PM to join A Syliran Storm [Noah]

[Keene Ward]

Thought was clear on Noah's face, and Keene let the man consider. He knew little of the kelvic race, but the stormwarden before him seemed as capable as any other person he had meet so far, so there was little reason to consider the race possessing an intellectual deficit - at the very least, Noah was an exception if nothing else. When he spoke, his words were not quite certain, but they were filled with a passion that Keene wasn't able to understand. Rather than interrupting the rhetorical soliloquy, Keene kept quiet and listened, not out of understanding that his words were not quite yet asked for but more out of curiosity to see what exactly Noah's answer would be.

The story itself was parallel to Keene's own, only where Noah's had been filled with wonder, Keene's had been far colder. He could taste the unique flavor of excitement on the breezes that passed over Noah to stir his own cloak before dancing off to join the gathering flurries of the storm that, even in its temporary torpor, breathed heavy and hot, flashes of sizzling light contained within its bulk, muttering muted clashes of sound that seemed more distance than they were in actuality. The second half of the shared experience, however, was far more useful, and Keene nodded slowly as his pale gaze settled on the brighter mirror that met him. It was idyllic, romanticized, like the stories he had read as a child and never been able to quite comprehend. There was little difference from before save that he did understand the concept of love, of longing. He could see the same warmth he had felt at the hands of another, and though he wasn't able to connect that feeling to the disembodied mass of sheer, unadulterated power that the god of storms was, he had an idea of what the god seemed to stir in the kelvic's soul. It was odd.

A story for a story, or so it seemed as Noah offered Keene his place to speak. With a soft shake of his head, Keene kept his voice and eyes level. There was only the slightest tinge of sadness and regret in his words as he spoke, the emotions playing at the down-turned corners of his lips and more distant gaze. "I wasn't blessed. I was marked." Where Noah had spoken in story, Keene spoke in facts as he understood them. "He did what I couldn't, and I am in his debt." Though Keene had fulfilled the god's request, whether Zulrav thought the same or not, there had been a payment of unequal value. What the god had done for him was more than he could ever hope to return, even had he wanted to, and so as far as Keene was concerned, he carried that debt with him in his mark, however beneficial the sylphs had been to him, it was still a reminder of his own limitations - a bitter one at that.

"Patience." He nodded at Noah, his voice losing what little hints of the greater, terrible story behind his words as he continued, "I see." Turning as the winds began to whip at his hair and cloak, streaking through the folds of fabric and carrying with them a slight chill and spicy thrill of pleasure, Keene watched the leafs whirl at the invisible force's passage. "Are they his?" His eyes drifted towards the distance, those few breezes left hanging about his feet as they always did, familiar and content to laze as they waited for a stronger grip to carry them away. "Can you say that with certainty?" His words were directed towards Noah, face following halfway as his head tilted only a fraction in question. There was no challenge there, only an honest lack of conviction. The winds were so different, their existence bound to their emotions they embodied, but their individuality seemed relatively concrete. It was a matter of belief, he supposed, as there was nothing to prove either correct or wrong.

Rather than waiting for Noah's, Keene removed his glove, left hand slowly extending to let the steady breezes skim through his fingers, the pearly silk of joy lapping at his cool skin. "I can't." His eyes were held by the shiver of his palm, the sylphs unseen but present none the less as the thunder grumbled a warning that the moment of peace was nearing its end.

[Noah Amuel]

Disdain overtook the Kelvic as Keene Ward began to speak. Where Noah had called the power a blessing, Keene called it a mark. He wasn’t sure if Ward meant to discredit the mark in Noah’s eyes, but it was what he managed to do. To Noah it was a blessing, a acquisition of the power of an entire god’s simply because He thought you worthy to wield it. Perhaps he mistook Ward’s frankness for disregard, disrespect even. He withheld the emotions and conflicting feelings from showing on his face, fighting to keep his features blank in the moment, if not friendly or welcoming.

Keene continued, stating that Zulrav did what he could not, therefore Keene was in his debt. While Noah had no knowledge of the circumstances leading up to Keene’s blessing, he understood it must’ve been a trial of which he could not complete alone. Zulrav had aided him. It was then that the Kelvic realized Keene may have felt shame in the mark. Was the human prideful like many others? The question posed could not be answered without learning more about Keene, without prying like the stranger he was to the man. The forest wasn’t exactly the best place to invite someone to your home for coffee or tea, to mull over their differences and discover similarities.

With an utterance of the word ‘patience’ Keene nodded. The man’s voice lost the glimmer of sadness it once held to Noah’s relief. There was another mention of understanding before the man turned, the wind overtook his person and, soon after, overtook Noah. The Kelvic embraced the breeze, allowing it to wash over him like cool Suvan Sea water on a summer’s day. It was when the gust died did Noah move again, further approaching Keene. He came upon Ward’s side, leaving a distance between them that allowed further ease of communication, but, hopefully, comfort as well.

Noah brought his hands in front, grasping them in one another as Keene asked another question, asked if the breezes were actually Zulrav’s and how Noah could be so certain. Ward’s question was honest, if Noah could detect as much. The question was asked in the same way a child would on a topic they don’t quite understand. Noah was happy to answer it. However, hesitation came, the breaths drawn to answer the question already being taken were disallowed from retracting.

His thoughts on the question were interrupted as Keene’s movements were brought to his attention. The man’s left hand extended, the wind taking to it near instantly, swirling about his pale skin. Two words were said; a confession of lacking the powers Noah did not. The Kelvic had assumed as much due to Keene’s questions early when he first spoke to the man through the tongue of the wind. “It’s not hard,” Noah said, voice inflecting to reveal the ease of the talent. “Just as the wind flows through the air, it flows through you.”

Noah extended his right hand, pale fingers gripped with cold as the breezes whirled around his knuckles. “You have a second sight, right?” he asked, twirling his hand in the neutral breaths of air. “How do you access it? Do you call upon it from your mind?” He closed his hand into a fist briefly then bid it to spread open again. “Your… mark, as you call it, hold many talents. He’s graced you with many abilities. You can feel the moods of powerful winds of storms, you can breath the wind from your hands just as you breath from your nose, you can use those winds to carry your whispers.”

He turned his head to look at Keene. “I understand that you may not be devout, may not believe as I do. Perhaps that is why our paths have crossed? Perhaps I am to learn you the ways of your power?” The question was more neutral in asking, as it wasn’t truly intended for Keene or himself, but for Zulrav. Noah quieted, awaiting some sign of recognition from the god. Surely he would hear him, as he always did. Hopefuly, though, this time he would answer for it was not just Noah here now, there was also Keene.

[Samuel Longwell]

Grading Complete Please edit your grade request thread so that it's obvious that it's been graded. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions/problems with your grade. Name: Noah XP Award: Socialisation 5 Observation 5 Rhetoric 2 Teaching 2 Philosophy 2 Lore: Keene Ward: A less experienced Stormwarden Keene Ward: Has a second sight Zulrav: Patience works both ways Notes:Your posts are lovely and descriptive, I think it's a shame these threads were abandoned. Enjoy your grade! Name: Keene Unclear when your seasonal expenses apply, grade withheld. If you do return, PM me.