Closed Hunting a very smart man (Iosha)

[Iosha]

When the Wind Eagle landed, Iosha sprung into action, and she knew her duty as a healer of Rak'Keli was to the injured, and she jumped off the eagle and ran to Jared. Kneeling down in the cold muddy ground, Iosha smiled at the big Vantha and said softly to him, “Jared, I am here to help you.” She heard his coughing as erratic cough like he is struggling to breath. Jared looked up at her and said nothing still trying to control his breathing. Iosha put a hand on his forehead and said calmly, “Jared, you need to relax panicking won't help your situation. I think you might have a broken rib.” She looked over Miina who was still standing in a daze. She wouldn't worry about her at the moment. She looked up at Nari and Cait, and he looked like he had everything under control for now since he already took Cait off her feet. She looked at Jared again and started unbuttoning his shirt, and she said to him with a silly grin, “I am sure your rather have Miina take off your shirt than me, but I guess I will have to do until Miina comes too.” When Jared shirt was opened, she saw a large bruise on the side of rib cage. She gently started feeling the ribs under the bruise, and she noticed that the two ribs in the center of the bruise were cracked. She frowned when she felt on move slightly, and Jared cried out in pain. Iosha said to Jared softly, “You have one cracked rib, so I need you lay still and don't move. This is important Jared because one wrong movement and your rib could puncture your lung.” She took a deep breath and said in her head a quick prayer to Rak'Keli in Kontinese, “Please my Goddess lend me your spirit to ease Jared's pain, and can you please cleanse the injury of any infection.” The gnosis mark on her right arm starts to glow blue, and she gently puts her hand over the nasty bruise. The injury was bathed in a blue light, and she could tell the bruise was slightly dull in color, and also she noticed the swelling was reduced around the injury. Iosha buttoned up his shirt, and she said softly, “I can think of three more gifted healers than me that will be able to fix you up quickly, so do not move until Nari and I deal with our murderer.” Iosha walked over to large pile of snow and kneels down next to it. She extends her hand and closes her eyes as she started to will a melon sized ball of res into the palm of her hand. She opened her eyes and saw a ball of milky substance in her hand. She moved her hand close to the snow pile, and she watched as the snow got sucked into the ball of res until the melon sized ball of snow was completely full of snow. Looking at the ball of snow, she slowly willed her res to slowly compact the ball of snow into shape until the melon sized ball was half the size and solid as a rock hard. Holding the ball of ice in her hand, she stood up and noticed that Cait had got off her feet, and she was screaming something at Nari in the Inarta native tongue. Iosha puts her hand behind her back and make her way into the battle raging between the two Endals. Iosha moved quickly holding the melon sized ball of ice behind her back. She could tell Nari had the upper hand, but Iosha knew if she used her hypnotism on Nari. Iosha wouldn't be able to take down the skilled swordsman, so it turned into a race to get the upper hand. Iosha knew was going to have to be close for her spell to work, so she ran to side of the quarreling Endal about six feet away, and she took out her ice ball, and she aimed the palm of her hand at the side of the woman's knees. She knew if ice hit the woman, the injury would be extraordinary painful for Cait. Iosha doubt the woman could use her magic with the amount of pain she will be in. Also it would bring Cait to the ground without killing her, and they would be able to restrain Cait and bring her to justice. Moving her hand to keep lined up with Cait's knees, Iosha surrounds the ball of ice with clear res, and she willed the res to propel the ball at ice speeds at the side of the woman's knees.

[Iosha]

Iosha couldn't tell what Cait was saying to Nari, but Nari never gave her a chance to pull a arrow from his quiver. The angry Endal's attacks were relentless as Cait struggled to defend herself from his attacks. Cait could only flail her bow wildly in front of her as the male Endal stalked after her. Suddenly, Iosha ice ball was propelled into the knees of Cait. Iosha cringed when she heard a crack of bone as the ice slammed into her side of her knee. Nari saw his chance, and he brought down a over head swing of his talon sword down on Cait. Luckily, Cait was quick enough to intercept the killing blow with the shaft of her bow. The sword cut straight through the wood causing a spray of splinters into the air. Iosha thought that Cait must had the luck of the god with her as the sword cut into the muddy ground next to her. Iosha ran forward knowing her last action will be magic, so she ran up and drove her heel into the stomach of the woman on the ground. Cait doubled over holding her stomach. Iosha quickly jumped on her and covered her eyes and yelled to the male Endal, “Quickly Nari! Find me some cloth to gag and blind fold her!” Cait was struggling underneath Iosha and yelling up at her in gibberish. Iosha knew she needed to over power the woman, so she decided to aim a punch the Inarta woman in the face. Iosha missed face and hit the ground next to her. She felt her white hand start to hurt as she pulled it out of the mud. Suddenly, the fight was over when Nari put the sharp point of his sword under Cait neck, and he said simply in common, “If you struggle anymore than I will be forced to kill you, Cait.”The statement was easy enough to understand, and the Inarta woman went still and started to weep after her defeat. Iosha stood up, and Nari handed her a wool scarf and silk scarf and said sadly, “Cait gave these to me the other night. I won't be needing them anymore...” Iosha took the scarves from him, and she knelt down in the mud next to Cait and tied the scarf around her eyes. Iosha decided to leave the other scarf out of Cait mouth because she needed answers before Nari took Cait to the Valintar. She ran a muddy hand through her white hair and asked trying to control the anger she felt for the Inarta woman, “Cait, why did you do it? She was your sister!”

[Miria]

"This does not concern you Nari!" The two Endal danced like the very sky birds themselves in their elusive game. Cait's eyes glared furiously at her partner as she continued to shout at him between strikes. "Get out of my way." Slowly but surely the archer tried to work her magic over the Endal. Rather then trying for a shot that would not present itself Cait thought it better to otherwise distract Nari. After she had her way with the two outsiders and Iosha too she would have all the time in the world to otherwise to deal with Nari in her own way. Stop and listen to her. The thought finally was placed in Nari's head stopping the Endal's blade for a fraction of a second. However Cait's efforts was thwarted as she felt something hard smacking her legs. The force bringing her to her knees she landed hard on her chin. The moment Cait worked so hard for ruined she watched as Nari sent down his blade in a murderous arch. Propping up her bow feebly she closed her eyes before the blade came down on her. Though she felt her bow being shattered Cait did not feel the cold steel penetrating her body. Looking up Nari stared back into the woman's eyes with an icy glare as he brought his sword back. He wasn't readily going to strike down Cait no matter how treacherous she might have been. An Inarta knowing magic was one thing but an Endal too? How did it come to this? Wincing slightly at the sudden initiative on Iosha's part Nari could almost feel the pressure that heel made on Cait's stomach. What was the point? This Endal has been defeated. However it would not hurt to make sure she was throughly detained he thought as helped Iosha. It did not help that he was starting to see tears form of the mud-spattered face on the archer. His face a look of complete confusion from the series of events looked back at the Wind Eagle Cait was riding then back at the suddenly conniving Cait. "So you've lost your fear of flying I see." The matter-of-factly tone Nari had caused another ripple of emotions go through Cait before she called out in an exasperated voice. "How is it of all the people I've tricked that you managed to figure it out?" "Unlike others I listen. After some self reflection some things just did not add up. An Endal that is afraid to fly, your conditioning worsening each day the murderer struck, I even thought I heard your Wind Eagle drop you off earlier that one day. So you that's why you had us go down the mountain like that. So you can clear your name? Cait that was a weak plot." Under Nari's scrutiny Cait could not face the Endal. "It would have been perfect after tonight. With her convicted and out of the way there wouldn't have been anything else to deal with." Knowing the only look that Nari would give her was of confusion Cait went on to explain, wheezing slightly at her lack of breathe. "It was all about you Nari. You and me together with no one for me to worry about." "What are you talking about?" "Don't you remember? Aha... *coughs* that's right I suppose you woulda forgot about it." "You were dating my sister when we first met. For me it was love at first sight but you were slow to reciprocate those thoughts. So I helped you find your way to me." "Tesh and I were together?" "That's right. I stole you from my petching sister. She had everything already and now she was taking my first real love. So I came up with an answer." "You hypnotized me?" "That's right. I've been learning for quite a time and you were the first real subject I was going full out on. Though you submitted rather easily. *Laughs* If it weren't for me you and Tesh might have been married already." That was enough for Nari to take in bringing up his sword he pushed it to Cait's throat drawing blood. "It's petchers like you..." Nari shouted through gritted teeth his resolve wavered. "If it's you I will not mind Nari." Cait moved to remove her blindfold to look at Nari for one final time. "Come, die with me Nari. No tricks. Just cherish the last feelings of life on this earth with the last person who will ever love you. You know what you've done. Your a cheater and an enemy to woman. Once with Tesh and once. No. Twice with me with those petching konti fishes." Moving forward the blade dug deeper into her throat as she gave Nari a farewell kiss. "I could have never come back from this. These thoughts that flash in my mind, of your unfaithfulness. I didn't know if they are true. Though I will in my final moments. Kill them for me Nari then come join me. We'll be borne into the same nest and live out our lives as the chosen children of the sky. " Blood gushed from Cait's throat with each word, a truly horrific sight for Nari to behold. His whole body shook as he looked at Iosha with intent, even pointing his sword at the Konti. "Fix it please. I can't. This can't be happening." Everything else from the Endal was indecipherable as he tried to otherwise convince Iosha to help. His eyes glazed over as the thought of doing exactly what Cait said ran through his brain several times in a short time. Perhaps it was hypnotism? Stricken with obsession? The endal could not really tell. Right before foreign eyes has an Endal deteriorated so far. They must not leave the area alive. Looking back and seeing Jared and Miina close by and Iosha within hand's reach made the task seem so simple. All he had to do was just reach out and... "Iosha! What are you waiting for! Save Cait!" His eyes were starting to glisten as the first of many tears came unbidden down his face. "Please... save Cait" Note* - Their entire discussion was in Nari. The last three sentences from Nari was directed to you in common. oocSorry if this entire thread was a bit wordy at times. Totally up to you if your able to save Cait or not. Either way the next post should clear everything else up and you can get your reward. Good job with the thread.

[Iosha]

Iosha couldn't understand what the to Endals were talking about to each other. She decided to move away from Inarta woman and listened to Cait and Nari speak to each other in their native tongue. Iosha decided to watch the eyes of each Endal, and she could tell Cait revealed something to Nari that shocked the man to the core. At that moment, Iosha wished she knew more Inarta native tongue. The blond haired woman watched in horror as Cait intentionally allowed the sword to impale her throat. It would have been a sweet gesture if she wasn't a murder. Iosha figured the woman confessed everything to the man she “loved”, and now the female Endal was going to go out as the tragic heroine. The Konti frowned to herself and thought to herself, “Cait, you are a selfish coward to the end! You can't even face the punishment you deserve..” She sat in the mud watching Nari. The Endal lost everything to the selfish whim of a childish woman, and now he was pleading for her to save the woman life. Iosha violets flickered to Cait golden eyes and back to Nari and sighed and said softly, “Alright Nari...I will do what I can for her, but I won't do it for her. I will do it for Tesh, Vrosh, and all the other people killed by this woman.” Iosha quickly moved to the side of the Cait, and she gently slide the sword from her throat. When the sword was out of her throat, Iosha quickly put a hand on her throat to stop the bleeding. The konti whispered a prayer to Rak'Keli in kontinese, “Rak'Keli, you taught me that we should give up our healing powers willing even to our enemies. Honestly, Konti are supposed to be calm and collective souls, but I can't help myself from feeling anger and hate for this human. I don't even know if I can call myself a Konti anymore..., but... I have faith in your gift you given to me my goddess, and I will fulfill your wish till the day I die. My goddess please save the life of this lost soul even though she is my enemy...” Iosha still holding her throat of Cait watched her golden eyes as blue light of her gnosis mark enveloped her hand over the throat of the Inarta woman. Iosha waited a chime for the blue light to fade. She wasn't happy about her decision, but could defy the will of her goddess. The Konti removed her hand, and she saw the wound was closed slightly, but the blond haired woman knew it would be Dira decision in the end. Iosha wanted to say one last thing to the Inarta woman, so she leaned down and whispered for only the woman to hear, “If I were you, I would have listened to Whispers' words more carefully, Cait. Maybe you should start fearing for your soul...if you truly loved Nari, you would have never done what you did to him. In my violet eyes, I see a selfish and childish woman..in the end I hope for your soul finds peace in the madness. You created for yourself. I hope It was worth it, Cait...” Iosha was done with the woman, and she moved away from her. She stood up, walked to Nari, and put a hand on his shoulder as she walked back to Miina and Jared to check on their condition.

[Miria]

Cait's eyes though glazed over seemed to register the Iosha's message as a cruel smile touched her features. "Petch you fish." Nari gave a hard stare but otherwise made no apologies for the Endal. She wasn't herself, the Cait he knew wouldn't have been involved with any of this. "What caused her to do this?" Nari looked back at Iosha for some insight. She was after all the pair's specialist when it came to djed right? "It's the consequence for practicing such an art." Behind them Miina looked over Cait cynically before nodding in confirmation. "A snake is not immune to it's own poison some say." A reassuring hand on Nari's shoulder seemed much more to Cait as her breathing quickened at the sight. "Nari her suggestions started to manifest on her own. Sometimes it affects it's users as much as the user's intended targets." Drawing her hand away Cait's gaze stayed on Miina her eyes very much alive though her body might have been failing her. "That one day you showed me around Wind Reach might have been Cait's undoing. Jealously can be an obsession and spur us on to do things we once thought repulsive in the name of our obsession. First few were possibly random individuals until she reached her intended targets. This Tesh and myself perhaps. Though she planned to pin these murders on me I think." The Endal had a stroke of realization recalling Iosha's suggestion to Cait being too effective. Pursing her lips in displeasure Miina merely left Nari with that in mind before leaving. "Me and Jared are leaving now. I sincerely hope we won't run into more Wind Eagles during our trek. I can trust we can leave this matter in your capable hands yes?" "Hold on" Still tightly clutching at his talon sword Nari stood back up taking a deep breathe before continuing. He coldly regarded the two Konti before threatening the pair of them with the tip of his blade. "This incident doesn't leave Wind Reach. You and that Vantha are not going anywhere and Iosha your to blame for all of this. You've seen too much I can't let anyone else know of this save for the leaders of Wind Reach." Though threatened Miina kept a calm composure as Jared joined their discussion, giving a confused look at each of them in turn. "Is everything alright here?" "We are just fine. We were just walking out of Kalea without incident. No Wind Eagles or Inarta attacked us during our departure right?" Taking only a moment to understand what conspired the former Icewatch guard shrugged slightly holding his injuries. "Yea I got a bit too overexcited and used too much of my flux. Luckily Nari and Iosha came along and tended to me. I'm happy to have the Inarta to rely on." Nari wavered slightly as he closed his eyes in acceptance. If they were going to play ball then there wasn't a need to detain them. Which only left Iosha. "Right well then what about you Iosha?" Opening his eyes Nari tilted his head staring at the konti that helped him find the truth of this matter. "What's your story? Receive a reward for your discretion or shall I take you back as my personal prisoner?" The Endal already knew the answer asking with a slight smirk before starting to breathed easy again. "That is a shame. You would have been a great maid of mine." Looking back at the path before them Nari sighed sadly as he saw the amount of cleaning up he had to do. "We are going to have to take the horses and trek back up the mountain sorry to say. It's too risky to have Cait ride in her condition. That and I don't quite trust her with an eagle do you?" Though Nari might have talked with composure his face grew dark with each detail. "We might have to dig a grave on the way up if the worst comes to worst." Waving the each other off the two groups parted ways as Nari quickly and Iosha fetched the horses while they left Cait with her former victims. Along the long trek up the mountain Nari explained to Iosha what exactly was going to happen and what was expected of her. "Follow the story they give you and you'll be okay. I'll make sure you won't fall into harm's way. You were just a very defining factor in finding the murderer. Cait was hurt and we let the birds take the man. That's the story you'll give. I'll make sure that our leaders know exactly what transpired but the people of Sky Inarta can't know an Endal was killing off these people. Just some random outsider that was fed to the eagles. You'll receive a bounty perhaps and some "priviledges" during your stay in Wind Reach." Nari glanced at Iosha to make sure she understood what he said. "One word of this and you'll be branded a liar and live out your days as a dek or worse." It obviously pained Nari to threaten Iosha more then he deemed necessary but understood the severity of the situation. "One last thing. It would be best if we never talked again. If Cait recovers she will be under Valintar supervision IF they let her live. I don't want her to think those suspicious thoughts again. I'll focus my efforts on bringing her back if possible." Closing his eyes in acceptance the Endal tried to make keep face throughout his explaination as he looked sadly at Iosha. "I suppose this is my way of saying bye. It was nice never meeting you."

[Iosha]

When Nari asked Iosha what caused the madness in Cait, Miina decided to answer for her. It was somewhat true that the magic caused the madness, but Iosha liked to think the magic amplified the anger, resentment, and jealousy of the Endal woman. In truth all wizards had a choice to wield their magic, so the consequences always fell on the shoulders of the person who channeled the magic. Cait was a foolish woman in using her hypnotism in such a piety manners as winning the heart of a man. She didn't need magic to win the hearts of men. She just had to be willing to take the chance with her feelings. Iosha learned as a child from her grandmother that magic is just a tool, and a person doesn't always need to use magic to achieve the something. A person could achieve something with just their hands or their wits. All wizards worth their salt knew magic was dangerous, and Iosha knew Cait was gifted with the magic, but she lacked the fundamental discipline to become a great wizard. Iosha listened to Miina, and she wondered to herself if she would end up like Cait one day. She shivered at the thought of losing her mind completely to the madness. Iosha looked back at Cait on the ground sadly and thought to herself, “In hindsight, I think you and I aren't as different as I would like to think, Cait. I would do anything to free my daughter from slavery, and if I have to level a city to do it with my magic. I would...I just hope it doesn't come to it in the end.” Iosha heard the hallow voice in the back of her head start to laugh maniacally and said softly, “Well, you are starting to accept my way of thinking aren't you my dear...” Iosha crossed her arms as Nari passively aggressively explained the situation to Miina and Jared. She frowned to herself as she listened to him talk about keeping the whole situation about Cait being the murderer of five people a secret. Iosha angrily blew some white hair out of her face and thought to herself, “Where is the justice for the victims? They won't find peace Nari if you do what you want to do.” Iosha's eyes narrowed slightly at his joke about her becoming his personal prisoner or maid as he put it. She was still haunted by the memories of her enslavement. Being a Endal in Wind Reach, he would never know the feeling of losing one's freedom, and the things she had to do to survive the three years of hell in the hands of her master. Iosha looked away from Nari not wanting him to see the seething anger in her eyes. These last couple days brought out a side of her. She didn't want to bring to Wind Reach. Sadness, rage, and hate was consuming the young konti soul when she left Ravok. She learned how to control her destructive feelings in the Northern Reaches and Avanthal. However, the events of the last couple days made it harder for her to control her feelings. Iosha could only shake her head when she heard Nari tell her about the consequences of telling the secret about Cait to the public. She looked at him with no emotion in her eyes and said softly, “I will keep your secret Nari, and I hope you find happiness with whatever fate brings to you. Shall we head back to the city now? I just need to be alone for awhile..”

[Whimsy]

Iosha

Experience	Lore
+2 Intimidation	Emphasising Caste
+5 Investigation	Endal's Investigation
+2 Intelligence	The Murders of Wind Reach
+4 Obsevation	The Importance of Motive
+2 Research	Locating The Place of Death
+3 Riding	Magic: How One Can Kill Without Leaving a Trace
+1 Horsemanship	The Connection of the Murders with Nari and Cait
+2 Leadership	Hypnotism: A Personal Magic
+1 Weapon: Longsword	The Symptoms and Effects of Overgiving
+2 Riding: Wind Eagle	The Sanikas Pass
+1 Teaching	Konti Fish: The Victim of Racism
+2 Medicine	Standing Up for Oneself
+1 Reimancy	Injured In-Fight
+1 Unarmed Combat	A Sense of Home
	Confusion in Investigation
	The Deduction of Suspects
	Finally Figuring It Out
	Technique: Slamming One's Foot Into Another's Stomach
	Soul Finding Peace in the Madness
	Using Healing On One's Enemy
	The Voice in the Back of my Head

Comments
Wow! An expansive adventure with lots of skills and character development. Iosha, your last post was absolutely wonderful: completely foreboding. Miria, well done on your guest mod! You wove the story very well, and worked well off of Iosha's moves and reactions.

Iosha's reward:
Better living conditions in Wind Reach for free. Example: Paying a common upkeep grants good living conditions. Paying for poor living conditions equates to her living a common living condition. Some reverence from some Inarta after hearing Iosha solve the case and a bounty of 300 pinions. If she doesn't figure out who this killer truly is she's excused without any reward.

A few things: make sure you have permission to hold this thread in the future season: I noticed you situated part of the thread in Spring while it was still Winter in-game. In the future, Miria, please link to the HD ticket that gives you permission to guest mod in your first post, and when you are guest modding, be careful about your writing. You keep referring to characters in-thread as your own PC's names! PM me if either of you have any questions or concerns.

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