions'll be done soon enough. Enjoy the rest of the thread.

by **Veizor Coolwater** on May 27th, 2013, 3:42 am

A sense of being followed rendered a normal response of looking back towards the stage. His partner stood for a quick second, then made her way into the vicinity of his table. A glance at her physique ; a closer inspection than before, she competed with the best of human females, myrians etc. She just a fine trophy for any wealthy suitor to try and pursue, or a sweetening for the eyes to bask in, she was her own singing goddess. Now in his mind, all of these descriptions would be exaggerated, but surely all justifiable. Seeing double, eyes glazing over her figure as she walked past, it took a second for her presence to register. The glistening of the water as the lights of the tavern bounced of it, an insignficant effect that for whatever reason caught Veizor's eyes.

Now seeing only one of the maiden, vision back to how it should be, a smile graced the Vantha's face, glad of having company after such a fun show. Not trying to stare as she applied water to moisturize her skin, Veizor took a sip of his own water glass before being praised for his own performance. He showed no obvious delight with being complimented, but within his body, his soul was bouncing around in joy. "Thank you, thank you, you did very well yourself madame, I am sure," he replied back, turning his body sideways, legs having more room. He had a slight hunch in his back, right elbow supporting majority of his weight as he did a slight lean over the table to make himself more engaging and comfortable. Cheery tone in his voice, the eye to eye contact wasn't too unsettling, but rather unfamiliar territory. He didn't turn away from a challenge though!

Bombared by questions, one after another, a muffled laugh came from the Veizor, surprised by such curiosity and found it interesting that she was so engrossed into the working of his show. Sip of water and a clearing of the throat before speaking, "Please, please, I am only an ordinary man, so I can only answer one question at a time!," he jested, chuckle in the beginning of his sentence. "I have been doing it since a boy, and I am usually doing it myself with a more lively tune or story. Third, I turn the Djed into res, its like a substance. I focus on it and turn it into any element that I am proficient with, and wa-la! Water. For the last one, you have bewildered me, I am not a scientist, just a storyteller with magic," he laughed, another gulp of water. Her intelligence in other subjects was evident, maybe a scholar?

"Are you a scholar walking through Avanthal? You seem privy to books and other things, with your oratory skills nicely developed and beautiful eyes that could turn stained books into brand new masterpieces," he inquired then continued to bless her with rightfully so compliments.

by **Una Tanta** on May 27th, 2013, 4:57 am

69th Day of Spring, 513 AV, Night

Impatiently watching him settle into his chair she remained upright and unmoving. Excited about the magic and the questions her eyes only roamed him quickly not taking in the details of his posture or tone. "Please, please, I am only an ordinary man, so I can only answer one question at a time!," he joked, making her blush self consciously. "I have been doing it since a boy, and I am usually doing it myself with a more lively tune or story." He explained further, "Oh? Well you could have asked for a more more lively tune, but you seem quite thirsty, I imagine keeping up with a more lively story would have been even more draining. I wouldn't want you to over give on my account. My lively stories are....energetic and fast-paced, maybe too much for you." She replied challengingly when he questioned her choice in poetry.

Third, I turn the Djed into res, its like a substance. I focus on it and turn it into any element that I am proficient with, and wa-la! Water. For the last one, you have bewildered me, I am not a scientist, just a storyteller with magic," She pouted inside when he ignored her quip but nodded along to his answers listening intently nonetheless. "Oh." She stated disappointed her attention and curiosity quickly fading. Pushing her chair back to rise he interrupted her with a question of his own which she felt out of good manners necessitated a response. "Are you a scholar walking through Avanthal? You seem privy to books and other things, with your oratory skills nicely developed and beautiful eyes that could turn stained books into brand new masterpieces."

She blinked as he continued to lavish his tongue against her skin symbolically stroking and likely expecting her to preen under the attention she guessed. Interrupting him abruptly she stood her warm curiosity quickly replaced with irritation as the din rubbed her nerves raw, "I'm not a scholar, I live and breathe the water so of course I know the effects of salt on the density, I have to swim in it don't I? And yes I read, as any storyteller should." She pointedly replied. "how can beautiful eyes make other things beautiful? If anything beauty makes other things ugly and pale." She finished perturbed. His compliments were ill thought out, furthermore why would I stranger bother complimenting her, he knew nothing about her.

He reminded her very much of an enthusiastic dog licking the hand of any stranger and with this in mind she quieted her frustration. "This din is giving me a headache, it was a pleasure meeting you Veizor I will hopefully see you another day." She said offering her hand and squeezing his before turning to leave, grateful to leave the din and noise behind and return to the silky silence of the sea.

OOCWhile I was writing this this is just what appeared, so I think Una is done, much to my sadness, with the atmosphere for the tavern. Thanks for threading everyone. You may all make your final posts before I send it in for grading (unless of course there is still something you wish to achieve or do in which case shoot me a PM and I will leave it open till you are done)

by **Veizor Coolwater** on May 27th, 2013, 5:13 am

He quickly assessed that she was not like other weak-willed females. Corny compliments that would soothe the usual human or Vantha were easily seen to be repelled, with no sort of effect. A different type of mind was in that brain, a different way of thinking. He respected that and evidently was now interested in learning from her and befriending her. Maybe he would get another chance, but he wouldn't change his personality for anyone. One day she might find the light-hearted intent of his words, or not. Smiling to see her stand up and interrupt him randomly, it was all he needed to observe to know that the night would be over for both of them.

A stern hand-shake he thought were only custom between men, it was definitely something different. Whatever race she may be, they have an aura about themselves that draws Veizor to them. Worthy of tales, definitely. With a nod of the head and recognition of her words, Veizor stood up himself and wiped his hands off his hands. "Thank you for giving me the dark of night, and I hope for future duets between us, pardon my nature since I can tell it does not sit well with you. Please, be safe!" He said, before hurrying in front of her, walking out the door and heading back to the Coolwater hold with many memories and cringe-worthy regrets. Such a life he led, it made him chuckle to himself.

by **Liyana Winterflame** on June 1st, 2013, 7:00 pm

Liyana felt displeased when the dance was interrupted, and went to sit on a chair in the back.

However, the same reason that made her irritated of the interruption also made her stick around: she was interested in the singer.

Liyana swayed to the rhythm of the lyric, eyes fixated on the vocalist.

Soon, she saw statues being crafted of their own accord above the stage.
Her first thoughts were that she was hallucinating.

Perhaps this philter batch was ruined? Though it's weird this effect would arise.
I wonder if I can replicate this effect again..

By the time the wizard took the stage, she had already formulated many theories and was even happy to be hallucinating.

Liyana felt curious about this couple as they bowed on the stage. It did not seem as if they were together before. A happenstance meeting, perhaps? A trick for the sake of the audience?

She watched them gather around a table, and by the way they quickly departed, and the plain farewell she saw, it seemed her observation was right.

All this sitting down has made me dull. She contemplated joining the dancing crowd again, but she had lost all interest in that scene.

She stood up, chair scraping against the floor, and left the tavern.
I should learn more about this poet.

by **Una Tanta** on June 8th, 2013, 4:59 am

69th Day of Spring, 513 AV, Night

~Le Fin~

I need to make sure the poem at the beginning is accepted (or change it) but then I will submit this for grading. Thanks for everyone for participating! I also needed to change the date because of a conversation with Goss, if this date doesn't work for you please let me know asap (before it is submitted) so that I can work out a date that works for everyone.

by **Noblesse** on July 18th, 2013, 1:35 pm

Una Tanta :

Val'guanis :

Liyana Winterflame :

Cian Silvertooth :

Celyn Frostfawn :

Veizor Coolwater :

Additional notes :

True nobility lies in being superior to your former self

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out. Heehee.

Open [Red Diamond Tavern] A Theoretical Lanthorne {open}