Water, Water Everywhere, and nary the time to think(Liandra)

[Antar]

20th day of Spring, 512av

Interesting, that was the only term the man could use to describe the twisting maze of chutes and water. This place was amazing, to say the least, and all made the better for his understanding it was made with 'geomancy.' The telltale art of using Reimancy in a constructive matter to build all sorts of things. Something which had long since fascinated him.

He had been so fascinated with construction, a means apart from the toils of training in the bloodier side of things. Perhaps, one day, it would be his dream to make something like this here. So to make the most of his visit he had come prepared, with a paper, a pencil, a nice loincloth for swimming, a single kukri he'd keep strapped to his back out of habit, and most of all a keen eye for details.

Everything around him now was a source of inspiration and if he could perhaps fathom it, a source of expanding his knowledge of construction. Take the gazebos here, by the retention pool that lead to the slides. They were of stone, like many of Riverfall's structures, but these were inordinately balanced like many of the city's areas on pillars that were then used to support a larger dome above, letting the entire structure support itself by concentrating the forces of its fashioning to the single capstone above in the concaved artifice.

For now, Antar was fascinated like a kid in a candy story, and would seem a strange sight to any that approached as he tried to draw out the design on the parchment. His chalk making little tiny notes in the margins about what he could tell. Indeed like many other areas, this part of Riverfall was a place that he might take in the wisdom of other builders, and incorporate their techniques into his own... if only he could learn a bit more. Spend a little more time, and consider just another permutation of the wonders he beheld here right now.

Who knew what this day would bring?

[Liandra]

Liandra was floating on the surface of a side channel of the river that the city was aptly named after. She was watching several of the muscular men play some sort of ball game. She didn't know the rules, or even the name, but they were tossing some leather ball to each other, followed by a lot of colliding bodies. Her large, bright eyes were watching their shirtless forms. It was nice to see some people enjoying themselves a bit after the recent disaster. The water was running blue again, instead of that sickening black. Areas still needed dredged up, and there was a lot of recovery to be done, but she knew this city could pull through anything. She might be an outsider, but this city felt more like home than any other. A misplaced kick sent the ball flying high into the blaring sun. Liandra tried to follow it, and was momentarily blinded by Syna's grace. There were suddenly shouts saying 'Heads Up!' and 'Look out!' Liandra threw up her hands in instinct and felt the ball collide hard with her palms. It stung, and the ball fell onto her exposed midsection. She picked it up with one of her long arms, and kicked her legs downward so that she was upright, ball above her head. All the rowdy males were staring at her smiling, trying to get her to throw the ball back. She pulled the ball back and went to throw it back with one arm. The ball rolled awkwardly off the tips of her fingers and flew off at a strange angle. The ball soared off into the distance, and Liandra turned to watch its path. Her eyes grew wide as it was heading straight for some man scribbling on something, clearly focusing on his work. This would not end well. She groaned and began swimming over to the shore by him and started practicing her apologies.

[Antar]

Antar continued his revelrie into fathoming the reason why the middle stone of the arches the dome sat on settled the weight between the gazebos supporting pylons. He supposed it was based upon some method of transference using the simplest angles of a triangle that was objectively worked upwards to a greater scale.

Fascinating absolutely fascinating.

Looking up towards the sun he smiled a moment, considering the gorgeousness of the day as he noticed a small dark blur come between hin and the light. Puzzled by its presence , it seemed to draw closer.

Ever closer.

So close that what was occurring was definitely something he should realize in any state of mind. Perhaps if he had been less lackaidasical his instincts would have taken over to block it offhandedly with a raised arm. Perhaps such an answer would come to him in time to move? But then that tiny little answer of what it could be finally hit him.

Square in the stomach, knocking the wind from him as he fell over backwards to land on his haunches. Coughing a little, he gasped for air as the ball bounced down to the ground a moment before he looked towards where the akalak were waiting. Smiling, stifling a hiss of pain on his already beleagured form from the trials in alvadas and early last season Antar stood up, smiled and raised a hand before promptly kicking it back in the young Akalaks direction.

It wasn't till he turned around did he realize in amusement it hadn't come from that direction at all and the scampering of feet towards him was a clue it had been kicked by someone else. Still saying nothing, only breathing he stoicly waited for the eventual circles of social apologies to begin. Rueing it all the more... after all, it was just a bunch of kids playing right? They hadn't stolen from him so he couldn't just kill them, it was just play?

They deserved to live for play.

He expected one of hte children to make apologies soon and to ensure that would happen he rather stared obliquely towards the ground. Though imagine his chagrin when instead of blue or green male's face of an adolescent was to greet him, but rather the lovely pallor of blue one might only see in a charodae's colors... only where he was staring wasn't this female creatures face and more like her toned hips and thighs.

Very quickly so as to make no notice of it Antar tried to clear his throat a bit and fumble with his parchment and chalk to cover up his latest faux pass in Riverfall. Merely waiting for her to speak as he ensured to look anywhere but at the lovely young charodae who was probably here to see if he was alright. Not daring to face this new presence he would slightly cough and look to the side each time she might try to make eye contact. He didn't even know her name and had started to stare? But, regardless of the present circumstance he did know one thing though. If Shai was here the symenestran would be laughing right now if she had seen this, of that he was sure.

[Liandra]

The man had been knocked backwards onto his rump by her misplaced throw. She hadn't even thrown it that hard, or so she thought. She looked over at him, one arm slack at her side, the other resting beneath her breasts, hand on her opposite elbow. "Um, are you okay? I'm sorry, I tried to throw their ball back to them... And well... you know..." She caught him stumbling over his words, his eyes looking everywhere but at her. It was just like that time in winter... She could feel herself wanting to get his eyes to settle, and settle on her. It really bothered her that he couldn't even look her in the eye. Was he avoiding her because he thought her pretty? Or the opposite? Either way, she was intrigued by this sheepish man. And he was easy on her big eyes too. "Let me make it up to you," she grabbed him by the hand, "Leave your notes here, they will be fine. Leave anything you don't want to get wet." She didn't have to worry about this man hurting her, he looked too nice, and besides, there were plenty of Akalak in the area just itching to test their mettle. She turned to the youngsters, "Hey! Can you make sure no one takes his stuff?" They all smiled and nodded, and she giggled, and turned back, and began pulling Antar by the hand, despite any protests, over to the side channel's edge. She got right up to the very overhanging bit, then leapt out over the water and dove beneath the water with only a small splash. She then flipped over beneath the water, and came back out gracefully, looked up at the man, "I'm Liandra by the way, now are you coming or not?"

[Antar]

"D-Don't worry about it." the rogue muttered as he shifted his gaze away as she dived back into to water. Antar looked askance at the swimming charadae as she made her ... offer... before he slowly walked to a bench near the pavillion. Setting his notes down a moment, he considered the ramifications of this apparent hapless meeting. He was being approached by either a very interesting actress or a relatively nice creature. As he put away his things, the rogue still maintained his kukri in its sheathe. It was waterproof enough and he couldn't be sure of this woman's intentions. Soon enough though she was pulling him by the arm. For all he knew, this could have been planned. She could be an assassin in disguise trying to lead him into a trap. The smartest thing to do would be to simply walk away, but something in him. Ego, or whatever you wanted to call it, factored it would be interesting to spring whatever information he could from her by playing along. He still did not dare to meet eye contact though. With his things put away, the rogue sauntered back over to the water's edge and sat upon the sill. Letting his feet dangle in the water. The cool flow of the river's tepid temperature seemed to be soothing on his skin as he kept his gaze away from her. It took only a split second for him to decide to continue in the apparent role he had put forwards. His mind fluttering from thought to thought as replied. "I'm sorry there miss. I don't even know your name. But I think it proper to introduce myself first before we go anywhere. The name's Anthony... w-what's yours again? Are you thinking of going on the slides or something?" Of course there was one possibility that had to cross his mind as he sank into the pool and began treading water. If this wasn't a trap for him that he was walking into, then he was pretty sure no matter what happened Shai was going to kill him for this...

[Liandra]

Liandra simply smiled at the man, not bothering to repeat her name for him. She'd never been on these slides before, but the water here was nice, fresh, cool. She took his hand in hers, and led him through the entrance pool, moving as effortlessly and gracefully as only her people could in the water. She pulled him close to her body, insisting they slide together with unspoken agreement, as they neared the plunging point. She looked back at him and smiled, "Don't let go of me Anthony." She could feel the downhill current tugging at them as they began to drift forward. She felt her feet bump the stone lip, and tucked her knees up to her chest, then stuck them out straight in front of her. She looked down the upcoming slope, her already large eyes growing wider, with tinges of fear and excitement. As soon as gravity and current took hold, she laughed and screamed loudly as her she began shooting downward, with Anthony right behind her. The tight turns and scary drops had her heart beating loudly, water splashing up at her, glistening in her tentacles. She looked up through the foam ahead, and saw a turn off to the side from the main watery path. She shifted her body weight to the right, and they began to hug the wall as they made the turn. The path became less down hill and more flat and they began slowing down, until with a PLOP! they dropped into one of the private pools, Liandra quickly swimming as soon as she hit the surface, so as to not get crushed by the man. The water here was much warmer than that of the river, and it was quite nice and relaxing. She drifted over to one side, and looked over as her companion recovered, smiling a sharp, toothy grin at him. She was about to speak, to ask him the million and one questions she asked of most new people she met, when a cold chill shook its way up her spine. She thought it to just be leftover excitement from the trip down, but something in the back of her mind said it felt familiar. She shook it off, dismissing her instincts, something she wouldn't normally do. The assault of questions began, "So, Anthony, what were you doing before I uh... hit you with that toy? Why are you in Riverfall? Are you a good swimmer? Have you ever been to Charbosi? Do you know any Svefra? I know a few! And I've been swimming all my life, and I lived in Charbo.." Her body shivered once more, and her eyes began flitting around the pool. She couldn't ignore it a second time. They weren't alone. She was wholly unprepared. She'd barely learned anything in her time working in High Spirits, but she knew there was a ghost here. And twice now, it had touched her. She had to relax herself, and not worry her guest, some people didn't take to ghosts really easily, and it could get ugly if handled poorly. She tried to mimic the words she'd heard Nessela say before, "Anthony, it appears we aren't alone, but not to worry, I'm sure they just want someone to talk to." Liandra sighed, knowing that this probably ruined any good first impression she had hoped to make for this man. Her eyes quickly began observing the surroundings, looking for anything that could be slightly out of place. 'Mind your environment Liandra. Ghosts will almost always be affecting something, you just have to pay attention.' She scrutinized her companion, looking for the tell tale signs of cold shivers. Then her eyes wandered to the surface of the water, looking for unexplained ripples or splashes. Disappointed she saw none, she leaned back frustrated. She began playing with a tuft of grass, noting the wind was blowing them toward Anthony. She looked over at him, and saw a similar tuft sticking against the wind, and smiled nervously. She approached him cautiously, and placed a hand on her shoulder as she looked at the area over the grass. "Hello there, I'm Liandra, um... what's your name?" Hopefully this wasn't a malignant ghost. She didn't have anything with her to take care of it or protect them from harm. She cursed herself inwardly, what was she expected to do? Talk the ghost into being nice? If so, this was going to be much more difficult.

[Antar]

As the rather supple periwinkle skinned female pulled him along to the slides Antar's mind began to war with his libido and his caution. Both for how to ensure he wasn't to make a certain symenestrant woman upset later on, as well as the need to ... investigate this potential quandary which had presented itself. Truly, how could one be so innocent in the world? Was it all charodae that seemed so happy and - he thought for a moment to find the right word- playful? Yes, even adults needed to have time for play. Though how old his newfound companion was still remained a mystery, much like the rest of her. "Don't let go of me Anthony." 'Oh yes, he wouldn't let go. This charodae woman was a fascinating specimen, half concealed in potential possibilities of both danger and reckless abandonment. Those were qualities that begged further inquiry, especially if most of her race were like this as well. Was it because they lived under the sea and didn't seem to have a care... well his mind interjected that they might just not have a care unless faced with predators. Maybe that was why Charodae on land seemed to be nice to everyone, they couldn't tell the predatory from the meek. Especially if they judged things based on races instead of the individual alone. He'd have to ask about that. Though he wondered if maybe the delightful Liandra was just leading him into a trap of sorts. But what type of trap would it be? A dangerous one in this city, a rather naughty prank she might be trying to play on an outcity person where her friends might come and steal his clothest to embarass him? It wouldn't be much of an embarassment to walk back through the city, collect his things and get back to Shai, though buying new clothes was always a production. Especially since his symenestran lover enjoyed tearing them off to get to the heat of certain... passions. The rogue would have to ask about that. Though he wondered if maybe the delightful Liandra was just leading him into a trap of sorts. But what type of trap would it be? Truthfully all thoughts were pushed aside upon the slide down, the experience was both delightful, and terrifying. The speed of going so fast, pulled by the unstoppable force of gravity was exhilarating. Even after the unsettling sensation of coming into the water. The rogue was not amiss to the idea of swimming, but had always been of the mind to stay out of the roughest surf, and swells. To a land based creature such as himself such things screamed out to the primal instincts within, warning of danger. However, in his previous line of work before sunberth, he had at least endeavored to ensure he had a passing ability of keeping himself afloat. His times during the bathouses and hotsprings practicing swimming was bound to be of some benefit. Even if those had been much calmer pools of water. By the third turn when Liandra pulled them off the main slides route towards a private pool Antar actually was counting his blessings for the brief submerge as he kicked off the bottom and rose to the surface to tread water before making his way to a shallow end. He took his time to recover, breathing deeply with a smile towards his green eyed companion and glanced once and then twice as he put a little distance between them in the heated space. Her looking around in childlike wonder seemed to make him once again consider the odds of her being a threat to his life, and every passing moment in silence as they simply waited for a chance to breathe again lessened it by a percentage or two. Though when she said something about not being alone, well... that improved it by five percentage points. Somewhere around thirty two percent that this was a trap, with a corresponding twenty percent that the trap was fatal and not for ... other purposes. It did seem the young woman had a rather mischeviously playful streak. But to be careful, Antar would take a deep breath and dive down under the waves, coming up from beneath Liandra to lift her on his shoulders, just looking around and smiling as he felt her start in surprise above him. It was a dangerous gamble, she could try to suffocate him with those long curvy legs, but to Antar the risk was worth it to keep her on her toes... or rather off them. Worse came to worse he could always just toss the young woman at any threat. Squirting a bit of water playfully from his mouth, the rogue exageratingly looked, left, and then looked right before he spoke. Moving Liandra from side to side as he formed his words." You know Liandra, with your supple lithe figure you'd make an excellent model for a sculpture, so let's see if your friend is rather easy on the eyes too. Maybe I could make something of you both. It would be a great idea for a carver like me to try some work and capture the images of some new friends. But..." He made himself pause for the longest moment after stretching the word 'friends' seemingly oblivious, but carefully watching for a reaction from his newest companion. "Where are they?"

[Liandra]

Liandra watched as Anthony slipped beneath the water, and she watched his dark mass approach her quickly, shimming between her legs, and with a squeak coming from her, lifted her up on his shoulders as he sprouted from the water. Then he began spouting some nonsense about carving a statue of her some other sharkshyke. "Let me down you idiot! This is serious!" She began to pound on his head and shoulders with her tiny, untrained fists. She knew she probably couldn't hurt him, but this was dangerous! Her fists struck at ears, the curve of his neck, and his shoulders. Her legs began to flail until she was able to wriggle free from the moron. "It's a ghost you fool!" she hissed in Char, not realizing.

Now that she was off of his shoulders, she pushed him away from her, ignoring him entirely, focusing on the ghost she knew to be around. "Hello? I'm sorry if we disturbed you. We aren't here to hurt you or bother you. What is your name?"

The Charodae woman felt a chilled touch on her left shoulder, and she turned, and saw the fog like woman sitting on the edge of the pool, her feet dipped in the water. She was quite beautiful, even if it was clear that she was dead. Liandra could make out scales and gills along her neck, her hands had webbed fingers. This was a Konti woman. The woman's gaze moved from Liandra to Anthony, "It's about time you showed up to meet me Brim. I was afraid you'd never come. My mother said you would run off, back to your ship, and never see me again. But I knew she was wrong. I knew you wouldn't leave me after, especially after mother paid you to sire my daughter. I told her you weren't a thief! And now you are here, and you can finally make me a mother."

Liandra felt the cold hand pass further into her shoulder, then her entire arm. Liandra tried to steel herself against the ghost, but a voice passed into her, inaudible to Anthony. She wasn't sure if the ghost was saying it herself, or it was something else, something spawned by the ghost's nature. "Help me... I must pass on..." The woman pushed through Liandra's meager defenses, and the possession took hold. Liandra tried to prevent her from moving, tried asking the ghost to leave, but a part of her wanted to help. She didn't have the conviction to truly kick her out. So, she acquiesced, allowed the woman take over.

The Konti controlled woman turned toward Anthony, a sensual smile on her face, her body language relaxed, determined. She moved closer to the man, as she grabbed the bottom of her top with crossed arms. A slight chuckle escaped her lips as she pulled the top up her torso, her breasts bouncing out as she removed the clothing and tossed it aside. She continued her sensuous advance, her hands disappearing beneath the water, moments later, her bottoms floating to the surface of the water. She pressed her naked body against his clothed, reached up and took his face in her hands, and pulled him hard against her lips. She kissed him fiercely, aggressively, and would not be stayed. She didn't have to breathe through the kiss, her skin taking care of that for her, so she wouldn't pull away until Anthony was out of breath. "It's okay Brim, it's me, Yvet, and you are going to make me a mother."

[Antar]

Well, the only thing Antar could think about... was how he did not want a possessed potential assassin charodae near him. He couldn't really understand her words on the subject, but even a rather literate artsy buffoon like the persona he was playing would have recognized a threat like this. So he allowed the creature close, but only for awhile as he lifted Liandra by the hips. Letting her wrap her legs about his waist as he forced himself to not vomit from her fishy lips terrorizing his own. In this manner, he manuevered her towards the other end of the pool, where the water was pulling with a force downwards at another slide's entrance. Resting the woman on the top of the slide, he broke his mouth free and wrenched her legs off of him, barely holding the possessed fiend a moment as he spoke. "I'm sorry my dear, Yvet or Liandra, whichever you are. My name is Anthony. Not Brim. I never knew you or your mother and I simply cannot give you what you want." And then Antar released her, giving her a slight push on her stomach. Letting the possessed wailing fish girl slide down the slide and into the still darkness of the shadows as he turned away. The girl could breathe underwater, so there was no danger. And eventually the ghost would let her go. The only problem was if he was still here when it returned. Who knew how the dead were so obsessed? With that in mind he made his way to the poolside and lifted himself up , finding a day of acting like a kid refreshing, sans the unwanted company. Oh how he wished he'd taken Shai to the slides, but for now he'd have to avoid them entirely. No reason to make an unwanted spirit search for him again. Well, at least not while it was possessing any woman's body but Shai's at least. Though he imagined that the symenestra would hate sharing him with anyone. But as for first impressions, it was a pity. But no matter. Walking to the poolside he found the curved notch in the cave wall that lead from the private pool and followed the steps upwards and into the light of the cliffside to get his things. He should have known that something was up. But at least Liandra had seemed a nice enough sort. If only they could have played as children for the day instead of her coming onto him he might have found a better friend. If only he could have proven she wasn't out to take his life... With heavy thoughts, Antar gathered his things and walked away, back into the city. Another day of study under his belt, and another day wasted with the trivialities of city life. ~The End.

[Gossamer]

. Character: Antar Experience: +4 Observation, +3 Swimming, +1 Diplomacy Lore: Riverfall Uses Geomancy For Everything Even To Control Waterflow, Liandra: Charoda in Riverfall, Being Hit On By Charoda Additional Note: Interesting little thread – I found it weird beyond belief though. Good job running away from that situation, Antar! .