[Verlyna's Emerald Pond] Stranger at the Pond (Closed)

[Vizyous Aconitum]

22nd day of Winter, 510 AV Vizyous didn't know how long he'd been staring at the mesmerizing waters of the pond he'd happened upon, lounged against a moss-covered tree and counting ripples created by the unexplainable waterfall spouting from between two rocks, equally moss-covered. In his mind, he knew it must have been a whole day that he'd been gone, away from the city of Alvadas and in this small and peaceful haven-- that to anyone else, it might have appeared that he was dead. His eyes were trained on that one spot of moss colored water as if he were hypnotized and in a trance, mouth and brow slack, eyelids heavy yet open. The sky was bright, but it only highlighted the paleness of his skin and the amount of tangles in his hair. Vizyous's feet, arms, hips, and legs were asleep and limp, his breathing a rhythmic inhale, exhale every few moments. He should probably get up, he realized, and head back home, otherwise he felt that the water itself would suck him in.

[Malanos]

Malanos had been taking a walk around the city. He had taken in the marvelous sights, and had wandered around amazed at the complexity of this city. He was used to the extreme rigidity of Sultros, and the fluidity of Alvadas left him dazzled. In the midst of his wanderings he found himself next to a green pond. It was stunning. But what drew the attention of the Isur was the man who was leaning over the edge as if in a trance. The petching moron was about to fall in, so Malanos ran over and hauled him up by the neck. "What The Petch do you think your doing" shouted the Isur angrily.

[Vizyous Aconitum]

Vizyous, somehow, felt himself being ripped away from the waters, and for one horrible moment he thought that Verlyna's ghost had become angry at him being there. Could ghosts conjure the strength to fling around a grown man? After the world stopped spinning and several hurried breaths later, the Symenestra realized that before him was not the beautiful and enchanting Verlyna, but a man that was... well, short.

It was Alvadas, and within Alvadas strange things happened. Animals had superior intelligence, weather patterns of Summer could appear in Winter, and of course there was the problem of buildings always moving to different places. He'd seen Kelvic, which from what he understood were animals that could take on a human appearance, and even Zith from his childhood, humanoids that could fly through the sky and were vicious predators. But this man had unique skin covering his rippling muscles that was slightly blue, but definitely covering silver veins.

"What are you?" Vizyous asked in confusion, his brows drawing down as he realized the hand on his neck was very solid. Illusions, he imagined, couldn't have such a strong grip-- but then again, was that doubting Ionu's strength? He quickly dismissed the thought. In the back of his mind, he thought that the man holding him up had said something to him, and something angry based off the expression on his face, but he couldn't remember what it was.

All he knew was one moment his vision was consumed with lush greens and blues, and the next it was focused on this man.

[Malanos]

Malanos watched in amusement as this idiot's eyes wove back and forth, trying to find a focus. He even burst out with a short laugh when he spluttered out asking him what he was. What type of dumbass stared at a forbidden pool of water until he went stupid by sitting for so long. This pragmatic son of the earth couldn't fathom why anyone would do anything that dumm. But he reasoned, not all races are blessed with the intellect of the Isur. "We really are quite a blessed people..." he thought to himself smugly. "I am a son of Izurdin, a son of the earth. I am of the race of Isur. What pray tell are you?" Here Malanos let the slim man fall to the earth. The Isur crossed his arms in front of his chest presenting a intimidating figure. While he was certainly not the tallest of warriors, he had a massive Kan Dao strapped to his back, and he had no shirt on. His physique alone could be frightening to a lesser individual, but he certainly didn't care. He was an Isur, he had a right to show off his blessed body.

[Vizyous Aconitum]

The Isur, without a doubt, had thought he'd found himself a fool. The Symenestra had been in a mindless daze, dangerously close to possibly falling in the waters of Verlyna's prison, but the blatant superiority the man had towards him was surprising. Vizyous couldn't help but raise his brows in confusion and slight indignation, his mind beginning to become more focused.

The laugh that came from the man, as short as it was, made his temper flare just a bit. Vizyous listened intently to what the man said before he was dropped to the ground, which considering his height wasn't very far but was slightly humiliating. His legs weren't working well but he managed to catch himself from falling onto his behind.

"Isur," Vizyous said to him in Common, his Symenos accent coating his voice more heavily than usual, "Thank you for saving this lowly Symenestra." The Isur stood proud with his arms crossed over his chest, presenting a figure of strength and will as strong as solid stone. "I am a believer of Viratas, God of connections between all that carry blood."

Vizyous made his annoyance apparent only in his first response, not letting the superior attitude of the Isur get under his skin. He'd been found in a daze with wobbly knees, the Symenestra likely looked like a brainless idiot. "Besides that, I'm just a curious traveler. The waters put me in a trance; I suppose I shouldn't have stared for quite so long." With a wide grin and a hopeless shrug, Vizyous walked away from the waters.

"Friend, I am curious, why is it that your veins are silver? Is your blood truly silver, or is it red like ours?" The question was asked quickly and in blind curiosity. Vizyous had never seen blood that wasn't red before.

[Malanos]

Malanos was certainly a prime example of the Isurian superiority complex. He knew the Isur were superior and he also knew that he was a prime example of Isurian strength. He had graced this poor being by just stooping to speak with him, but he had also saved his sorry butt. Yes, he was quite the generous person and he was even relatively humble. He merely nodded in approval at the man's words, oblivious to the sarcastic undertones. "So that's what you are a Symenestra. Are all your race such avid dreamers? I have to admit that I've never felt the need to research upon them." He nodded again in approval at the mention of the god of bloodlines. The Isur held family and clan in the highest honor. Any god that held these values deserved the respect of the Isur. "This is an honorable deity to pay your homage to Symenestra. I'm glad to see that you have some sense locked in that head." "You say the waters put you in a trance?" mocked the Isur. "How exactly did it manage that, did it sing pretty lullabies to you?" Now this next question was something that he could speak about. His Isurian pride was now being touched upon. "These veins Symenestra, hold the very blood of the god Izurdin. The god who we Isur have descended from, our father so to speak. And as to the color of my blood I am not sure for I have never been cut or broken my skin."

[Vizyous Aconitum]

Vizyous wouldn't describe himself as an avid dreamer, more like someone that just has too much time on their hands and doesn't know what to do with it. "I'm a bit of an eccentric, most of my kind are more logical and goal-oriented." He felt a yawn coming on, talking about his race, and expected that the Isur didn't care much either. At the mockery of the man, Vizyous brushed it off, quickly becoming accustomed to the way he spoke down to him.

He'd played verbal games often, and was used to adapting to others personalities. The Isur before him obviously found himself extremely important compared to others that weren't his own race. "I'm afraid my weak mind is far too vulnerable to the illusion here," His voice lowered, eyes darting to the waters of the pond, "I believe I may have seen the Lady Verlyna... her mesmerizing gaze willed me to join her in these waters." Vizyous returned his eyes back to the sight of the proud Isur. "I thank you again for saving me from that horrible, watery fate!"

Once learning that the silver veins running throughout the Isur held the blood of Izurdin, the Symenestra understood, truly, why the Isur held themselves superior. Blood was important enough simply by itself, but to have the blood of a God in you? Vizyous supposed if he'd been blessed directly with the blood of Viratas, he would hold himself superior too. "I would only expect that a descendant of Izurdin would be far too strong to break skin and bleed. We Symenestra are frail and weak, just a slap from an Isur may shatter us."

Vizyous was truly curious as to whether he would bleed red or silver. It was too bad such a race had to be so strong, and he so weak, or he may have tried to find out the hard way. "Our stomachs are so inferior that we can not digest solid foods, and must turn our dinner to mush before eating it." The Symenestra inclined his head, breaking eye contact with the man, "I am Vizyous Aconitum, newcomer to Alvadas. If I may ask, why do you come to this city of Illusion?"

[Malanos]

Malanos nodded with respect as the man noted that he was a unique member of his race. This concept certainly went across all cultures, and he was not the common Isur. He had had many arguments over his "irrational" views on the callings of Izurdin. He had never questioned his sons loyalty to family, clan, or god. Rather that his methods were less than intelligent. Malanos knew that his father loved him, that he was only trying to prepare him for taking the role of patriarch when it was his time. However this did not make their disagreements any easier to bear, they tore his heart from his body in grief. Family was everything to Malanos and he had left them to follow what he believed his god had called him to do. "Well I cannot see fault in being a unique member of your race, hold that place with a bearing of honor." As he thought these things over his superior spirit diminished slightly. The depressions of his journey dampening his spirits, doubts as to his methods gnawed heavily upon his mind. He could not be superior with these thoughts ailing him. But these thoughts quickly vanished as the Symenestra started babbling about the state of his mind, and the frailty of his body. And he merely nodded when he was thanked yet again fro saving the man's life. Malanos beamed with pride as the Symenestra commented on his divine blood. "Our flesh and bones are strong and hard, we rarely recieve any serious hurt. Though we can be broken.. And yes, if what you say is true we could break your body like chaff." he ended truthfully. When this man (or shadow of a man) told him of his eating habits the Isur cringed. How could he be so blessed, even to the point of sharing the very blood of a god. When this man could not even eat without having trouble. Those that reigned in the heavens (bless their names) were obviously not worried about keeping an even playing field. "You mean you cannot just eat your food? You are truly from an unfortunate race." Malanos shook off his feelings of pity as the Symenestra told him his name, and asked his purpose for travelling to Alvadas. "Well met Vizyous, I am Malanos. I come to this city in... search of answers to riddles, and as a bridge between times."

[Vizyous Aconitum]

Malanos seemed unique and interesting, once Vizyous got over adapting to his superior feelings towards other races. "I hold myself with pride, but know when to put it aside." The wide and brief sheepish smile couldn't be helped, the man finding humor in his little unintended rhyme. "My race is weak physically, except for our venom and agility. The strongest and most trained of Us are to be feared, however I am not one of them." Vizyous shrugged, "Malanos, it's been delightful meeting you. I hope to see you again sometime, in Alvadas." He smiled, "Let's hope perhaps in a less dire manner!"

Content with the small knowledge he'd learned of the Isur, Vizyous gave a wide smile of appreciation to Malanos before turning to leave. He was truly of a fascinating race, but the Symenestra felt that if he didn't part from Malanos soon, he may lose face and snap.

[Malanos]

As the Symenestra turned to leave, Malanos began to think over his conversation. He had been introduced to quite an interesting race, they were obviously inferior to the Isur, but they were interesting nonetheless. "Yes, I would be pleased to meet again, friend." Here he gave a short nod of the head to indicate his grudging respect to the man. "May your travels be safe and your homecoming be pleasant" --END--