[Location] The White Isle Harbor (arriving PCs post here!)

[Canali]

Fall Day 30 511 AV Canali gripped Nasib's hand closer and stared off into the distance, eyes on the city before them. Mura. A wonderful, peaceful place filled with arts and creativity. Or, at least, that was what Canali had heard. After taking on Nasib, a young vantha toddler, she knew she wouldn't be able to raise him correctly being in Sunberth and decided to find the best place for him. One where he wouldn't be raised with murder and blood on his hands, or fight for the last drop of food. A place where Nasib could learn and be educated, have love and love. The island was gorgeous, breathtaking even. Full of plant life and vegetation, which clear water nearby. From what she could see so far, Canali figured the scenery would match the race inside; beautiful and serene. Hopefully. Watching as the boat docked, Canali and Nasib were soon off the ship with what few supplies Canali had brought; consisting of her backpack and living essentials. The rest were left behind in Sunberth under the watchful gaze of Crimson Edge. Katahr, Canali's young kitten she had saved, was also brought along mainly because he neither trusted other humans and also wouldn't let Canali out of his sight. Settling the young Vantha, Nasib, on her hip, Canali was met by the gorgeous clerk who asked what she needed. For a moment, hesitation crossed her face before Canali placed a kiss on Nasib's temple and answered, "I need to find a home for Nasib, this boy."

[Cachet]

The Isle was everything she had hoped it would be and more. The crystalline waters were an absolute change from anything she had ever seen. It was like serenity, peace and beauty had all taken up residence here on the isle and created this place. The women…they were all beautiful and serene as well. All so beautiful…how could a place like this remain untouched by the chaos around it? The air was cleaner crisper and carried with it a sense of togetherness that she couldn’t quite place a finger on. And it even looked like the entire isle was decorated for something. Exactly what was a mystery but pumpkins were a central theme to all of it. The fall colors were also very central as were the gods and goddesses.

Everything here was beautiful. Like a hundred thousand paintings had just mashed together to create something that was almost unbelievable to any who had not seen it for themselves. And indeed Canali would likely never have believed this place was real if she hadn’t just set foot in it herself. It was breathtaking, and that was almost an understatement. The artistry of everything here was apparent in everything that was part of this isle called Mura. The construction was ornate and wondrous the gardens colorful and inviting…it was a dream almost.

The clerk nodded and then spoke evenly to Canali. “Your best bet for that is in the Opal Temple. Follow this path to the center of town, the temple is exactly as the name suggests you will know when you reach it darling.” She said as she smiled at the small child the woman held in her arms. Life was such a precious thing here for the Konti women. Especially human lives as they were so short.

[Post here and we shall then continue with a branch off thread for you]

[Sylvie]

Sylvie rested her hand upon Gold's shimmering mane. Bringing her onto the small barge had been difficult, and the horse's tendency of kicking over other passenger's luggage didn't endear her any more to the captain. Sylvie wasn't quite sure what she would do with her once she reached the island, but she couldn't leave her friend behind. Those months they spent travelling together, the girl and the horse, had done too much damage.

As the boat pulled up to the dock, Sylvie clenched Gold's rope to her chest. A new life loomed, one which overwhelmed the small girl. Gold, sensing her owner's nerves, didn't cause too much trouble as they pushed past the crowd on the dock.

She looked around. The island was beautiful, so beautiful, but so strange. Where was she to go? What was she to do? She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as Gold nuzzled her bag. Sylvie bit her lip, then climbed onto the back of her horse and rode up the cobblestone path toward the town.

[Faraluun]

Timestamp: 1st of Fall The boat creaked silently as it glided through the water, the soft crackle of the canvas now familiar to the fallen one's ears. He'd been here before, few years hence yet now he returned, and the wiser for his time away. Zeltiva had taught him much in his brief time spent there, but still there was more to be had, more to be learned but only through introspection could the answers he had sought for so long make sense. Mura was of course the best place for that, its quiet serenity coupled with the scenic views provided quite the haven for his mind his first time on it's shores. So it pulled him again, begging him to stay longer, and relax in the peace of the land as he struggled to grasp his purpose in this life. For a time he had managed to push back the soul crushing pain of falling from grace, but of late he had learned the true measure of sadness, and it left him solemn, and quiet. His dreams had grown strange for it as well, him seeing double at times with his human side obtaining a almost sinister appearance one moment, or a gallant hero the next but always trying to shame the Ethaefal side of himself into submission. It desired something from him that he did not yet know, or better phrased, the hidden gears of his mind sought to bring him to a certain clarity that would prepare him for his purpose in life. Much did not make sense these days though. The boat at last found berth at on of the docks, and he was all to eager to stumble off the ship, his stomach still yet churning despite his extended experience upon its thrashing waters. Seemed to be he had soaked up a bit too much salt air for he felt as if he was turning a touch green, and had to resist collapsing to his knees to throw up over the edge of the dock on more than one occasion as he walked along nimbly onto the paved path Somehow by dragging every ounce of power from his form he managed to steel himself against such tendencies and continued on his way before coming upon a woman who promptly greeted him. "Thank you, I've come back to clear my head, perhaps even to find work with which to occupy my body and mind" He replied softly, his teal eyes seeking her sea green eyes earnestly.

[Zandelia]

Winter 2nd, Av 511


The journey had been both a tedious and interesting affair for Zandelia, a strange dichotomy that was fast becoming the central tenet of her existence. One the one hand she had earned her travel with the merchant caravan by taking up daily menial tasks, but on the other she had had her father’s tome of knowledge to keep her busy – its pages not exactly clear upon what they were referenced to. It had worried her, driven her to terrible melancholy with its seemingly insane and inane babblings. She would have thrown it away after a week if she had not seen some well hidden and cunning clues to the order that lay behind its chaos. Descriptions, anagrams, memories that tickled at her brain with growing insistence and earning its name all too well for her tastes. Still, her arrival at Mura was no great adventure, travelling in a large group far more deterring to the beasts and bandits upon the roads than if she had journeyed alone – proof that safety in numbers was not always an illusion to be scoffed at.

Not that it served to be all too positive. If I never have to cook another bastard’s meal or help with tasks given to the ‘weak woman’ again I’ll be damned well happy. They’re just lucky there wasn’t more than one bloody nose in response to their barbs she thought to herself with distaste.

She had begun to truly learn that if she wished to gain opulence she would need to sell herself, though he still was capable of choosing her buyers. Her experience in infiltrating the slavers before her leaving of Sunberth had proven one thing to her mind – that self-respect was for those who had never had to barter it away for advantage. No, she was more than willing to probe the very depths of depravity if it gained her what she required. It was thus that, as she entered the almost pure and pristine structures of Mura she almost felt as if she was dirty by comparison, that she would stain it’s very whiteness with her passing. Her breath misted in front of her, evidence to the chill of the air, as she pulled her cloak about her and stepped down off of the small boat that had carried her across the icy waters.

“Hey” the boatman cried just before she flicked her toll through the air towards him, smiling as they lashed out their hand, snatching it from the surroundings and secreting it expertly about their person.

Zandelia merely turned away, pulling her hood up further to keep out the cold and obscure her features. She had seen many of the denizens of the island already and their beauty was far outstripping her confidence as it was, to be seen as a grotesquery of scarred flesh would not have done for her first visit.

“Not that it will last very long” she breathed to herself as one of the ethereal women walked towards her, smile upon her lips and eyes probing Zandelia’s person.

Pale blonde hair, heart shaped face and sea green eyes seemed to possess their own gravitas and inner light as Zandelia began to wish she could disappear from the woman’s gaze for all time, slipping away into the very shadows she usually relied upon to hide herself – something she noticed did not seem to exist in this land. Shadows, it seemed, were things that only skulked around the alleyways of her birthplace, Sunberth. She was beginning to miss the cess pit already, something she had never thought possible in her lifetime. The questions that she was asked were simple affairs, basic things that Zandelia could not see should be given away for free, however she had new rules to learn for new lands.

“My name is Zandelia, Zandelia Sansom,” she returned in response to the probing, “and I come to Mura for many reasons – most of them my own. I shall be working within the city to earn my keep, sleeping in my tent and looking to find someone who can heal this” she finished, sighing as she pulled her hood back enough to show the twisted scar that left her with but a single emerald green eye.

“There are other things I shall need to know, but all will come in time. I am in no real hurry. So if you could point me in the direction of a miracle worker, though I doubt they even exist, then I’d be grateful enough to give a kiss or two perhaps” she pulled her hood back so that it hid her growing mask of a smile quickly enough that it did not seem altogether too forced for the occasion.

She had arrived, set foot in the place she had been told by a stranger was capable of miracles. She had taken the first steps in the journey her father had seemingly taken Akajia knew how long ago now. Her heart was filled with darkness, little hope left for it had been stolen away too many times in terrible circumstances. She was not so much wondering whether she could survive the city of purity, but whether the pure city could survive her. Only time, as in all things, would tell.

[Rowasa Iridyllis Lneth]

-

Winter 511 AV

Rowasa greeted Muti with a slight smile as she passed the attractive desk clerk, keeping her head down to keep people from seeing her two-colored eyes and staring, as tourists tend to do blatantly. She made her way to the bright, inviting shops lining the harbor, attracting a steady stream of awed newcomers. While most were portable tables or tents, a few stayed open late into the night. Rolling her eyes at some of the more outrageous prices, she stood near a booth draped with sparkling cloths and sorted aimlessly through a pile of discount veils, keeping her face impassive as she listened to nearby conversations.

A wide-eyed group of human girls approached the vendor's wares with excitement, digging enthusiastically through the garish fabrics. Rowasa glanced at one nearby and noted the dangling bracelets and flower-imprinted shoes. Wealthy. The shopkeeper was already approaching them with a winning smile, showering the women with "bargains" reserved only for the most beautiful of creatures. As giggles pealed around her, Ro stood and left. They wouldn't have talked about anything interesting anyway. She felt something chilly in her chest that dampened her originally excited mood about exploring the harbor again. She was never offered bargains.

Ro approached a fish stall much closer to the gates, where visitors from all over the world streamed through to partake in Mura's wonder. Her heart lifted again as she saw a rare Inarta man, his flowing red hair unmistakable as it caught the bright sunshine. He was attracting many glances, and she swept her gaze away from his face to his exotic clothes. She recognized some from the history books – there'd been a very interesting chapter in Architecture of All Cultures about talon symbology in Inarta art, the man's sword being no exception.

She watched him out of her peripherals as he neared the gates. Before long, Muti's greeting came his way: "Hello and welcome to Mura! What is it that you need?" The man explained he had glass to trade, and Rowasa felt nearby workers perk at the mention. Rowasa was curious. Surely there must be more to it. An Inarta, leaving Wind Reach? What if he committed some terrible crime to be expelled? What if he escaped some frightening fate? It reminded her of her mother. But such thoughts were painful. Rowasa knew that Divination had killed Ayanra. She also knew that she would give her life and more if only she could See.

But the sea of Chavena remained in her dreams, and the man continued to the official registry. He was soon swallowed up by the crowd. Rowasa sighed. One disadvantage of eavesdropping was that interesting conversations in a language she could understand were hard to come by, and her fear of approaching the travelers often left her with unanswered questions.

Although the sun was out, it was winter, and the wind from the sea was cold. Ro wrapped her white cloak closer around her and decided to spend the day in the Library. She turned away from the bright, loud masses and made her way back home to grab a bite to eat first.


-

[Cachet]

Sylvie

Let me know if you require/want more moderation. As is it does not appear that you need any.

Faraluun

The Konti smiled and nodded. “That all depends on what your trade skills are. We have a smithy she is usually looking for apprentices. You can help at the temple as well, or help tend the rice fields. The choice is yours.” she said as she waited for a reply so she could send this newcomer in the right direction.

Zandelia

“My name is Muti I run these docks.” She said welcoming Zandelia to Mura. She was an odd one and the scar on her face made her stand out the most to this greeter.

She giggled a little at the woman’s mentioning of a ‘miracle worker’ what was she talking about. What kind of miracle did she want? “Do you mean a healer? What do you need tended to?” Muti needed more information in order to send her to the temple and have her inquire about the right person. There were so many healers at the temple and well each one of them was experienced in something different. But if all else failed she could always just go and pray at the alter of Rak’keli…Maybe she would grace the woman.

Rowasa

Let me know if you need/want further moderator interaction.

[Faraluun]

"I've not much in the way of trade skill, been kept sheltered most of my time on this world. Now that I find myself unbound, I'm eager to learn, and don't care how much hard work it will take. Of what sort of work could I find in the temple?" Faraluun asked, genuinely curious. He'd traveled to this island at last free of his escort and his mission, and while he found himself floundering for a purpose, he found within himself a resolve to finally develop the little bits he learned over the years to a point that they would serve him well when he found himself no longer on the island's shores.

[Zandelia]

Zandelia could not help but let a small frown play across her features, darkening their veritable horizon considerably at the young woman’s giggles and words. She had just shown her face to a youth whom outstripped her own beauty quite considerably, revealing the grotesquery of the scar she had dealt with for years and the only response she received were words of more direct lines of enquiry.
Zandelia tried not to let her anger get the better of her, her temper all but frayed into tatters as it was, merely settling for a sideways glance of irritation before returning her gaze back to the sea green eyes of the strange woman that stood before her. Her hands found her hips in a defensive stance that subconsciously was adopted as a psychological barrier to further embarrassment, intended or otherwise.

Surely the people here cannot be so bloody dense? If so I have come to the wrong place and been played for the fool indeed she thought to herself as she cleared her throat a little and responded to the questions.

“My eye does not work, at all. It is blind. Destroyed long ago now by a dead man. I was told that it could find healing here in Mura. However, if that is not the case then at the very least I could do with direction to a good inn,” she replied in as calm a tone as her injured pride allowed her to, “so that I might drown myself of course” she finished with a sigh of resignation to the cause of inebriation either way.

She took the opportunity to pull her hood back up to cover her countenance, her body language all but screaming discomfort at the altercation between gargoyle and Aphrodite – as she deemed it to be. She merely stood, her single eye staring deeply into the other woman’s with an intensity of observation she was beginning to grow accustomed to using, it paid dividends many times over. She pulled her cloak around her once more, seeming perhaps a figure of darkness to some but more a creature in desire of retreat deep inside her heart.

Please just tell me where I can bloody get things sorted out so I can stop feeling so damned terrible about it she fervently thought to herself, calling upon Akajia’s names every other thought.

[Cachet]

Faraluun

“The temple is dedicated to the arts of healing. If you are up to learning then it is the perfect place to start for there is a library with tombs from across this realm all about healing. You may be able to assist one of the healers in their labs, or help them at the clinic there are so many opportunities there that I can’t even begin to list them all. But it is a noble path to take that is to be sure.”

Zandelia

OOCZandelia just make a thread with yourself going to the Temple and invite me to it so I can moderate some for you. I’ll allow you first post there.

The woman looked at Zandelia curiously, had she offended this woman? She seemed so different from her sisters of the Isle. So…jaded almost. Her demeanor was different…darker. But at the same time it was obvious to her that this woman needed help. And it was the people like Zandelia that needed the grace and healing of Rak’keli the most. They needed to be shown that there was still grace in the world.

“I am sorry to hear about your condition. My laughter was not aimed at you or your unfortunate circumstances Zandelia. If I were you I would go to the Opal Temple. Maybe pray to Rak’keli at her shrine or seek out one of her highly marked daughters who walk the halls. The Temple is in the center of town and unmistakable from everything else, Merida will be there to greet you she will know who you need to see.” There was a pause and Merit then spoke again.

“And welcome to Mura Zandelia, I hope that you find what you are looking for.”