Completed Midnight party

[Sauvan]

Vedargasians were a people of an affinity to snakes. Their reputation for such was not well known and for most, dismissed as a mere rumour or scare tactic.
Yet once one came to their court, beautiful serpents freely slithered across arranged wall fixtures and ceilings. Much to the horror of the snake-fearing 'rest of the world'.

The gala room was wide and open, many of its side windows which face the sea beautifully arcaded so only the pillars tarnished the midnight view.
Yet most of the buzzing activity was set towards the gardens and fountains, where lamps covered in dyed papers brightened the mood.
Potted plants were in excess and many grew into the building itself, while golden peacocks ran among the guests, displaying their intricate, royal feathers.

Good food was served for the masses, good food and wine, sometimes luxuriously decorated. And if one had not gone to fetch food for themselves, many of the servants would bring you your meal instead.

Most of the guests were lined to speak to the King of Vedargas, Nagendra himself. Dressed in blues and gold and as round as the sun. His hair as black as raven's feather, his eyes warm as the deepest of amber.
Some people danced to the lively music, while others were deep in unsavoury activities better not described. And others were smoking a resin in a Huqqa or merely dozing off on the many cushions that lined the palace.

A little bit off to the distance, reclining against the sea-side railing, one arm hanging on the other side lay Sauvan. His visage was that of an androgynous human, a treat to look at, especially when accompanies by five beautiful young women. Little interest was given to the group as the King sucked up all the attention for the time being.
Sauvan longingly gazed at the king and his entourage. Was he still seeing humans at this point?

Padma, a foreign princess in his company leaned close to him, whispering him something in the ear before leaving with the rest of the girls that were with him just now. The 'human was all alone, his eyes shifting to the girls as they left to the pavilion amid the sea, connected to the palace by a curvy bridge.
Yet a scent signature disturbed him.
Sauvan rose his head, gazing towards the sea and then beneath the railing.
There was some land and thick foliage, and he could swear he could smell...

Naga.

 

[Tir'Coatl]

In the distance, the lavish palace of Verdegas stood tall. The scent of Skinned Ones hung in the air, tainting the neighboring aromas of food and burning incense as they gathered within the gardens of the palace. They throbbed against their alien music, legs contorting and bending as they engaged with one another in a dance that was quite unnatural to its legless observers.

However, the Skinned Ones were not of Tir'Coatl's concern. Within the walls of the palace was an asset that proved to be of far greater use to the Kingdom of Samksaya, one that had to be procured. Sauvan, the half-blood, would make for a skilled spy for the Naga given his unique form.

A new scent mixed with the air, one only discernable to those with Naga blood in their veins. A signal that loosely translated to Meeting, Important, Quiet. Moments later, the foliage beneath Sauvan's place on the balcony parted, revealing a towering Naga — one who seemed incredibly familiar, at that, as though it had been plucked from the half-blood's dreams and placed into reality.

The Scaled King, Tir'Coatl. A few other Naga slithered behind him, armed with long spears and gilded armor. The warlord swung his gaze to either side, ensuring there weren't any Skinned Ones sneaking around. Around the Naga were dense foliage, occupied by simple creatures and the occasional serpent slipping through branches and grass.

Satisfied, he spoke in the traditional Naga tongue: a loose gathering of clicks, hisses, and guttural growls accompanied by the occasional scent or pheromone. "Half-blood, it is good to see you beyond the realm of dreams and the domain of flesh." His serpentine gaze searched the palace walls, a faint glimmer of disgust residing upon his features. "Tell me, why do you continue to live amongst these humans? Would it not be better to reside with your own kind, where you could be more than the court oddity? I chose you for a reason, Sauvan."

 

[Ashieron]

Ash was hanging out with the human side of the party. Enjoying some of their music, though it was nowhere near as good as the music he heard of the elves. Some were talking about recent affairs in the west, others were talking about their curiosities for this new thing that was happening with these so-called Naga.

Of all the many years he has existed on this earth he had never heard of such a creature. Maybe it was new? Still, his curiosity got the better of him and he decided to go and see for himself what these new people are like. Drinking a bit of the drink that was provided he was talking to some of the women about a few of his ventures, while not giving up where the dragon keepers were based at now either.

A few men decided to listen in and when they asked a few questions he would quickly answer and a few laughs and chuckles would ensue from his small group of new "friends".

But for a party, it was weird having one where foliage was basically a part of a party. He would have seen the elves with a set up like this in the Falwood but to think that other cultures did so also. That was not something he found common. He would see humans with flowers all over their parties but not actual living plants. It was a nice refresher.

 

[Sauvan]

Savei lifted his head in surprise, then peered backwards innocently.
With a flick of the tongue, he already knew who was there and when he turned his head, surprise didn't even begin to cover what he had just felt.

»You isss real? « Nevermind that, what did it accuse him of. »I am Nirvasss, exile of 'my' peoplesss. Why would I return when manking here worssship me.« Savei's fumbled scent markers seemed distressed.
The thought of home back on Nagai clearly hurt him in many ways.

A charming girl came across Ashieron, she presented him with a fat snake which was wrapped in her arms.
While she may have only known Vedargasian, with some nudges and hits she tried to tell him to hold it.

 

[Tir'Coatl]

No response came to the question of his reality, the Scaled King of the belief that his presence was evidence enough. The scents that hung in the air, dispersed by the half-blood before him, were mismatched and clumsy in their application. Though they could still easily be interpreted, time away from the Naga—from their people—had caused it to weaken.

"Is it worship, or is it ogling? In the court of man, you are simply an oddity for guests." His gaze searched the palace, pointedly glancing at the distant silhouettes of the Skinned Ones. "In the court of Samksaya, you will have purpose. The tribe responsible for your exile were foolish, seeing only your form while remaining blind to the potential within you. I am not blind, Savei." Despite his harsh and often cruel visage, Tir'Coatl was quite charismatic when the time called for it.

 

[Ashieron]

Ash finishes up his story and was talking to a few of the guests when the young charming girl came up to him and offered him to hold a snake speaking in her language. He'd nod and take the snake holding it and letting it crawl up his arms and through his hands smiling. "Such a beautiful snake." He says examining the snake's colored and finds its brown and black scales very smooth and nice

 

[Sauvan]

He did not quite comprehend the comparison.

Savei then turned his head to glance at the fattened nobles surrounding the raven-haired king. »You sspeakss of truth. I feeelsss it.«
Savei then fully turned towards the King of Samskaya. His arms firmly against the railing.
»I hass not been in Nagai for yearsss.«


Some glances were given towards Savei from the humans. Though they soon returned their attention to their own matters.
The lass presenting the snake seemed smitten with Ashuanar's response.

 

[Tir'Coatl]

"Then it will be a glorious sight. The warring tribes you once knew now bow down to Samksaya, heeding our word as law." His hand rose as he spoke, curling into a clawed fist.

"What was once a tribal camp has become a sprawling empire, and if you come with me, it shall be your home. A gilded kingdom more beautiful and more prosperous than any that has graced Qetsaal's sight, fit with pyramids that pierce the sky with their peaks and temples that commune with gods." As he painted the glorious image, his hand waved through the air as if to point them out. Samskaya was his pride, a testament to the success and triumph of the Tiskuani and the greater Naga people. Normally, such a construction would take decades to fully realize. With sanguine magics, it was achieved a single lifespan.

 

[Sauvan]

»What... Ambition it doesss bringsss. Of sssweat and blood like a mann'sss toilsss even naga doesss.« Savei scented the air.
Savei spoke quietly down the balcony, now so more in scent markers than speech.

Some people looked oddly at the 'human' muttering something in gibberish, if only briefly.
»Butt, I have a possst here... « Savei briefly relented joining.
»Missed. «

»Maybe it won't materrss ssso much.« The woman shaped naga suddenly hoisted themselves over the railing.
»Hide. «
Savei lept down.

 

[Tir'Coatl]

If Tir'Coatl's serpentine visage could muster a grin, it surely would have at the sight of the persuaded naga. The scent of victory, of promise and of charisma, hung in the air as Savei paused in a brief bout of uncertainty.

As the half-blood leaped from the railing with a movement only legs required, the Scaled King nodded. "A wise decision." With a sharp glance upward, the warlord presumed it wouldn't be long until one of the Skinned One comes to see why the court oddity had jumped from a balcony. If they saw the band of Naga within the palace grounds, the resulting confrontation would be a bloody one if the words of Savei fail to dissuade them.

Tir'Coatl and his personal guard turned, making way for the wall of foliage. Snakes littered the bushes and branches, their animalistic kin seemingly revered in the kingdom. Perhaps that reverence could eventually be leveraged against them...

 

[Sauvan]

The landing was not soft.
The gravel creaked loudly.
Savei's legs began to morph under the cover and the reddish-brown skin began to pale until it was snow white and streaked in black.
Illuminated tendrils grew from the back of the halfbreed and soon the visage was that of an aquatic serpentine.

He slithered into the water, the transformation from a walk to agile swim was nearly seamless.

Upon the balcony, however, the disappearance of Sauvan didn't go unnoticed.
Padma trotted off to the very railing where he lept off, gazing down.
»Sauvan?«

 

[Ashieron]

Smiling at the young woman and booping the snake’s snoot. He’d feel the earth shake slightly as simeone jumped from the balcony. He’d hand the snake back to the woman and point towards the direction of the thud and gives her a bow and the snake a last pet before heading for the balcony to see what was up, “Is everything okay?!” He asks up the balcony looking concerned.

He did not care what they were as long as they didn’t attack people were good in his books.