PM to join Minty Haunting [Ezra]

[Savacea Jovellana]

40th, Summer 515AV

Tokia had sent Savacea on a excursion to the Black Marsh, to collect some Wraith Mint, as it was a full moon tonight the mint would easily be found since she told her it would be glowing. Black Rock ceased to amaze her in the oddities found among the area. Who knew that a plant could glow? Tokia also mentioned that it calmed ghost and was useful to her, the old lady said she would explain further in detail when she brought it back to the shop. She understood that learning hands on was best, she respected that of her, though at times she wished Tokia would divulge just a little bit more before sending out in the rather creepy Black Marsh. She had found Wraiths Mint before, though barely and it was not glowing, so this should be an interesting sight to see.

At the entrance of the marsh she saw a weird man, he was wearing a rather frightening mask, in a black cloak, and had a staff in his hand with a hook shape at the end of it. She heard tales of these things from the people of Black Marsh, they were called Omens and no one exactly knew much about them. "Well that isn't creepy as hell.." Savacea thought to herself as the thing went into the Black Marsh. The thought of turning around and leaving seemed like a good idea to her, especially with that thing entering. Though she was not one to turn away simply because of danger, life wasn't fun if danger wasn't involved..right?

So she moved on, across the sturdy stone bridge that went in an arch over the murky depths below her. There were more ghosts here then she thought, as they peered into the waters, others to one side engaged in a conversation with their eerie voices. She came upon a man, who looked to be a Cicerone who stopped her, "The Marsh is dangerous alone, I suggest that you turn around and leave, it is full of dangers." The man said in a low but authoritative tone. Savacea sighed, and tilted her head to the side, "I understand the dangers, but I am here on business via Tokia, so if you could just step aside..." Savacea replied in a tired voice trying to get pass the man, but he held his arm out, "You could die in there, no one would know any difference. Your body could never be found, business or not it is dangerous, and you should not enter."

Savacea let out a irritated sigh, folding her arms across her chest, "That creepy guy, Omen, or what ever you call them went inside. If he..or it.. can then I can too." She glared at the Cicerone, "Besides you have done your duty, you have warned me, now please step aside and I promise to be careful." Savacea changed her tone in one of calm, stepping around the man who just shook his head and sighed, saying it was her funeral then. The Symenestra shrugged her shoulders, danger awaited her and she was a little thrilled about it, but she would be cautious and hopefully not die this night.

She crossed the bridge and entered the murky depths of the Marsh. It was getting dark, the sun was setting and she should be able to make it to where she needed to be by night fall. Her pupils dilated giving her more vision in the shadows of the Marsh as she trudged on inside. The feeling of eeriness that one found hard to shake in the city of Black Rock only intensified here. Small goose flesh spread itself out across her limbs, as the hair on the back of her neck raised in caution. Wails could be heard from deeper inside the Marsh, making her shiver slightly. It was not a shiver because it was cold, but from the wails emitting into the silent air of the Marsh.

She walked for what felt like hours, though it probably had only been twenty minutes, the time seemed to go by slowly because of the fear the Marsh was making her feel inside her chest. She was not one to be scared easy, but this place, it was doing it to her. The sun had almost set completely, as she peered around her looking for this Wraiths Mint that Tokia mentioned, adjusting her silk pack on her shoulder that carried the glass jar to collect it in. She came upon a grove like area, if you could call it that, and spotted something almost translucent but faintly glowing in the distance. She could not help the smile this gave her, as it spread across her lips and almost touching her eyes but not quite. She walked quickly over to the plant, ready to collect it and leave as soon as possible.

It was a haunting plant, it had serrated leaves, but it had a transparent look to it with only a faint green tinge, glowing green in the now almost darkness. She inhaled slightly, the heavy aroma of mint hitting her senses making her nose run slightly. She swiped at her nose, it was indeed a potent aroma, though pleasant at the same time, almost calming and soothing. She reached down, touching the soft plant's leaves, it was beautiful in a creepy way. She slung her pack off her shoulder and carefully retrieved the glass jar inside. Reaching out carefully, she placed her index and thumb a inch below the mint leaves and gave it a soft tug, picking it off the plant and sticking it inside her jar. She did this to the whole plant and some beside it, collecting more then enough for Tokia. Standing up she brushed herself off, proud of herself for accomplishing this task. She placed the jar back into her silk sack. She had collected some Wraiths Mint before, though it seemed different as the moon was not full during that time. She remembered that the aroma was not as strong, the leaves did not glow, and she had a more basic understanding of the plant as she did now.

As she went to walk away she heard a panicked wail that rang inside her ears, sending a chill in her delicate bones. She went for her silk sack, reaching inside she brought out her Spider Throwing Knife, peering around her. The wail was loud, panicked, and made her frightened. Savacea stood there for a moment, debating on whether or not to go towards the sound, or run the hell out of the Black Marsh. It could of been just a ghost but then again it could be someone that was in trouble. Savacea took off in the direction she thought she heard the scream, when she came upon a man and a ghost who looked panicked. She stayed back out of sight, just in case not knowing exactly what she was seeing, hoping she did not make too much noise to be seen though it was possible she did not since she was in such a rush to get there. She kept her knife out though, the stranger was not to be trusted, not yet anyway.

[Ezra Anansi]

----

The small stabs of exertion knifed through Ezra's body with a slow scorching, the steady jog he had kept up for the last half half-hour beginning to wear on his body. He was unused to this type of physical exertion, and even when his duties as a Cicerone required him to venture across the wilds of Black Rock, he had always done it at his pace. Now, however, he could not afford to travel along the carefree rhythm that his feet so often beat into the ground. No, urgency outweighed comfort in this instance, and the thought that his simple mistake was currently rushing to the Black Marsh in a panicked blitz drove him onward despite his body's protests.

Ezra honestly didn't know how he managed to botch up such a simple escort so fantastically. The job started out like almost all of his others, with him lounging around the Administration Office begging for someone or something to alleviate his intense boredom. Almost on cue, the phantasmal form of a lost specter materialized before him, a look of utter despair plain upon her confused face. To his untrained eye, the ghost looked to be a deceased Konti, and from the ragged gashes which marred her intransigent form, one that had experienced a violent death.

As a Cicerone, it was Ezra's duty to escort such lost creatures around the island, to introduce them to the locals and help them in any way possible. In Ezra's opinion, it seemed to be going well. They had taken a casual stroll around the peak, with him answering any questions the Konti had, showing her the rooms the Dormitories had to offer, and occasionally cracking a joke to lighten the abysmal mood which had overtaken her. Then, Ezra had the unfortunate timing to come across two children, a boy and a girl, play-fighting with wooden swords. Though the acts wholly benign, even the image of such violence appearing before a woman so freshly dead, it was all that was needed to set her off. The specter unleashed a unearthly wail of pain before bolting with inhuman speed in the direction of the Black Marsh. It seemed that today, Lhex was intent on creating the excitement Ezra was craving, however in a manner that the half-human was wholly unprepared for.

These circumstances led to Ezra's current ones, chasing down a half-mad ghost in his nicest suit without his loved Farghoulian cattle presence to steady his rising anxiety. This was his failure as a Cicerone, and if that ghost found any living soul to torment, the blame would fall upon his shoulders. He had a responsibility to track the panicked phantom down, and, with any luck, talk her down before she hurt anyone. Herself included.

The Black Marsh finally coming into sight after a near hour of panicked running, Ezra allowed himself a sigh of nervous relief. The craggy landscape of the mountainous region slowly shifted into that of the marshlands inherent to the southern half of the island. Ezra slowed his pace as he strode deeper into the sometimes-hostile swamp, recalling he and his mother's close encounters with both natural hazards like quicksand and the more paranormal denizens which ran wild here. Ezra was unsure of the reason, but lost ghosts had a tendency to end up in and around the Black Marsh, its fractured and melancholic atmosphere similar to that which its ghostly inhabitants carried with them. Regardless, the young Cicerone proceeded with caution as he ventured deeper into the wilds of Black Rock. To do anything less amidst the unnatural circumstances was to court Dira on her very isle.

Sighing as his fine jacket snagged onto a wayward branch, Ezra's brief discontent turned into startled relief as he came upon the shimmering form of his Konti quarry. The deceased woman seemed to be attempting to cry, a useless effort, as no tears would form stream down her dead face. Ezra could only frown at the sight of her tearless whimperings, holding himself responsible for the Konti's current state. Regardless of his own feelings on the matter, the Cicerone attempted put on his best face for the long dead woman. Maybe if she sees a smiling face, it'll make her see that evrything isn't as hopeless as it seems. Besides, Mom always said I had a great smile, he thought to himself in preparation. I won't fail her twice.

With the brightest, whitest smile he could manage, Ezra approached the panicked girl. "Hey, if you wanted some space, they're are a lot of easier ways to say it. Running away screaming, kinda hurts a guy's self-confidence, you know?"

In response, the Konti ran away screaming.

Ezra decided that his mother had been lying when she appraised the quality of his smile.

"Petch," the Cicerone cursed as he chased after the deceased woman, his sore legs pumping with furious effort. The ghost had the advantage in the chase, phasing through the many obstacles of the swap, but Ezra knew these lands well. His feet found solid ground even as the earth around him squelched with effort of supporting his body. It had proven a short chase, as the Konti women turned to face him with fury in her eyes.

A blast of telekinetic force slammed Ezra into the solid bark of a Weeping Willow, the swaying moss which hung from the tree stirring softly at his disturbance. The ghost pressed forward as she projected her soulmist against Ezra, and the surrounding wood began to crack under the strain of supporting him.

"Alright, your a little mad right now, I get that," Ezra began with a strained smile. "But, if you just calm down-" The Konti seemed to think that materializing to slap him across the face an appropriate response. Rolling his jaw as the pressure from the ghost's projection lessened, Ezra gave a slight nod to the woman."I'm getting the feeling you don't want to talk right now." Another materialized slap proved ample confirmation.

Ezra sighed as the invisible force which pressed against him lessened in power, the newly-formed ghost not realizing how much soulmist she was expending just to inflict pain upon the Cicerone. Her eyes began to droop slightly as the energy she expended proved less and less, and Ezra finally found himself able to stand without assault. At of the corner of his eye, he saw the pale figure of another woman approach the scene out of the corner of his eye. A slow, cunning smile overtook his face as a plan began to take form in his mind. The ghost didn't want to talk to him, and even when she was not in this panicked state, she didn't seem comfortable around him. Any male really, now that he thought about it.Maybe she's scared of men? Perhaps what set her off wasn't the violence, but the fact that the boy was hitting the girl? There were to many 'ifs' for him to be comfortable with the plan, but Ezra really didn't see any other option for calming the ghost down.

"You don't want to talk to me, and that's fine. But would you like to talk to her?" he asked, gesturing to the slim form of the dark-haired woman which stood to the side of the scene. Much to his surprise, the specter agreed.

[Savacea Jovellana]

The ghostly woman looked panicked and scared, slapping the man. She could not help but grin at that, she could relate to her feelings against men. Savacea was unsure if she had been seen yet or not, but watched the scene between the man and ghost. This ghost really appeared to be pissed at him for some reason. She was used to the annoying specters by now, they were always getting in her way, staring, and did not understand privacy what so ever. It was quite irritating but bearable.

The man's voice interrupted her thoughts, when he asked the petching ghost if she would talk to her, of course the ghost agreed, and of course her stealthiness failed. She gave an exasperated sigh as she shook her head, pinching her nose between her eyebrows. She supposed she had no choice in the matter, so she stepped forward, bringing a few leaves of the Wraiths Mint she just collected out of her sack. Savacea did not know how to deal with the ghosts but she knew herbs and poison, Tokia mentioned a while back when she first sent her to get the Wraiths Mint that it calmed and relaxed the spirits. So she brought out a few leaves, squeezing them gently in her hand as she approached the young woman ghost.

"Calm down dear, he is only here to help. It will be okay, men are stupid they do not understand us what so ever. Nor do they ever say the right things", she held the Wraith Mint out, opening her palm. The herb only glowed on a full moon and tonight was such a night. A faint green glow could be seen in her hand, as the relaxing aroma spilled out enveloping the ghost.


The aroma seemed to make her sigh in delight, immediately she relaxed due to the calming effects of the Wraiths Mint. Savacea concealed her knife and turned to the man, she walked up to him and leaned in closer as her breath fanned his face, "What the petch did you do to her!?" She exclaimed smelling of a heavy mint scent. She looked at the man with a cold and vicious glare, then shoved the mint in his hand. Savacea turned to walk away and realized she was not sure which way to go. She threw her arms in the air, growling slightly in irritation, "Oh great, now thanks to this petching imbecile I am lost.." Savacea said this in a callous tone, her foot tapping the ground rather irritated.