[Location] The Woven Gate (All Non Syms Enter Here)

[Laute]

Timestamp: Summer 30, 513

Laute paused outside the cave's entrance, his dark eyes taking in the relatively dry interior. There was something unnatural about this cave and after traveling for so long in the wilds, he was curious to see if he had encountered another inhabited area.

Gesturing to Aditi to stay put, he entered the cave, sniffing the air slightly. There was a scent in it, a familiar one, but he couldn't quite place it. Perhaps he had met one of these inhabitants, long ago. The scent of ash filled the air as well, and he moved toward the fire curiously. Staring at it for a moment, he then moved to the side to see the ropes and baskets hanging above him, through a hole in the ceiling.

Strange. The familiar scent was stronger above him, and without a pause he unfurled his wings and soared up through the hole. Bursting through, he looked down to see several pale people, venom laced in their scent.

Ah, now he recognized them. He had met one of their blood priestesses a while back, in Alvadas. Fragile but deadly.

Curious. They had a city here, then.

[Aranta]

65 Fall, 513AV

Aranta carefully jumped out of the tree he'd been perched in, careful not to snag his wings on any of the silky strands hanging from the branches. The straps of his harness rubbed against his fur uncomfortably, and he adjusted it before folding his wings around himself, cloaking his nudity. He had no problem with it, but he had found that the slaves he approached were slightly more at ease when he covered himself; perhaps it would prove true for the spider-people, as well.

He approached the front gate cautiously, ears and eyes alert for any sign of trouble. He was inexperienced in the ways of the outside world, but he knew that his people were feared and distrusted by the majority of the races. "Greetings!" he called, his voice deep and rolling, as he stepped towards the gate.

[Flyaway]

The most eerie experience of one's first time in Kalinor was always the abscence of wind within its great entrance cavern. Before Aranta stood a large stone face, stretching upwards as far as the eye could see, draped in delicate silk. Apart from that, the cavern was empty, save for a crackling fire standing before the curved wall, with a large basin of glittering powder next to it.

His call into the dark sent nothing but deep echos through the cavern, and somewhere nearby, a bat screeched in the distance. A chime passed. Then another. Just as it began to appear there would be no reply, a tall, slender Symenestra bearing Black exoskeletal armor and a long whip coiled at his side was lowered to the cavern. He assessed the Zith with scrutinizing yellow eyes, ever cautious. For he had heard tell of their kind, and noticed the recent rise in Zith visitors to the city. A wisp of black hair escaped his ponytail, and he pushed it back with the back of his hand.

"Stop," His heavily accented voice sounded across the cavern in the tongue of common. "What brings you to Kalinor?" The man's eyes narrowed as he looked the creature up and down, placing a clawed hand on the handle of his whip.

[Aranta]

Aranta studied the spider-person-- its body structure, though covered in what looked to be a hard, shiny plating, not fur or skin like Aranta's own or that of the slaves, seemed to indicate that it was a male-- before replying. "Curiosity. I have heard that the spider-people do not fear the..." Aranta struggled to remember the word the slaves had called his kind. "Zith, as others do."

[Flyaway]

"You're correct in that assumption. We don't fear you, but we aren't stupid. Not to be wary would be unwise." The Symenestra motioned him over to the basket.
"Look, I have no problem whatsoever with your kind's little pilgrimage's, and I think its great that you're visiting, we love to have you. But I have a few stipulations, considering the things your kind pulled at the masquerade. The first, is that you behave yourself. I hear of you breaking rules, or putting Symenestra in any sort of harm or discomfort, I'll come up and choke you. The second, is that you don't tell anyone you came here. Its hard enough getting Surrogates as it is, we don't need a rumor going around that Kalinor is infested with Zith."

The man stepped back, allowing the Zith time to enter the basket, only realizing how silly it was the creature did not fly until they were already being hoisted up. Then he remembered that the creature may not know the way. Just before they crested the top of the wall, he pressed the tips of his claws together and bowed his head slightly.

"My name is Vyktal, and welcome to Kalinor."

[Aranta]

Aranta nodded, a gesture he'd seen others use that appeared to indicate one's agreement. "I will behave myself," he repeated before stepping into the basket. "And I will not tell anyone that I came here."

Once they'd reached the top, Aranta attempted a 'smile', though he wasn't sure that he succeeded. "Thank you."

[Purge]

Time Stamp 1st Winter 513 From the entrance a scuffling sound is heard before a small figure emerges, her wings set out as Purge settles down in front of the brazier. Her black eyes watch the flames for at least a full chime, her head tilting as she examined the flickers. The light annoyed her eyes but it was nothing like the bright light of Syna during the day, of course fire is nothing new to her but when she poured the dust on the flame the different colors fascinated her. Once the flames burst into a new color Purge backs up, and raises to her full diminutive height of four foot nine inches tall. Her dark silky fur that covers her body does not hide the fact that she is female, but she does not try and hide this fact herself. Her body is only adorned by her fur, and the leather harness that carries her meager pack. Her blood red hair falls around her shoulders, streaming down her back almost to her waist. She stands quietly, patiently, watching and waiting.