Open Chronicles An Arrangement of Stardust

She did not deign to respond to Alistair's thanks. How many times had she been on the verge of eruption when things came to be all too much? Incidentally, it had been Henk that helped her through a lot of it. Liv understood how unnerving it would have been for Alistair if they had stayed in such a large gathering.

Livia released his arm once they found a quiet spot in the room, no artwork here to peruse and thus allowed the quartet a moment to hear one another. "Forgive us, Elyon and Eshara. We hail from Vel Anir, where humans dwell. Unfortunately that means we are not so... introduced to many other beings and races that exist in Arethil."

She drew the rim of her glass to her lips, pausing a moment there. "May I state an observation? My magic is like a compass, and yet it cannot differentiate either of you. It merely rests between you both. Unheard of in my experience for twins to appear as one..." Her magic usually knew how to turn to one or the other.

Elyon and Eshara
Alistair Krixus

“First years. Just getting started, then.”

Henk tilted his head slightly, studying the faces before him. They looked so young, though hadn’t he been younger still when the Academy had claimed him? The thought lingered bitterly, but he brushed it aside with a faint smile. “Well, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Master Valestri. I cannot speak for every Anirian in attendance, but I and my friends are as human as you.”

And then Pomrick opened his mouth.

Oh, dear.

It was clear enough the reputation of Anirians hadn’t much improved among Elbion’s youth. Once upon a time, such wild rumors might’ve held a shred of truth. But bloodstains linger on memory longer than reform could hope to wash away. Still, Henk doubted Mr. Bloomsfield was a reliable witness to the city’s collective opinion. The boy stumbled over his words as though they tripped him at every step, and Henk found himself softening, pity tugging faintly at his brow.

“Heavens, no,” Henk said at last, grave and solemn until the corners of his mouth betrayed him. “We added woodland critters to the diet five years ago. Goblin teeth, too, when we can get them. Orcs are dreadful about hygiene, and cavities really do ruin the structural integrity of armor.”


He let the words hang just long enough for unease to set in, before bursting into laughter, waving one hand in dismissal. “A jest, of course. I assure you, we Anirians are not so unlike you. Raised differently, yes, but not fairy-tale monsters. I’d wager some child in Vel Anir has been told equally fanciful stories about you.” His shoulders rose and fell in an easy shrug, smile as patient as it was kind. “It’s easy to make strangers into something less than human, when you’ve never met their eyes.”

As he spoke, Livia and Alistair slipped gracefully away, and Salak had already retreated into his own head, as Salak so often did. So it fell to Henk to carry the weight of introductions, alone. He sighed quietly, but truthfully, he didn’t mind.

He had, however, yet to address the striking young woman at Pomrick’s side. She’d lingered in silence, but her eyes hadn’t strayed far from him. Meeting that gaze, Henk returned it with a smile, lifting his hand in a small, polite wave.

“And what of you, miss?” he asked, voice with genuine curiosity. “You’ve certainly been drawing eyes tonight, yet not a word have I heard from your lips.”

The twins glanced at each other, sharing a brief moment of disappointment.
"Not dryads..." they whispered between them.

Thankfully that brief moment of dismay was quickly interrupted by the arrival of some sickly sweet drinks, delivered into their hands in rounded glasses. The locals would know this drink as a "daquiri," but to Ely'Esha it was simply pinkish red, goopy, and soon to be consumed.

Both twins began to sip before hearing the questions of their new conversational companions. They perked up immediately.

"You don't know it, but what you two ask is the same thing!" Eshara exclaimed.

"Yan'Katma, in the tradespeak of Liadain, means 'spirit twins,'" Elyon explained.

The shifted their drinks to the hands furthest from each other, than took each other's free hands.

"It is as we said! We are Ely'Esha!" Eshara announced once more, beaming.

"We have learned that people not like us have just one medium-sized spirit in one body. But Yan'Katma have a big spirit that we share between us," Elyon continued.

"We are one thing just as you are one thing!" Eshara giggled, practically bouncing.

"Impressive that you can sense us as we are," Elyon finished with a smile.

Despite the reveal, it was fairly easy to observe that there were slight differences between the two. Aside just from being opposite sexes, the two's mannerisms varied noticeably, Eshara clearly being the more excitable of the two and Elyon considering his choice of words a bit more.

He was impeccably dressed. He was head to toe in his finest-

(Or rather, a nobleman's finest)

Black, sleak, stylish. A high collar, a fashionable sash across his body. The scar on his face and his unpleasant eyes were dismissed, or perhaps just noted. But nobody had yet to make him. He was here to do one thing, in his fancy riding boots, belt and sash and all.

He was here to steal an art piece- The Banker's Dilemma. A painting of banker looming over a transaction- a chest full of gold. Painted by some pompous, pretentious artist trying to make a point. Kristopher had no idea what the point eventually was. He stared at it, in front of it. Roughly fifteen feet away. He repulsed some people naturally- the Vampire, of course, having something ethereal about him. Dogs, cats, fish, leered away from him. People had the same reaction.

After all, he was a blood-sucking monster. But hopefully, after tonight... he was to be a rich, blood-sucking monster.

Colt kept his normal leather boots, but sported a dressier jacket than normal in a charcoal grey that matched his pants. His slightly off-white collar was held together by an odd tie made of strings that looped together around the Pirian family crest. In some parts the piece was called a "bolo tie", but such knowledge was not widespread in the broader Vel Anirian lands. Let alone Elbion, the strange city whose stereotypical inhabitant was made out to be pacifist proctors that he found himself in.

Colt knew this was a gross oversimplification, but with the chosen meeting occurring at an art exhibition did their reputation no favors.

Colt's eyes focused on sculptures as a medium, but also on any work that features agriculture or food. Colt knew better than most the true price of a bowl of a stew, a slab of meat, or an arrangement of vegetables. The society's values, wealth, and perspective could be gleaned from it's popular menus if one had an experienced eye. Colt decided to take a moment to look at the other inhabitants and found collections of students and initiates. Was that . . . was that girl a snake? Colt squatted somewhat and pulled a flask from his boot before taking a small swig of whiskey and made his way over. If he wasn't going to go home with a story like I slept with a snake woman Colt wasn't quite sure what was the point of him coming.

"Howdy." Colt said and nodded at the crowd, but didn't further push the conversation. It seemed the proper dreadlord, a definite superior, had already pushed the lady to speak.

Lysander Docatto Valestri Pomrick Bloomsfield Nilamani Henk

What the tall one had said was all too true. Nilamani was pleasantly surprised to hear such reasonable words and an affable tone.
Just as those of them here from Elbion might have reason to fear, so too might the Anirians have their own anxieties.
Nilamani imagined that their little stunt of appearing in this form might plant a seed in the mouths of some Anirians to great embellishment latter.
Before they could ruminate on any potential cultural bridges the conversation had been rounded their way.
"ah, I am very relieved to hear the Anirians have such a sense of humor~ Liken to your own words I imagine I will remain much more fanciful in the minds of those who I don't have a chance to speak with tonight."
Nilamani brushed a bit of hair from their shoulder and offered a small mischievously serpentine smile.
"It is easy to remain a mystery in the ebb and flow of a crowd like this. So many interesting folk all shoved into the same room."
As they remarked this another approached on their other side. Their manner of dress was unique, formal enough yet somehow evoking an image laidback nonchalance.
They inclined their head in a nod to acknowledge the greeting he had given their group, this too was something Nilamani had not heard before.

"I am a member of the second year students of Elbion, Nilamani. As is evident I'm afraid I can't claim to be as human as your fellow Anirians. but I may be able to wager to be a touch less monstrous than whatever tales Anirians tell their children about Nerevyn." Nilamani wasn't near as touchy about being mislabeled as their mother had been. Perhaps growing up near the docks had desensitized them to it. Well that and they were privileged with a form that still handled dryland well in comparison. They had considered leaving it up to interpretation much like their horned friends but this small olive branch of plain honesty seemed more appropriate. After all it seemed that one was being extended their way, might as well return the favor.

Henk
Salak
Lysander Docatto Valestri
Pomrick Bloomsfield
Colt Pirian

"Henk, please."
Salak's protest was weakly sitting under his laugh at Henks brief leading on of Pomricks question.

The smile on his face continued as the Neveryn spoke. It pleased him greatly to have his suspicion confirmed but he confessed to himself that he liked it when mysteries lasted a little longer. No matter.

He nodded to the new man and realized that this was his chance to meet someone interesting. So he spoke up and let down his hood, the premature grey locks fell gently about his neck as he addressed the Elbion students but mostly Nilamani.

"I thank your kind words Child but Anirian culture does cultivate an air of fear and awe. Look at us, so outlandish in our appearance. We are encouraged to individualism and while often it can be fanciful, It is also so that during the confusions of open conflict we are noticed both by friend and foe alike."

His eye went to Pomrick.
"We have learned that fear can cut deeper than swords and have honed it well. Young Pomrick is mistaken only in the means, not the method."

Returning his gaze to Nilamani he realized something.
"Forgive me, I was once a Proctor and it seems my habit for lecturing has not left me yet."

Not that anyone ever seemed to listen.
"If I may Apprentice Nilamani, in the spirit of sharing culture, I wonder if you would indulge a few questions. I'd hate to waste such a novel opportunity to learn about a people not often seen."

Another forced smile appeared on his face, not because he did not wish to speak to them but because pain began in his cheek and leg. The old wounds acting up again made him lean on his cane that bit more and perhaps seem more sinister than he wished to appear.

Nilamani
Henk
Pomrick Bloomsfield
Colt Pirian
Lysander Docatto Valestri

Henk
Salak
Nilamani
Pomrick Bloomsfield
Colt Pirian

The young nobleman had listened with the patience that his upbringing demanded, his golden eyes never wavering from the faces of those who spoke. Though their words carried weight and sincerity, he found within them nothing that stirred offense within his breast. Still, as the last echoes of their voices faded into the ambient murmur of the gathering, Lysander quirked one bushy, snow-white eyebrow, a gesture that seemed almost out of place on his youthful features.

"I never thought you monsters," he said, his voice carrying the measured cadence of one raised among the nobility, "Or particularly intimidating, for that matter. You are people, flesh and blood like the rest of us."

He paused then, his gaze drifting momentarily to some distant point beyond their small circle. The silence stretched for a heartbeat, two, before his countenance shifted subtly. The change was remarkable, suddenly, his expression gained the sort of thoughtful gravity that made him appear far older than his years would suggest. It was as though some ancient wisdom had settled upon his shoulders like a mantle, weighing down the boyish aspects of his face with premature understanding.

"I do, however, know a thing or two about actual monsters," he continued, his voice taking on a scholarly tone that spoke of countless hours spent in dusty libraries and shadowed study chambers. "Those creatures which prowl the darkness and prey upon the unwary, knowledge gleaned through Maester Vaezhasar's most private instruction, I must admit."

A rueful smile ghosted across his lips, there and gone like morning mist. "I rather suspect his tutelage has robbed me of that wholesome dread which ought to reside in every sensible soul."

“Nonsense Lord Heller. I’m right here.” Kael interjected himself in, implying himself to be the Initiate mentioned. Kael sported the simple yet distinguished dress uniform of an initiate. He’d last worn it at Natalis, a celebration where he’d made quite the fool of himself. He hoped to avoid this meeting altogether, but accepted his invitation under duress. Ever paranoid, he expected he was here to watch for someone or something, but had little idea what. Instead he looked for the most human congregation he could, afraid of staying in character otherwise.

“Initiate Kael.” He said, and extended a hand to the Elbionese, not particularly caring which met it first.

“Quite the exhibit thusfar.” Kael mentioned. “I’ve never seen anything like Zikasso’s work before .” He continued. The not-human found it the evidence of an addled mind, but Goblins in general had little appreciation for art. Today existence was pain.

Calixtus Bliss Kian Heller

Yuebing Coquelicot said:

Yue turned her gaze to meet the Anirians. The man was oddly friendly in tone and the woman, she didn't seem to have any intentions of being in sorts. Was he....her servant?
She wasn't sure what there was to be out of sorts about. One could hardly get lost in an art gallery. Ah well, making idle chatter seemed the main purpose of this event.
"Yes, We are students here. Though...I suspect neither of us are from Elbion." She had only just been asking where the other girl was from. Of course she could be wrong. Perhaps the Elf was an Elbion native and Yuebing understood even less about the city than she thought.
Yue didn't even know the name of the Elf yet.
"I am Yuebing." She added realizing she hadn't given her name to Fea yet either.

Feä Mindalië
Vittoria Larrainth
Kilien Basmarc

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Vittoria had gone silent. Not a great sign.

Kilien adjusted his hold at her waist and gave her side a little squeeze of encouragement. His eyes skating over the two young women before him, they fell upon the impish elf girl and lingered. She did not seem particularly comfortable - perhaps a stomach ache? Maybe she was really hungry. Did elves get hungry? Well if they did, he couldn't blame her, he'd yet to find a buffet.

"Well that's alright," Kilien returned to the dark-haired one with a friendly smile, "I'm Kilien, this is Vittoria. We were actually hoping to meet some Elbion students and make some friends, so it's great to meet some. Not much of an art aficionado myself," he said, eyes skating around the pieces on display briefly, "I'm actually more interested in the College. Was thinkin' of applying. Vi's the one that likes art."

Salak said:

His eye went to Pomrick.
"We have learned that fear can cut deeper than swords and have honed it well. Young Pomrick is mistaken only in the means, not the method."

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Pomrick's face twisted with confusion. Then he tried to laugh it off, in the spirit of Henk's good humour.

The rest of the group didn't seem to laugh with him, though, so it died prematurely in his throat, turning into a sort of grunting or humming sound. In any case, his gaze floated like a jellyfish stranded in the great ocean of this conversation, drifting from face to face, however the tides churned, finally ending at Lysander and his cryptic musings about monsters in Vaezhasar's tutelage.

That was it. He was definitely not going to attend Vaezhasar's classes if he could avoid it. Finally, he looked with the rest of the group at Nilamani, as Salak had posed her an admittantly interesting question. Questions that he felt he probably should have asked ages ago. But if it could help explain her serpentine body, he would take what answer he could get!
Henk
Salak
Nilamani
Lysander Docatto Valestri
Colt Pirian

Kilien Basmarc said:

"I'm actually more interested in the College. Was thinkin' of applying. Vi's the one that likes art."

Click to expand...

Vittoria stiffened, hearing Kilien speak.

The reminder that come graduation, Kilien was to go another way than the path Vittoria was born to follow.

"Yes." She spoke, at last. The way her lips moved like a snarl, revealing her teeth in an unusual way. Vittoria liked to do this, to show her teeth whenever she wanted to be perceived a threat. "Some remarkable pieces are on display here."

Despite the sea green dress she wore, dotted with bronze embellishments and embroidery, Vittoria may as well have been wearing her armour.

"A blessing, is it not, that both our cities and nations have turned the tide and become more... accepting." The smile that grew on her painted lips did not seem to belong there, yet she wore it like one of her concealed daggers. Her fingers wrapped around the cuffs on her wrists, not at all matching tonight's attire. "Truly a move forward for a brighter Arethil."

There. That was diplomatic enough, and surely would excuse her from any further chit chat.

Yuebing Coquelicot Feä Mindalië Kilien Basmarc

Kian laughed, clapping Kael on the shoulder.

"Alas, it is your fellow classmate I am to keep an eye out on. Somehow we can never keep nullifying cuffs on her... oh! No, not to worry your pretty face, Bliss. Vittoria wouldn't hurt a fly!"

At least in front of all these people.

He smiled, convincingly, although as he turned around again to leave, he muttered to the Initiate. "Thank Kress college magic is something new and confusing enough to occupy the Unmaker. Buys us all time." Heller grimaced.

The Dreadlord gave his fellow Anirian a salute before bowing and blowing kisses to the College students. "Just talk about colour theory and shapes and the real critics will do the talking for you." He winked to Bliss before grinning to the young men.

And like that, Dreadlord Heller melted into the crowd.

Calixtus Kael

Feä Mindalië said:

Feä said nothing, staring as though helpless at Kilien, eyes wide and alert. And even did she took a small step back.

Click to expand...

It didn't take some psychic sense to tell Fea was in near fight or flight over their new conversation partners.
What to do. Neither the Elf nor the woman, she now knew to be called Vittoria, seemed pleased with this arrangement. So no matter how friendly this Killien attempted to be Yue could only offer a stiff vaguely disapproving expression.

Kilien Basmarc said:

"I'm actually more interested in the College. Was thinkin' of applying. Vi's the one that likes art."

Click to expand...

Yuebing offered him a raised eyebrow, then glanced at Fea. She reached out to interlock her arm with Fea's. as Both to subtly pull her down a touch to whisper into her ear and to steady her from practically fleeing without a word.
"Are you an elf or a rabbit?" Yue chided with what might have passed for a touch of concern coming from Yue.

Fielding conversation from some man servant hadn't been how she envisioned spending the evening. She also wasn't about to hand out Fea's name if she was this terrified from an introduction alone.
Still she couldn't very well shoo them off without a word. It would be irritating if they caused a scene.

She returned her attention to the man.

Vittoria Larrainth said:

"A blessing, is it not, that both our cities and nations have turned the tide and become more... accepting." The smile that grew on her painted lips did not seem to belong there, yet she wore it like one of her concealed daggers. Her fingers wrapped around the cuffs on her wrists, not at all matching tonight's attire. "Truly a move forward for a brighter Arethil."

Click to expand...

"The college is....very adequate. I am told indeed it's admissions have been more accepting as of late."
Yue replied in what small talk she could muster, then turned her eyes to the silent woman.

Everything about the woman's body language was sharp as a knife edge. It reminded Yue of an older sister back at the pagoda. The pointed remarks thudded dully against Yue's impartial expression. She was more than happy to trade barbs with a elegant woman....but she hadn’t actually been raised in Elbion. She had admittedly little context for the tension.
"One man's disaster is another man's delight. As a daughter of a merchant house, cooperation breeds coin."

In truth she would have been plenty happy to trade sharp looks and sharp words with this woman until it provoked her to the frenzy she seemed to be containing. However she had already lent her favor to Fea so in favor of not accidentally leaving fea in the metaphorical cold she maintained a more nuertal tone. This way if Fea didn't find any inner confidence she could politely find an excuse to break off the conversation.

Feä Mindalië
Kilien Basmarc
Vittoria Larrainth

"How very...interesting."

Alistiar had paused mid-sip to now take a closer look at the twins. His dull grey eyes dug into the two young mages, or would it be one?

Now that he took a closer look, without all the chaos of the other partygoers, it was clear to him that they were certainly strange. Livia's unique abilities were much more qualified to notice the different, but Alistair could still get a good magical aura.

It was exactly the same, but also...not. The two auras were essentially the same, but with small, minuscule differences. One being a slightly different color than the others, or how one was a bit sharper in some spots, while the others moved more sporadically. However, at the core, it was still the same.

It was like a sculptor taking one large rock and making two different statues out of the material. Wait, was that the right analogy? Maybe not, but he could not think of a better one at the moment.

Alistair shot a glance towards Livia now that his academic curiosity was piqued.

"Incredibly, and how did this affect your magic? Do you share mana or knowledge? Or is it simply being cut from the same spiritual cloth?"

Livia Quinnick Elyon and Eshara

Yue's arm looped in gentle manner about Feä's own, and touch, simple touch, had great effect upon Feä, for good or for ill—and here, as it happened, it was for good. Familiarity reassured when in the shadow of the unfamiliar, even though Feä knew not Yuebing so closely. But she was a fellow student, and not an Anirian, and that was enough. In addition her whisper soothed Feä's fright more, though perhaps not quite as Yuebing intended; minor confusion of her question distracted Feä, for her mind, quite inwardly facing, was prone to such.

But now Kilien and Vittoria spoke, each in their own turn. Feä's regard of Kilien quickly softened, and greater was her ease in beholding him, for he continued to exude a friendly mien that overcame Feä's initial, and seemingly wrongful, impression. But for Vittoria her impression held: her words did not match her eyes, her lips did not match her tone. In Vittoria Feä saw Arunwë, for the Anirian girl had the same look of her father when he regarded humans, the same tongue when he spoke to them. And Feä knew well the extent of her father's evil.

So she looked rather to Kilien—this as Yue mentioned the admissions and mentioned being the daughter of a merchant house. And shyly Feä asked (disobeying in that instant Arunwë's command), "Will...you be allowed? To apply?"

A sincere question, for Feä knew not—whether the College would allow it, or whether the (Kingdom?) of Vel Anir would allow it.

Yuebing Coquelicot Kilien Basmarc Vittoria Larrainth

Ahhhh - Vittoria was being prickly. Kilien made a concerted effort to keep the amusement from his face. Gods he loved it when she got testy - but this really wasn't the place for it. Something something... diplomatic relations.

"Ah, yeah?" Kilien raised a brow at Yuebing Coquelicot as she spoke of disaster and delight. Well then, this sounded right up his alley. He was about to say as much, actively wondering just what she may have been referring to by disaster when the small elf finally spoke up.

The question caused the locomotion of thought to grind to an eye-fluttering halt and for a brief moment Kilien looked put-upon, though in truth he was merely digesting the notion that he might not actually be allowed to apply.

By Vel Anir.

By Elbion.

By the College.

By the Gods.

"Do..." the words began but did not easily continue, "...they not permit Rovani to apply?"

That had to be it. It was always his heritage getting in the way.

Now it was the cloudy-eyed boy's turn to express his interest in Ely'Esha. The question he followed up with, though, initially confused the Yan'Katma.

"'Mana?' Umm...we have...not looked that far into it, I think. What do you mean by 'our magic?'" Eshara asked, quirking her head to one side.

"We can cast spells we've learned separately, but we are very good at casting them together. Twice the mouths to speak the incantations, our teachers say," Elyon offered, hoping that might answer Alistair's question.

"Yes, yes! We are very good at reciting spells in harmony with each other," Eshara bragged, puffing her chest out and pulling a spellbook from a pouch on the waist of her outfit.

"We first learned magic from scrolls and tomes we found at markets, but we've heard that some people have magic inside them and don't need to do the steps we do."

Both twins realized that they had a new curiosity that could be sated this very moment, and they drew closer to Alistair in their excitement.

"Do you do magic like we do, by saying words and using components to make spells? Or does it come from your..." Eshara asked, poking Alistair in the belly. "Insides?!"