Location The Amaranthine Gate

[Artemis Amoris]

Artemis Amoris stumbled over rocks cutting her blood stained hands. Warm salty tears fell from her swollen eyes. She had been traveling listlessly for many moons. Her royal purple silken hood shrouded her bruised face in shadows. Artemis Amoris crawled upwards towards a small ledge completely over run by vegetation. As she reached the ledge she looked even higher to see a small glittering structure. And when she looked to her right she saw a small set of stairs. She walked off of the ledge onto a even smaller path and stumbled over the first step of the crumbling stairs.
She crawled over crumbling rocks into a small meadow which was untouched as the rest of the mountain had seemingly been stomped over by other travelers. She stood on her bare feet and walked over the mossy dirt towards the shack. A tall man walked out of the open doorway and introduced himself as Hachia Koat the legendary guide. Artemis Amoris mumbled a few quiet words and fell upon the ground.
When Artemis Amoris awoke near midnight on the back of an Okomo moving sullenly through the darkness towards the glittering city of Lhavit. She stared at the well lit city in awe of its majesty. Once she reached the gate she dismounted the gorgeous creature and turned away to grant her farewell towards the guide to realized that there was nobody behind the Okomo and that its travel was made alone. She patted the Okomo on the head and watched as it went on its way. She turned towards the gatekeeper as he asked her what her purpose of being in Lhavit was. She answered loosely. Her very purpose of being in Lhavit was to find comrades to believe in something and be loved but most of all undo the things which could not be undone. He let her in without questioning her.

[Winona_Heath]

" 34, Spring, 514 AV " Winona watched Lorettana's fingers fly. She was still getting used to the hand signs but picked up the jist of what she meant. "Look, guards greeting." Winona's kohl black eyes peered up towards the sky, searching for the guards that were perched above them. Once she caught sight of them, she smiled, bringing her gaze back to Lorettana as she started to sign again. "They said, 'Hail, what brings to Lhavit?' Say hi or wave." Winona's mind flashed with many questions. What should she say? Should she speak at all? Should she scream in glee and slam against the gate?!- No wait, they would probably attack her crazy ass if she did that... Should she just wave and play it cool? All these different impressions were hard to choose from. But why should she even care what the guards think? She was entering Lhavit for gods sake! She watched Lorettana wave to the guards, and they returned the gesture. She knew exactly what she would say... Nothing, she completely ignored them and turned her head away. Even though she had clearly saw them... And they saw her see them. Oh well, they didn't deserve her presence. She was too cool for that. She was entering Lhavit! The guide shook his head, his hand rubbing his forehead. "What a day. I've seen it all." He mumbled to himself, his nerves a bit frazzled. However, Winona and Lorettana did not notice this. They were rushing past the gates, too giddy to care. IMPORTANT : This is a bit late, me and my partner have role-played our entry in a different thread. So here's the last post that explains the actual entry. Just click the link to view the full arrival to Lhavit. Here is the thread we posted our entry in.

[Noera]

Having gotten off a merchants cart a while ago, Noera wandered to the gate looking slightly malnourished but retained a gleeful smile, starring in awe of the beautiful city admiring its colours and intricate designs. Noera smiled back at the pair of guards at either side of the wall and continued to smile to every single guard she passed until;

"Hail, what brings you to Lhavit?" a guard spoke with kindness towards her, she beamed at him and said with utmost confidence,

"your beautiful city has many things to offer me, though i search for a new life"

he seemed to hesitate before letting her through the gate, raising an eyebrow at her level of enthusiasm, but let her pass none the less. to make herself more presentable, Noera brushed the dirt from her pants and cloak and began skipping through the paths twirling every once in a while.

[Asha]

Summer 1, 514 The Amaranthine River shimmered in the bright, noon light as Asha’s eyes gazed over its expanse. She stood at the edge of the riverbank, her dusty backpack containing her few material possessions slung over her shoulder. With a grateful sigh Asha bent one knee and knelt down among the sweet grasses that covered the banks of the Amaranthine. She reached out her thickly callused hand and quickly scooped up water to her mouth. The cool river water slid down her grateful, dry throat and she sighed happily as she swallowed. Another handful was splashed across her face and the coolness was met by another contented sigh. Asha reluctantly stood and walked away from the river and towards the rugged path and the glittering hut beside it. She wanted to linger near the beautiful river but she knew it was not wise to stop now when her destination was so close at hand. Hachia Koat stepped out of the hut and whistled at the sight of Asha’s approach. Hachia Koat looked at the okomo, looked at Asha, and looked at the okomo once more. “I think it might be best if you walk.” Hachia said shortly but not unkindly. Asha nodded and gave a small smile of understanding. Several bells later the elaborate Amaranthine Gates came into Asha’s view. Her sweat soaked body relaxed as she approached the Gates and her breath, labored from the climb, calmed until she able to thank Hachia Koat for the guidance up the mountain. “Hail, what brings you to Lhavit?” A serious looking man stood before the gates and looked expectantly at Asha for her answer. “I’m here to visit, and to learn, and to explore.” Asha said. She was exhausted from the climb and her usual exuberance in conversation had left her. The serious looking man nodded silently and held out an arm, bidding her to pass. Asha said her goodbyes to Hachia Koat and gratefully walked through the beautiful carved gates that led into Lhavit.

[Kelski]

1st of Summer, 514 A.V.

Steps up into the sky, hundreds of them, did not intimidate the Sea Eagle wearing her human legs. It would have been easier to fly, catching a thermal and letting it drag her upwards effortlessly. However, Kelski sensed a tradition when she saw one, and climbing up the steps and into the city was definitely one of those things that had a rite of passage to it. She could fly the next time and every time after that. But here and now she'd stretch her long legs, lift her arms, and run up the steps in a way that oozed the joy she felt for finally discovering the city of sun and moon and stars. It was, as the talk she heard had said, perched up in the clouds with a hundred and eighty degrees of sky around it. It loomed over the bay and overlooked the sea.

This pleased Kelski greatly for she never wanted to be too far from the ocean. The sea meant food, life, and freedom. And now she had expectations of Lhavit as well. She wanted fair treatment despite her race and for people to not look at her strangely due to her unique coloring. Though truth be told for her first meeting with her new Master, she wanted to look somewhat normal. So she'd carefully concealed her black lips with a more normal color and had captured her brindled hair up on her head rolling it in a loose bun at the nape of her neck so it mostly looked black. Kelski would make sure she didn't talk with her mouth open and would be dressed conservatively so she would not scare the Jewelcrafter into denying her after all.

Onward she paced, not exactly running, but the step eating trot carried her up rapidly. And when she reached the top the guards stopped her and she simply smiled. A letter was withdrawn from her belt pouch and produced to show the guards.

"I'm here in response to this letter. I sent Guancho Li some of my work and he's agreed to take me on as an apprentice at the The Shining Diamond. I'm to be a jewelcrafter in the city." She explained, not meeting either of their eyes for she knew what they'd say. The kelvic kept her mouth mostly closed as she spoke and only grinned close lipped when the guards let her through. They opened the gates for her and she set off, not knowing which direction The Shining Diamond was, but bound and determined to get a lay of the land on her very first day.

[Arinia]

57th day of summer, 514 Arinia was exhausted, the Talderian Kelvic just spent weeks working her hardest to outrun those Drykas, so what if she ate a horse, how was she supposed to know they were sacred or something? Finally though she found herself where she had been trying to go, it just took days of running, bribing a fisherman, and transversing through unknown wilderness, but finally she found it. The marvelous city of Lhavit. Marvelous was definitely a word she would use, no amount of stories could compare to seeing the city up close. Although what did she find when she reached the city? Another dangerous road, this one a massive bridge. Arinia couldn't help but worry about what it would be like like to smash against those razor sharp cliffs well below her. Though the wolf knew she had to get to the city, luckily she had turned back to her human form some time ago, and even ran into a trader who she was able to get a simple set of clothes from, she assumed the city didn't take too kindly to woman walking around naked. No matter how much the men might like it. After standing there gawking at the bridge she finally worked the curragh to cross, she knew she was meant to run, not fly, but she had no choice. Soon though though she had reached her destination. A huge, ornament gate. It was impressing, and quite awe inspiring. At both sides of the beautiful gate stood guards, and when she looked up, she could see two more guards on balconies. She knew there were probably more she couldn't see. For a second she thought about using her Auristic ability to check more though she tosses the thought aside, she was already exhausted, and didn't want to risk over giving. After walking closer she was happy to realize all the guards wore polite smiles on their faces, but when they spoke, the only thing that moved were their mouths, nothing else changing in their expression, it was obvious to Arinia just how well trained they were. ''Hail, what brings you to Lhavit?'' She heard from one of the guards, or maybe even all of them, she couldn't pinpoint the location. So she just spoke back to thin air. "Quest for knowledge, a chance for adventure, and a hope to find somewhere where I am accepted." Arinia found herself saying being completely honest. The guards smiled and the one on her right gestured with his hand. A moment later the massive gate swung open of it's own accord, not making a sound. Following closely behind it, being sure to thank the guards, Arinia found herself inside the city of Lhavit.

[Coryphee]

90th Summer 514AV
A bell after Midnight

They had arrived to the Amaranthine Gates far later than Coryphee had intended and, just as soon as the Gates were in sight, their guide had abandoned them. Ambrose had been half sleeping for a little over a bell, his legs wrapped around his mother's small waist as she clutched him to her. At eight years old, though small for his age, he was decidedly too heavy... her own mass was not enough to hold him up indefinitely anymore, but then again, in the last few years, this had hardly happened and Coryphee was touched by how much he still became so completely dependant on her when like this, as though he were almost reverting to a younger age.

"Come on Rosie. You'll have to walk the rest yourself."

Ambrose nodded, smiling sleepily at the use of her affectionate pet name for him and yawned. In a moment, he was back on the ground and had taken her hand.

"I'm hungry Mamma."

"Hmm..."

They walked slightly closer to the Gates, which were mercifully lit up and tended to, both enveloped in their dark red cloaks, hoods up. The towers looked like double-edged swords, looming high up to the sky, but of such beauty that the young woman could not help to be drawn to them. As Coryphee neared, her little ginger child pressed close to her, a guard walked up to them, leering slightly.

"It's a little late to be out, isn't it Miss?"

Coryphee stared coldly at the man and lowered her hood, even as Ambrose shrank away, holding her hand tighter and burying his face against her side.

"Yes." she said simply, removing her cloak and Ambrose's so he could check that they had no weapons, her black eye flashing slightly. Having grown accustomed to the guards of Ravok and other cities, all with lecherous glances, she didn't know what to think of the almost cordial tone that this guard spoke with.

"What's your name?"

"I am Coryphee, and this is my son, Ambrose."

"He doesn't look much like you." If possible Ambrose shrank even closer at this. Coryphee decided to ignore this statement and her eyes, completely closed off and emotionless, stared deeply and unblinkingly at the man, "What's that?" he had pointed to her left eye, black as night and glimmering like a simmering coal.

For a tick, Coryphee hesitated, but she shook this off quickly. It might have been easier to simply claim it was a glass eyes, but she was not ashamed of her roots and to lie would have been tantamount to a betrayal. Anyway, the man sounded more curious than anything else, "It is a sign of my Chaktawe heritage." she stated calmly, her face still illegible.

"I've never seen a Chaktawe with only one black eye." he shrugged.

"Neither have I." Coryphee's voice was slightly cool.

"What brings you to Lhavit?"

"I have come to live and work." she hoped that her lack of elaboration would not faze him.

"You may pass."

"Thank you."

With a small smile, the young woman and the small boy picked up their cloaks and things and passed through the slightly open gates. Giving up slightly on forcing the child to walk, Coryphee picked up her son and let him fall asleep in her arms as she winded away through the darkened city of light.

[Quinton Wyrd]

7th Bell
1st of Fall, 514AV

The Amaranthine Gate

Water fell from the sky at a steady pace, dousing the mountain and most people on it. Most. One particular traveler, who was having some difficulty lighting his pipe, seemed as dry as ever, the rain falling down along the shield he'd cast over himself akin to an umbrella.

After nearly a chime of repeatedly striking his flint, Quinton eventually managed to light the pipe in his mouth with a satisfying sizzle. The kline inside started to smolder, the smoke traveling into the short pipe and its water filter as the man took in a long draft through his lips. After a long breath of smoke out of his nose, he picked up his staff once more and approached the magnificent gates.

It had been a rather tumultuous ride up the mountainside, and Quinton badly needed a smoke by the end of it. There was no denying, however, that the path would have been incredibly perilous to travel on foot, and so though he ached in more ways than he thought possible he deemed it a worthy sacrifice. He had assured the guide - Hachia was the named Quinton learned during their ride - that he would not be needing a return trip, so he had been left at the peak while he tried to light his pipe. It must have been a strange sight for the guards, who could clearly see him from where they stood not far at all from where Quinton was dropped off. Well, they could wait for a poor tired traveler to get his smoke in before he trudged even further up a bloody mountain.

The sight was gorgeous, at least. Breathtaking.

Another few heavy steps carried the man right in front of the two robed guards, one of whom beckoned for him to stop. Quinton did so, and he returned their smile with a wearied one of his own.

"Hail, traveler. What brings you to Lhavit?" asked the guard, not moving from his position. Must take a lot of discipline to do that, Quinton wagered.

"Traveling, mostly," Quinton chuckled quickly before continuing. "Right now I'm just looking for somewhere to eat, sleep, and work. Are there any jobs for a Shielder in town?"

"Wizards must first register. The Shinya in the city will point you along the way." So, it was that kind of city? Quinton nodded his understanding, not wishing to cause any trouble so soon. He really didn't mind registering - maybe it would help some employer find him or something. "Once that's taken care of, you can go to the Cosmos Center for everything else: exchanging currency, finding somewhere to stay, and finding a job. Again, the Shinya will be happy to point you in the right direction."

Quinton nodded. "Wizard registry and the Cosmos Center, got it. Thanks for your help."

As he passed, the robed guard - the Shinya - returned his nod with another smile. "Enjoy your stay in Lhavit." Quinton waved his thanks stepping onto the long bridge that went into the city.

The view from up here was even more breathtaking than the one he had seen from the mountainside. Being near the middle of the long bridge made him feel like he was standing on air, looking down on the great valleys below. All around him, the rain made a peaceful harmony which soothed Quinton's mind and helped him to further relax. Taking another puff from his pipe, he leaned against his staff and looked over the railing. Registering could wait - this view was too wonderful to just pass by.

[Ornea]

Timestamp: Day 1 of Fall 514 AV

Lhavit sat top the high peaks, and for people travelling on the ground it was a feat unto itself to climb the treacherous path circling the center peak, up to the Amarantine Gates. But The Wind Eagle had easily flown there. All Ornea had needed to do was sit on it's back and hold on to the endal. Looking down she had seen the Amaranthine River, green shrubbery, and that rather odd shack made of a glittering material situated near it. The guide's hut. But the two Inarta didn't need the guide today as they flew high over the winding path and landed at the gates.

Once there, the tall, elaborately carved gate stood before them, a testament of the beauty behind its walls and the wonders one is promised to behold upon entrance. As usual, a pair of Shinya guards stood on either side, smiling down at the travelers with greeting, but oddly still, rooted to their positions. Up top, stationed at balconies overhead, two more Shinya guards could be seen.

One Shinya guard looked at the two Inarta travellers and greeted them with the traditional question: "Hail, what brings you to Lhavit?"

The endal stated his purpose first of course, as he was of the highest caste and thus had superior rank. He was there to discuss trade agreements with imporant business partners in Lhavit. A valid reason, and not an unusual one, as the trade between Wind Reach and Lhavit was substantial. The Inarta was well liked in Lhavit and the question was mostly just a formality.

Next it was Ornea's turn to answer. She told the guard she intended to settle down in Lhavit, where she was going to seek guidance for meditation and spiritual development, and make a living as a crafter and artist. This too was a good enough reason for visiting Lhavit, maybe even more so.

And so they entered the city.

...

[Koran Frostfawn]

Flashback: Summer 5, 514 AV

Three days in an unfamiliar and harsh wilderness. Over two years away from his home city of Avanthal. Partially draped over the hunter who found him he was only half aware of what was going around him at any given time during their trek to civilization. He heard the feint familiar sounds of speech from his savior as he talked to someone else. Koran looked around and noticed a long pathway climbing up a perilous looking mountain peak. It was certainly no where near Avanthal. Even in Summer Avanthal was a freezing zone of ice and snow, this place felt humid and warm...well a heck of a lot warmer than Avanthal ever got that was for sure. It was also way too green to be anywhere near the frozen city. The hunter carefully placed Koran over some sort of furry creature and Koran began to ascend the pathway. Three days in the wilderness had left him hungry, starving even, weak to the point of near unconscious, and sick as if poisoned. As the strange creature ascended the pathway he held on to the horns of the creature, at least he thought they were horns since he could hardly see straight. He was only just aware of a man leading the creature. It wasn't the hunter, Koran was sure of at least this. Whoever it was he was a man sent from the gods and goddesses themselves for he made haste up the long pathway that seemed to stretch for miles. He felt bad for the rush the man went through, for he was also sure it was a man, because several times the man stumbled and put himself in peril. Koran knew they were high up and the risk the man was taking to rush him to safety was much appreciated by the young Vantha. Koran tried to voice this appreciation once or twice but all that came was a hoarse inaudible sound. Internally Koran vowed to repay the kindness of this man and the hunter somehow.

“Hail, what brings you to Lhavit”

The guard asked. The man responded that a hunter in the wilderness had found Koran wasting away. The guards must have accepted this as Koran was ushered into a bright and warm city and passed out shortly after. The local healer, in whose house he awoke, said he had been out for several hours of pure exhaustion and gave him quite an earful for being out in the wilderness alone. “It was a fool thing you did boy,” the elderly woman said in a grainy voice that was soaked in wisdom of age. She had silver hair, not what you would expect from an elderly person. One would usually expect white, but no her hair had a distinct color to it that did not speak of age as Koran would see it. The only real clue was the numerous wrinkles on her face that told of her age. Koran detailed his capture to her and his release into the wilds of wherever he was and how he only barely survived because of his knowledge of survival in the wilds of Avanthal to the medicine woman and the guards who still were curious what his purpose was in the city. He learned the city was Lhavit...and he also learned he was miles upon miles away from Avanthal without much hope to return seeing as how he had no money to speak of at the time, the people who captured him seemed to be rude enough to leave him with just the clothes on his back, and that few people would be willing to ferry the Vantha to his frozen city. It seemed he was stuck in this strange area known as Lhavit for the time being. First he would repay his debt to the hunter and the guide he found out was named Hachia. What he could possibly give them he knew not but he would repay them for their life saving kindness somehow someday. Second and most importantly he would find his way back to Avanthal when he had the funds available to make it to his homeland. In order to do any of this though, he would need to first rest his body and mind and then find work if there was any work to be found for a person of his skills.

[/quote]