Legend of Ransera

Posted: **Fri Sep 02, 2022 12:22 pm**

Murus Lapideus Inn
10th of Ash, Year 122

It wasn't that Finn never used Mesmer when he performed. He was used to encouraging symphonies toward enjoyment and contentment, but he didn't want people to catch him and think he was trying to control their minds. Magic wasn't outlawed or looked down upon in Kalzasi, but people were expected to use it ethically even if they weren't members of the Circle of Spells. Here, it was assumed that if one had magic, it would be flaunted, as it marked one out as higher in the social pecking order, and artists with Mesmer used it all the time. Mesmusic seemed a strange word to him, but Vastian was not his mother tongue.

He finally ended his set, having played well in his own critical estimation and used his Mesmer to emote the shifting feelings behind the lyrics and the chords. The applause was boisterous, and even he had to acknowledge that he had truly achieved a new level of skill. All the same, his fair cheeks flushed as the proprietor walked him toward the bar, assuring him that he would always have a place to play, promising to make it worth his while—it seemed a nice enough taproom for a decent inn, though perhaps not one that often saw such skill, talent, and magical prowess. Finn thanked him, assured him he would be back the following week, and settled at the bar with a drink provided by the house.

The peregrinus was gracious with his new fans, many of whom thanked him, lauded him, and offered drinks, delectables, and even dates, but eventually, he began to work his subtle spell into one of distraction, and the crowd went back to their business of recreation, leaving him in a pocket of calm to enjoy his drink.

That was when he looked up and noticed a rather fey elf looking at him, untouched by Finn's subtle suggestion. The man wasn't about to overpower someone else's symphony just for a bit of rest, let alone tackle another Mesmer about it; or perhaps the elf was a warder and thus unassailable. Finn realized he didn't know enough about magic, especially for a place where it was so ubiquitous.

He smiled and offered an awkward wave. While he enjoyed the limelight, it was only to connect with an audience while performing music. His dose of that was complete for now, and he much preferred to focus on fewer people.

Finn indicated the seat next to him with a hand, a raised eyebrow, and a tinkle of welcome through his Rune.

Posted: **Fri Sep 02, 2022 6:26 pm**

TIMESTAMP: -
NOTES: open me!

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The days had begun to bleed together; Æros awoke at sunset and would typically choose one of three options. If he had work or a related obligation, he was distinctly dutiful with his attendance. If not, he would either skitter out onto the streets and search for whatever manner of delinquent entertainment he could find or lay in a heap in his apartment, buried beneath the weight of his mind and body, crashing beneath the heavy tides of being sober, hungover, and the baggage he naturally possessed. When one bounced between such similar options and the sober moments are intentionally kept rare, one only noticed the proper passage of time when the seasons changed. For this half-fæ, such was his predicament.

He'd heard in the buzz of crowds that it was Ash now. It just started, he thought. Soon, his birthday would pass, or had it already passed? and some time after that, so too would his first year living in the Umbrium draw to a close. Thinking about the life he'd led up to this point sickened him. The cocktail of guilt, sorrow, and self-loathing was a rather potent emetic in nature and so now, his goal was to drown himself in whatever shit he could find.

First, his fist landed heavy against the door of a neighbor; a friend of his. Some words were exchanged between the two, the elf went in, a few minutes passed, and he left. While the two in question shared an amiable bond, that was not today's purpose. In this instance he had intended to purchase something, but he managed to lace his tongue with enough silver such that he left, quarry in hand, having not spent a coin. If Æros had nothing else, he'd always retain a boisterous mix of both audacity and charm.

In general, he preferred downers– opium and alcohol both being favorites and easy enough to dig up. Sometimes, he would be more explorative if he couldn't find what he wanted, but this was rarer and he almost always avoided tranquilizers. Gotta have some standards…right? However, he was also partial to certain magical compounds found in Solunarium, one could compare them to amphetamines found in places like the Imperium provided one had the context to do so. If offered, these in particular he would never say no, even if he were already on a mix of other things.

One might express that this behavior pattern was dangerous, but, well, to convince Æros to care would be the same level of futile as trying to swallow the sea. Some would, then they would quickly realize there was no point, and often distance themselves after that. For one thing, he was a capricious fellow and his bluster could rub others the wrong way, but for many, they didn't want to become attached to somebody marked for death by their own habits. For another, his addictions made him selfish and erratic and that shattered his relationships further, leaving many broken pieces in his wake.

For tonight, what he’d acquired from this friend of his was what was most typical, benzos of ambiguous origin and composition. Taking a few before making his leave, he wandered out into the Umbrium’s night. To begin, he wove through a few places he was known to frequent. As a precaution, he did bring money with him, but he ended up several drinks deep as he stepped out of the last establishment without having had to spend any of it. Ah, the life of a grifter.

Perhaps out of curiosity, perhaps for no reason at all, he decided to try a place he’d not really bothered to go into prior. It was an inn, and as a citizen who lived alone, he had little need for one. Nonetheless, there was a sign out front that indicated live entertainment; it clarified that such was primarily foreign performers. Interesting. Foreign cultures were prone to weaving in and out of the cultural zeitgeist at any time, and though Æros had never left the desert that was his home, he did like to act as a sponge and absorb much from the artists that passed through.

And so, the decision was made– in he went.

Settling against a support beam within, he popped an ambiguous object between his lips and crossed his arms over his chest to watch the young stranger whose performance had only just begun. Apparently, whatever he was playing was from a northern city-state known as Kalzasi. Though all of his information had been second-hand and almost certainly biased, he knew of the place and had a generally positive opinion of it. In this scenario, the musician was certainly skilled on his own, eclectic in style, but the half-fæ also recognized the all too familiar touch of another’s Mesmer rune. He offered little resistance to the magic and instead chose to let it carry him through the show. Anything to step out of himself, frankly.

It was therefore all the more disappointing when the music stopped and the magic faded from him. His self awareness a bit lacking at the moment-- not that he cared if people noticed him stare-- he let his eyes follow the foreign musician’s figure as he made his way over to the bar and addressed the several that chose to approach him. A half smile and the first breath of a laugh escaped him when he saw the other use his magic once more to dismiss the hangers-on. Funny, really– Æros himself was quite the opposite. He loved the attention he often found himself lavished in after his own performances. Standing nearby, he felt the push of magic as well, but this time, he resisted; there was no interest in stepping away.

Through half-closed, glazed over eyes of gold, he watched as the other man looked around and eventually met with his gaze. It was not a surprise to be noticed given his stature among humans and the eldritch beauty of his appearance. The luminescence of the colors that shifted over his skin and coruscation of his stars dotting his frame often pulled eyes his way. That, and he was always scant with his dress– plenty of skin to be seen. Really, he wore more gold than cloth.

Eyes widening just a tad, he offered the other a bit of a knavish smile and approached, accepting the offered seat at the stranger’s side.

“Always lovely to be noticed by a performer of such consummate skill,” he offered, though these words danced along the line of genuine and delusive. Æros' Common was okay, but heavily accented.

“Tell me– what’s drawn you to these shifting sands?” His cadence was off due to the fact that he was quite besotted at the moment, but his voice maintained its usual silken, silver-embroidered smoothness.

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'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"

Posted: **Wed Sep 07, 2022 2:51 pm**

When the Fae'ethalan took him up on his offer, he smiled. There was little of guile to him, which was strange for a would-be bard, perhaps. Upon closer examination, he could hear the jangle of intoxicants in the man's symphony, something more complex than mere drink. But it was hardly his place to judge, especially given he had played more than once at the Velvet Cabaret in Kalzasi and knew that people chased their pleasures and battled their demons the best they could.

"Well met, stranger," he managed in Valasren. He had picked up a bit here and there from travelers through his northerly city, though he couldn't claim to be fluent. And he could only hope that word wasn't getting around that his Vastian was awful; people seemed to lead with Common as a matter of course, but he supposed he still didn't fit in and never would with his coloring.

"Thank you." Even if there was an undertone of embellishment, it didn't seem as though the man cared to attempt to hide it. The Fae'ethalan was exotic even to Finn's eyes, and he wondered which Court held most sway upon Ecith. He supposed Summer made sense for the desert, though he was glad that Ash might bring some surcease to the endlessly blazing days. His home for the time being was in the Luxium, but he rather enjoyed the Umbrium's eternal twilight.

"Ahh, you know... travel far and wide, learning as I go, find a place to settle or just return home. And you?" He took a sip of his drink. "What brings you to Solunarium, the Umbrium, and this inn's taproom? Or what keeps you here if this has always been your city?"

Posted: **Fri Sep 09, 2022 2:56 am**

TIMESTAMP: -
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To Æros’ abundant surprise, the stranger greeted him in Valasren. He was not, however, at all displeased. It was a tongue he’d mostly pursued learning on his own with help from the very few other Fæ that wandered through Solunarium– so to hear it from the mouth of another was always a pleasure, fellow Fæ-ethelan or not.

His expression reflected his delight, features lighting up and a soft smile drew itself across blue lips. “Unexpected, but never unwelcome to hear. The pleasure is all mine,” with this, he bowed his head ever so slightly.

While he wasn’t as fluent in his ancestor’s tongue as he was in Vastien and Vallenor, his education on the subject wasn’t nearly as comprehensive. Nonetheless, he spoke the words smoothly and maintained the strange, musical cadence of the language.

The other man’s explanation that he was simply a traveler made sense– such was often the case for many bards. Artists and performers in general often had wandering hearts, to be fair. Æros felt anchored here by nature of his family, though that didn’t mean he’d never given the idea of traveling elsewhere any thought, it’s just… the concept of doing so was daunting for somebody who’d lived somewhere so very isolated his entire life.

“I suppose that makes sense, I’ve met many a bard who wander. As for me…I was born here. Mother had a tryst with a Fæ– found herself with child as a result. Lucky for me, bastard children are treated with the same regard as those born within a marriage, so the circumstances were largely irrelevant. Though that does mean I’ve been here my entire life, and with my blood being from one of the Winter Court…my only complaint is the weather.” Though he laughed like this was a joke, it was genuinely a massive pain in the ass. He found himself struggling in the heat far more than any of his peers for that reason, he assumed.

Which was why, indeed, he spent the vast majority of his time underground and away from the sun’s blaze. “I live in the Umbrium and often find myself wandering in the evenings for entertainment, mostly. Speaking of homes– where is yours?”

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'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"

Posted: **Wed Sep 14, 2022 5:12 pm**

Finn beamed, well pleased that his words had been well received and that he could understand the response. He wasn't upset to switch back to a more common language, however. And while Finn didn't know how lofty the man's elven bloodline was, he was in the habit of treating everyone with respect so he hoped that would be sufficient not to cause any problems here and now.

"Ahh, I had learned that about children born out of wedlock. I approve. I see no reason to punish the children of any tryst for the actions of their parents..." He laughed, empathizing about the weather. "Lodging in the Luxium, but I do spend a fair amount of time down here where it's cooler. I'm from around Kalzasi and it never gets as hot as it gets up there. I was thinking perhaps that it might have been better to come in the winter, but I hear Frost isn't exactly frosty either."

He spread his hands helplessly.

"With all the magic being used constantly here, I should think they would hire elementalist to... I don't know, control the temperature. Suck the heat into lodestones and use those to power other things?"

The minstrel hoped he didn't sound too ignorant. He had some little magical education, but it was just enough to know that he had only really scratched the surface. Thankfully, Cithæra had offered tutors and he was taking her up on it. Education had turned his life around; a magical education might add even more depth to it.

"But yes, most of the revelry seems to happen down here. I might have some commissions topside, though. We shall see how things all pan out." He took another sip of his drink and fell silent to give his new acquaintance time to speak.

Posted: **Fri Sep 16, 2022 7:24 pm**

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When his newfound companion replied in approval of their society's cultural acceptance of bastardy, Æros smiled, appearing to be happy with the sentiment. Such a thing was definitely not because he was a bastard child himself, oh no. The Fæ imagined how irritating it would have been to live a life disgraced by the circumstances under which he was conceived. That, and he found it preposterous that his society of all things should ever shun a Platinum born, half breed or not, baseborn or not, so he was glad for his culture's accommodating views on the subject.

"I would hope that I might garner a pass, even if that weren't the case...as it was confirmed upon my birth that I am Dryadalis Platinum, or Starborn, as a more common vernacular. Though I am a half-breed, I think that...that should count for something, no?" Certainly, he wasn't trying to brag about his heritage with this remark.

"I am quite the fan of our more, ah...open minded views on love, marriage, and child-rearing, everything aside. I've heard tales of…bloodshed and tragedy for no other reason than something as mundane as adultery. I…as much blood as we do shed in our arenas, I find the idea of more– and for such a stupid reason– to be...distasteful. I am glad to hear you agree," Æros spoke warmly, friendly in his expression.

To the other's comment regarding the season of Frost "...ah, not saying that long then, hm?" A more curious tone took over his voice, there.

"Regardless, that would be...correct. Frost…well. There is some. But it's the decorative creations of Elementalists and other mages simply having fun or putting on shows as opposed to, well, the actual weather. Summoners do fun things with spirits in Frost, too. We do try to give our people a more worldly experience, isolated as we are." From the way he spoke, it is clear that he does, genuinely, love his home.

"Alas, to overtake the entirety of the natural climate would be a rather...monumental endeavor and I have no doubt many would be opposed as well. Then there are, ah…environmental concerns. Some people are so used to Luxium's heat that they enjoy it. I could never even hope to understand," he laughed, speaking with a pleasing sort of lilt, finding rhythm in their conversation.

"All of my work is done down here, generally. I only go topside for arenas and some few errands. Hobbies, performances, anything else? I stay in the darkness, though the volcano still doesn't allow it to chill as much as I'd like."

Speaking in Vastien, Æros ordered something from the barkeep as he passed, words delivered far quicker than when he spoke in Common. Truthfully, his elocution was an odd thing. He'd been instructed really rather well in terms of both reading and writing but he'd neglected lessons on pronunciation and speech. This led to his words oftentimes being slow or, sometimes, his accent was thick enough that he would be rather…difficult to understand.

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'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2022 4:19 pm**

The minstrel thought this one was much more interesting than the ideal the Solunarians bred for. Sunborn, Moonborn, Starborn... he came from a land where diversity was valued, though he did think leadership of Kalzasi shouldn't be the sole purview of the Avialae. They didn't seem to see how near that was to the human supremacy of Zaichaer because of reasons; Finn was honest, but he could spot bullshit. They said poets and bards and the like were liars, but then so were politicians and the rest.

"Ah, I don't actually know how long I will be staying," he admitted. Finn had come with Arry to discover his roots; now Arry was Arvælyn and he seemed to have taken to his roots. Whether that meant they were staying or not, he didn't know, but he would keep honing his abilities with the Rune of Traversion so he could visit friends and family with some regularlity if he was to become a desert creature. "I have no set plans."

That was true enough; he thought perhaps he might be able to take a quick—relatively speaking—journey deeper into Ecith to complete a sort of pilgrimage to Syren. He had what he thought was Her lute, and if he was meant to keep it, he wanted Her blessing. That, however, was a hope, not a plan.

"I suppose the split between the Luxium and the Umbrium isn't so very strange. In Kalzasi, the highborn Avialae live on floating islands that the rest of us can only reach via airship or portal. They are, by and large, benevolent rulers, but their succession is as strictly controled as that of the Solar Sovereign from what I understand." He laughed, though, a charming, disarming thing. "But those are truly matters beyond my ken, here and in Karnor. I have played for the highborn before, but I will never be one."

Finn grinned, seeming unbothered by that fact. He was more comfortable here, having a drink with an exotic stranger, than swimming in the shark-infested waters of high society and politics. But he would have to do that here as well, given Arry was now Arvælyn.

"I'm Finn—did I introduce myself? I apologize. I've forgotten my manners."

Posted: **Wed Sep 21, 2022 12:18 am**

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Having no set plans was relatable, though not necessarily in the same context. For Æros, he just didn't quite care much for the direction of his life and, at this point, didn't see himself having much of a future at all, so why plan for it?

"Do you tend to wander, then? I live with no real long term plans in many ways, though personally, I've never left Solunarium. I've been tempted, at times, but I'm not sure it'd be the best idea." Though much of what he said sounded musing, he did voice genuine curiosity regarding what it would be like to travel.

"That so? I suppose Kalzasi shares Solunarium's pretension and blood supremacy, then, hm? So far away, and yet so similar," he laughed, finding humor in the parallels. "...though our city's halves aren't nearly as, ah…exclusive. Anyone can freely pass between Luxium and Umbrium. The Avialæ must think as highly of themselves as royalty do," though he spoke in jest, he did wonder just what it was that made the Avialæ think so highly of themselves.

From his tone and expression, Finn seemed tad happier at the notion that he'd never be highborn than most people would be. Æros supposed it made sense, actually, if this bard was one with a predilection for wandering. Most families of repute here were duty bound to politics and the like, and while this was worth it for the luxuries that ran in tandem for most, travelers by nature would probably find anything outside of diplomacy to be exhausting.

In the midst of these thoughts, the other spoke again, introducing himself. Oops, Æros had forgotten to do that, too.

"Introductions slipped my mind, too," sounding a bit embarrassed, "but it's nice to make your formal acquaintance, then, Finn. I am called Æros."

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'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"

Posted: **Fri Sep 23, 2022 6:08 pm**

"I don't know if I qualify as a wanderer just yet," he admitted. "I moved from the countryside to Kalzasi, and now I have traveled through several lands to get to Solunarium, but didn't spend a great deal of time anywhere, and Solunarium was the goal. Perhaps when the time comes to leave, if I leave with no set plans, no set destinations, I might call myself a wanderer. And I have met several Fae'ethalan in Karnor... I don't know if you have any curiosity about them, or if there is a sizeable population of them here. Summer Court, perhaps..."

Finn considered the Avialae.

"I don't mean to misspeak. By and large, the Avialae are beneficent... but the bulk of the political power is split between their seven Great Houses. The Orkhan were there first, and I suppose they would be like the Vastii if we were trying to make analogies between the cities. I never felt oppressed or anything, at least, not because of my race." The rich ever preyed upon the poor; that seemed true everywhere.

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Æros," he said with a smile. "I suppose you might see more of me if I continue to wander among the bars of the Umbrium plying my trade. I have never felt like the exotic one before, but apparently I am popular here at least in part because there has been a growing interest in Kalzasi and Kalzasern culture." He chuckled, wondering whether his countrymen would have voted him best ambassador for their city and culture.

It was a shame Arvælyn hadn't joined him. He might have enjoyed meeting Æros. Then again, he might have grown irrationally jealous as he sometimes did.

Posted: **Sat Sep 24, 2022 12:32 pm**

TIMESTAMP: -
NOTES: -

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To Æros, the story of Finn's travels sounded enough like that of a wanderer to justify the title. Granted, his perspective was quite a bit more narrow than the other man's, given that he'd never left Solunarium at all. This was, in large part, because the rest of the continent was unappealing to him and the idea of traveling across an ocean came across as daunting.

"I think the life you've lived thus far counts well enough unless you're far older than you look," he laughed, but it was true. He did feel like that was a lot of movement for a young person, limited as his perspective was.

"...but Solunarium doesn't really have a lot of Fæ, no. There are some who end up wandering through, and some of those who do so either stay, or like in my case, accidentally leave children behind. Father left before he even knew of my existence, so I'm sure there's others that have similar stories. Those aside, I do find myself wondering what life is like for others of my kind, the Winter Court especially, but they are…painfully far away." As he neared the end of his sentiment, an odd, almost forlorn tone wove into his voice.

Regarding Kalzasi once more, "are the Orkhan of the region anything quite like those that live in Ecith? I know little about the subject, in truth. And I'm sure the Avialæ are…fine, I only mean to imply that their rule does not lack the same pretension that I see in our royalty." He couldn't ignore this fact, especially given the knowledge that many of them apparently lived in the very sky while the city's poorest were, quite literally, sequestered underneath the city.

After exchanging names, he continued. "Ah, yes– that popularity you mention stems from the recent diplomatic envoy we sent in that direction. Upon their return, it seems our culture at large has become ever so fascinated in you northerners. Not to say I don't understand; the unknown is fascinating to me, isolated as I've been and daunting as I find the idea of going that far away."

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'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"

Legend of Ransera

Two Mesmers, One Bar [Aeros]

Two Mesmers, One Bar [Aeros]

Re: Two Mesmers, One Bar [Aeros]

Re: Two Mesmers, One Bar [Aeros]

Re: Two Mesmers, One Bar [Aeros]

Re: Two Mesmers, One Bar [Aeros]

Re: Two Mesmers, One Bar [Aeros]

Re: Two Mesmers, One Bar [Aeros]

Re: Two Mesmers, One Bar [Aeros]

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