Conversation Pt 1

An airy, open cellar.                                  (#PAVILION_2)
A low desk stands nearby, its wooden surface cluttered with papers. Its cushioned seat resting directly upon the ground, a low cedar chair sits here. Pastel hues dance upon stained glass depictions of herbs and spices that grace a revolving bookshelf. Completely motionless, a slender leothin intently surveys its surroundings. Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe is here. He wields a subtle violin of dark hues in his left hand and a whimsical copper spatula in his right.
You may use the BOOKSHELF commands here.
You see a single exit leading out.

Completely slumped over at a low desk, Gurashi lays completely passed out amongst a few open books from the nearby shelf. He lets out a loud, whistling buzz as he snores, completely unaware of his surroundings. Beside him, Bizirik perks up, tail lifting and slapping the floor once happily.

You have emoted: Her dragonfly wings humming, Lief flits down the short descent leading into this open, well-lit cellar. Her curious look is almost immediately replaced by recognition as she spots Gurashi. Her mouth opens with small surprise, and then closes. Quietly, she alights upon the cool ground and pads closer to Gurashi, peering over his shoulder at the books surrounding him.

Bizirik's head begins to droop. It opens its great maw and curls back its lips to allow its forked tongue to unfurl as it yawns before snapping its mouth shut.

Bizirik, the leothin rises slowly, plodding up to you and hanging its head as if awaiting some pats on the head. Gurashi continues to breath heavily, deeply asleep and just barely managing to not do any crinkled page damage to either Love Poems nor its riveting sequel, Love Poems, Volume II.

You have emoted: Lief offers Bizirik, the leothin a brief, gentle pat on the side of her head, her grey eyes scanning.


Bizirik, the leothin lets out a rumbling noise akin to a purr, thrumming pleasantly as it is pet.

Before you stands a bizarre creature of the Undervault. Minuscule gray scales smoothly cover this being's form, though a myriad of aged scars break the otherwise flawless coat. Two glowing, pupil-less eyes are inset on sharp arrow-shaped skull, and a noticeable under bite gives glimpse to rows of razor-sharp teeth. On either side of its head sprout two soft, dark ears, the ends of both cut short and ending in jagged tufts. Its body is long and thin, its broad chest tapering into slender hips accentuated by a ridge of deep teal pelage down its spine. Carefully carried behind it is a tail that trails more than twice its body length. Hidden behind its forearms is a second set of smaller limbs, curled in protectively around its midsection. All of its three-toed limbs are willowy and dark. It stands delicately on the tips of its feet, long claws scraping the ground as it walks. Barely visible in the light, strange patterns can be seen tracing around this creature's chest and down its back and tail.
Bizirik, the leothin has an air of extreme strength.
She is strangely weightless.
Her feedbag is nearly empty! She is looking well-fed.
She is loyal to Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe.
You cannot see what Bizirik, the leothin is holding.
It has the following aliases: bizirik, leothin.

You have emoted: "Everyone always seems most interested in those two books," Lief murmurs as her dragonfly wings fan slowly behind her, turning to talk to Bizirik, the leothin. "Did he find them boring, do you think?"

Bizirik, the leothin says nothing, offering a snort and staring blankly, almost knowingly, back at you.

Gurashi sniffs, disturbed by the slapping of Bizirik's tail. His eyes flutter open, then close, then open again, looking around in a daze. "Bizi, be quiet..." He mumbles. "Are guests..." He slurs before noticing you and freezing.

Suddenly wide awake, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe says to you, "....uh...."

Bizirik's head begins to droop. It opens its great maw and curls back its lips to allow its forked tongue to unfurl as it yawns before snapping its mouth shut.

The shadows have lengthened. It is late afternoon in Lusternia.
The phase of the moon is the Full Moon.

In your world, it is 2019/10/13 01:38:56 GMT and 2019/10/12 19:38:56 in your configured timezone.
See HELP GMT for an explanation of GMT.

You have emoted: Lief nods her antlered head toward the leothin, then turns to gently pull at the books, gathering them into a neater pile on this already-messy desk. "Good afternoon," she says to Gurashi with some quiet mirth, still working at creating piles when he stirs. "Was it comfortable?"

As nightfall steals the last vestiges of daylight, a slender leothin's muted coat begins to shine with a violaceous radiance, and a double pair of wings materializes, grandly extended as if they've been there all along.

Gurashi looks akin to a deer about to be struck by the Waystation carriage, eyes darting between Bizirik then back to you. "..y... es..." He buzzes, slowly pushing himself up to stand.

You have emoted: Lief's fingertips gently rest atop the binding of 'Love Poems, Volume II'. "It wasn't what you were expecting, was it?" she dryly asks, glancing at the two books. "Everybody is always very excited to read them, and a little disappointed afterwards."

Quickly, shaking his head and waving his hands, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe says, "N-no no, were fine! Just, was, already tired...!"

Flustered, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe exclaims, "Were well written!"

You have emoted: "Thank you." Lief's eyes smile genuinely with the compliment, however it might have been intended. She glances fondly at the books, then lets them sit there, lifting her hand from it to collect the Flame of dae'Seren into her palms. She does nothing with it but holds it to herself, as though, perhaps, drawing comfort from its flickering blue fires. Her feet leave the ground when her wings resume their hum and she tilts her antlered head. "Would you prefer to stay down here? I think the springtime rains are taking a break if you'd prefer to be outside again."

Gurashi watches you go, still a bit dazed from having just woken up. "...do not mind the rain," He mutters, rubbing his face to help himself wake up.

Gurashi begins to follow you.

Embarrassed, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe says to you, "Did not mean to read books."

Faintly buzzing, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe says to you, "Did not ask by cake what -day- to meet... so... waited for little while."

Gurashi coughs softly.

Faintly buzzing, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe says, "...and then wandered, which should -not- have."

You have emoted: Lief glances from Gurashi to a revolving bookshelf of stained glass herbs and spices. "But they're here to be read," she says, a hint of bewilderment in her features. She wings closer to Gurashi, gesturing soothingly with one hand before returning it to the underside of the Flame's white blossom while saying, "I do not mind, I really don't. Be at peace."

Gurashi blinks.

Faintly buzzing, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe says to you, "...O-K."

Bizirik, the leothin chirps happily.

You have emoted: Lief flashes Bizirik, the leothin a brief smile, then assesses Gurashi's kepheran features briefly before leading the way out.

Gurashi follows you out.
This room has not been mapped.
A lush, mossy pavilion.                                (#PAVILION_1)
You feel hidden powers in this room. Lit by squat, green-speckled lanterns, spiralling stone pathways wind their way up a hill to this shaded pavilion surrounded by lush verdure. Four sturdy posts and a flat canopy carved from black cherrywood form the heart of this shelter where they stand upon flattened, smooth cobblestones. Flowering crossvines snake their way from the rafters down the tall, sturdy poles, their blossoms bursting with tangerine colour, lacing the air with the faintest spice of kafe. Healthy sprouts shoot up between some gaps in the rocks underfoot, while green moss creeps over their edges. More moss grows outside the pavilion itself, carpeting the naked earth and circling a shallow, rocky basin containing a quietly-giggling fountain in its perfect centre. In the shape of an open palm, a metallic sigil lies here. Opened up in a perfect tripod, a wooden easel carved with flowers stands here. A slender leothin sits here motionless, brightening its surroundings with its natural golden bio-luminescence. You see a sign here instructing you to use the PORTAL command to enter the aetherplex system.
You see a single exit leading in.

Slowly looking around, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe asks you, "Finally got own manse?"

Leading the way down an unmarked path, you say to Gurashi, "I did - it's small, but I can see the wonderful garden that will bloom here already." She smiles, then gestures toward an impending thicket. "Follow exactly where I go. The thorns might hurt you otherwise."

Gurashi follows you southwest.
This room has not been mapped.
A grove of efflorescing memory.                        (#PAVILION_3)
Awash in creams and watery colours, this grove is redolent with gentle sweetness. Concealing the way into this protected space, a thicket of blackthorn shrubs flowers here with dense, floral lushness. Their thorny branches ward against the casual passer-by, and their soft blossoms scatter like snow when a strong breeze drives through them. Tall beech trees rise above the blackthorns as towering sentries, providing welcome shade with their intertwining canopies. Where light streams through overhead to dapple the earth, patches of wildflowers are illuminated through the fallen petals and viridian ferns. Periwinkle bluebells droop with wistful elegance, bobbing and dancing like chimes whenever disturbed, whilst true blue forget-me-nots dot the spongy floor itself. Nectar-seeking butterflies and pollen-hunting bumblebees are visible as the seasons allow, endlessly flitting from tree to tree and from blossom to blossom. A genteel peacock of blood red hue stands poised, possessing a branched tail spreading open like a prismatic fractal. A slender leothin sits here motionless, brightening its surroundings with its natural golden bio-luminescence.
You see a single exit leading northeast.

Gurashi blinks.

You have emoted: To make her way through the thicket, Lief alights on the mossy earth, soon turning to grass. She slips between blackthorn branches, finding a gap that's big enough for her - but may require some maneuvering for Gurashi.

Careful not to be struck by the thorny tendrils, Gurashi works his way through the gap, huffing and grimacing. About halfway through, he looks ahead to where you are fluttering with a wince. "Uh, just another moment," He chitters, disappearing again within the thicket. Another minute later and he finally appears within the garden, lifting his head and looking about in surprise. Bits of thorn are broken off in the outermost grooves of his carapace, bits of leaves stuck to his antennae and body spikes. "...oh - wowee, there are bees!" he says, suddenly excited.

It is now the 19th of Dioni, 543 years after the Coming of Estarra.

You have emoted: Lief's eyes light with happiness at Gurashi's recognition, and she nods. "You're not hurt, right? I'm never certain what a kepheran's carapace might feel. Those thorns would probably dig at skin like mine." She wings easily into the shaded field, moonlight filtering through the beech tree canopies, illuminating, by chance, a place where a genteel peacock crowned with a crest of bright scarlet drooping to one side now dozes, crimson colours striking against the paler blues and whites surrounding him.

Gurashi shakes his head, looking this way and that as he begins to pick the thorns from his carapace. "Most of time feels like nothing, so is no worry. When goes deep is when hurts." He holds one of the thorns up speculatively. "Is mostly like, am aware is there, can feel pressure of and poke of, but does not hurt." He discards it. "Yet."

Disbelievingly, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe says to you, "Is kind of like garden at home - except, less of many colors and more of ... few colors."

Gurashi's mandibles twitch slightly as he voices a brief, curious chirr.

Gurashi's gaze finally lands on the peacock, and his approach halts, staying at least fifteen feet away from the bird.

A genteel peacock crowned with a crest of bright scarlet drooping to one side shakes his head, causing the crest feathers to swing back and forth.

You have emoted: Lief's fingertips gently stroke Savit's feathers as she smiles at Gurashi. "Your garden is lovely. I hope this may be viewed as lovely, too, for I've been preoccupied with memory." She lifts her hand from the peacock and kneels down, lightly touching the petal of a forget-me-not. For several moments, it seems she doesn't notice just why Gurashi's approach has ceased, but with a glance back at her companion, understanding quietly dawns, and her wings carry her nearer to Gurashi again rather than beckon him closer. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with me," she says, her voice soft but earnest.

Still keeping his distance, shuffling where he stands, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe says to you, "Seemed bothered."

Slowly, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe says to you, "Know what is like, to -have- to say something, but unsure who to tell about."

Faintly buzzing, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe says to you, "Is like swallowing rocks."

A genteel peacock crowned with a crest of bright scarlet drooping to one side shakes his head, causing the crest feathers to swing back and forth.

As the sun's rays begin to break over the horizon, a slender leothin's amaranthine visage begins to fade back to a soft gray, wings dissolving like mist with the morning light.

You have emoted: Lief gazes up at Gurashi's face, her own smile fading into a quiet nod. "I don't...want to cause my Lady undue worry. She trusts me, and I want to be strong for Her." She exhales. "So I talk to others, who invite me to talk, and I'm reminded of how strong I already seem to them." Uncertainty breaks her features as she once more studies Gurashi, and then, even quieter, she confesses, "I feel like I'm hurting them by not being who I need to be. I mean...I *am* still me, but...well...even I can have ripples around me, and it's impossible to tell a pond to still until it's ready."

Gurashi blinks.

Gurashi listens, slowly looking towards his feet as he considers a potential response, antennae bobbing. "Peoples from commune, mean?" He asks, inquiring about the first part of the confession, before falling silent and listening to the rest without further comment.

Gurashi's mandibles twitch slightly as he voices a brief, curious chirr.

Bizirik, the leothin stretches dramatically before trotting forward, approaching the peacock with a mischievous air about it. It sinks to a crouch, laying its body flat to the ground and staring at the bird, great tail sweeping back and forth.

You have emoted: Savit tilts his head to one side, his droopy crest swaying as he studies Bizirik, the leothin with one golden eye. He stands from his seat, shuffling his taloned feet, then ruffling his blood-coloured feathers while Lief considers Gurashi's question.

Bizirik, the leothin dramatically turns its head, mouth open as it beings to pant and chitter excitedly.

Flowering vines wreathe the antlers which crown this faeling's head, adorning her with perpetual springtime no matter the season. Though she is a nimble faeling blossoming demigoddess, she appears otherwise mundane at first glance. With a boyish, twiggy figure that's taller than average and a sprightly, ruddy pixie haircut, she might be androgynous were it not for her softer features. Large, inquisitive gray eyes sit beneath strong and expressive brows, while a small, upturned nose wears the same proud constellation of freckles which scatters across her healthy, rounded cheeks. Pert and peach-stained lips lift into a natural smile unless some greater emotion temporarily seizes them. The wings which sprout from her back are not a butterfly's, but a dragonfly's, their long, limpid shapes occasionally glimmering with opalescence in the ambient light. A lush fragrance dances about her as she stands awash in the wild, prismatic colours of a truefavour from Maylea, Bloom of Serenity. Wyrden flames flicker across her form like a shadowy cloak, the sweet scent of roses trailing in her wake.

She is wearing:
a silver moonflower circlet
a charm bracelet of prismatic crystal orchids chiming with the movement of her arm
a slender snapdragon ring
a frosted thistle blossom pendant hanging from a thin silvery chain
a slender midnight orchid ring
a translucent crystal bindi faintly illuminating her brow with prismatic colours
a lightweight kimono robe swimming with fanciful koi, a small but suspicious lump in the waist of her sash and the corner of an orange kerchief peeking out
the Flame of dae'Seren hanging from her wrist, its blossom held there by the silver chain wrapping her forearm.

You have emoted: After a bit, holding the Flame of dae'Seren closer to her breast, Lief looks once more at Gurashi's face. "I suppose your people don't see me as strong, do they?" she asks, her words touched with dryness. "I'm not terribly close with others outside of the Serenwilde, though, truthfully. It's never been a problem, but...well, I'm Lief. I'm supposed to be happy for them. And it's...hard to be when..." She gestures down at herself. The Flame she holds helps to dim them somewhat, as do the brilliantly wild colours which dance about her, but it's hard to completely conceal the wyrden flames flickering unnatural shadows around her form.

Gurashi cranes his head up, catching the rare glimpse of the wyrden flames. He slowly bows his head, looking more confused. "...the Lady of Roses gave blessing...?" He asks, surprised and taking a tentative step closer.

Gurashi exhales a plume of smoke and a bit of flame and nods, his chin rising as if to a challenge.

Bizirik's head begins to droop. It opens its great maw and curls back its lips to allow its forked tongue to unfurl as it yawns before snapping its mouth shut.

In a swirl of blue fire, a gentle spirit stag leaps out of the Flame of dae'Seren upon you and prances in a slow circle before fading.

You have emoted: Lief gives her antlered head a vigorous shake as though, perhaps, she might be able to rid herself of the flames physically. Of course, nothing happens. "She asked me to write Her a song, and I did. And I was worried She might maybe hate it, but She is doing this to me instead. I told Her I didn't want to look more closely into the darkness, and She did this. It feels *strange*." The last word comes out as a quiet whine, one she swallows around to quiet.

You let loose a long breath from your lungs, exhaling slowly.

You have emoted: As Lief all but gibbers, Savit strides closer to Bizirik, the leothin, peering at her. A sudden, inquisitive chirp escapes his beak.

Gurashi looks towards your hands, then back up to your face, stopping his advance and once more keeping a safe distance, though half as far as it was moments earlier. "...why does feel strange...?"

Bizirik, the leothin flexes and relaxes its toes, dragging its long claws noisily across the fresh earth. It sticks its head out further, craning its neck to be just inches from the peacock, sniffling and snorting loudly. The tail stops sweeping back and forth and instead takes to rising and slapping against the ground behind it, chittering happily.

A genteel peacock crowned with a crest of bright scarlet drooping to one side shakes his head, causing the crest feathers to swing back and forth.

You have emoted: "It's..." Lief stops herself from uttering the word, or words, she must have been about to say. She glances aside, sighting Bizirik, the leothin and a genteel peacock crowned with a crest of bright scarlet drooping to one side's interactions, and like a worried mother, she wings nearer the both of them, bobbing there. "I don't know how else to say this," she says apologetically to Gurashi as she wings to and fro around the animals. "The Wyrd isn't natural, though. It doesn't just grow up from the ground. It's...shadows, but not normal shadows, it's...I'm so sorry, I didn't ask you here to debate the nature of the Wyrd with you." Her brow creases with anxiety as she looks from the animals to Gurashi, directly.

Bizirik, the leothin licks a genteel peacock crowned with a crest of bright scarlet drooping to one side.

Shadows swirl around Gurashi's arm as the Fingerblade of dha'Wyrden-cree shifts and turns around his hand.

Gurashi doesn't seem at all worried about Bizirik's increasingly wily behavior, once more looking hurt. "...am ... sorry to hear that are not having such great time ... but ..." He chooses his words carefully, scanning the ground. "Is -just-... different... are things in nature, that sometimes change suddenly - drastically - and they are just ..." He starts, then stops, flexing and relaxing his hands.

A genteel peacock crowned with a crest of bright scarlet drooping to one side carefully preens his lustrous plumage, drawing the feathers slowly through his beak.

You have emoted: Lief tenses when the leothin licks Savit, and she dives down, trying to usher an unconcerned peacock further away from the larger creature's antics. "I'm sorry," she says again, once more all-but-hugging the Flame of dae'Seren to herself. "I really...wanted to talk to you to just talk. I can't talk about this with others. They just...think I should be able to handle this, and I should. And I would if it were just mortals."

Calmly, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe says to you, "But involved Lord of Silence. And Lady of Serenity ... and now, lady of Roses..."

Quietly, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe says to you, "Sounds exhausting."

Faintly buzzing, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe says, "Many apologies - Am ... being called away."

You have emoted: "Me?" Lief asks Gurashi, bewildered again. "She came to me. I...wait. One moment."

Faintly buzzing, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe asks you, "...can continue this again soon-ish, O-K?"

Gurashi nods his head sagely.

Bizirik, the leothin chirps happily.

You have emoted: Lief wings to a hidden point in a thicket, pulling something free, bundled in cloth, and passes it into Gurashi's hands.

Her antlered head bowed, you give a wooden lute engraved with spiders to Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe.

Gurashi blinks.

In disbelief, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe exclaims, "...is a lute!"

Bizirik's head begins to droop. It opens its great maw and curls back its lips to allow its forked tongue to unfurl as it yawns before snapping its mouth shut.

As nightfall steals the last vestiges of daylight, a slender leothin's muted coat begins to shine with a violaceous radiance, and a double pair of wings materializes, grandly extended as if they've been there all along.

Faintly buzzing, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe says to you, "Is ... lovely?? Many thank yous."

Gurashi tilts his head curiously at a wooden lute engraved with spiders.

Faintly buzzing, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Gurashi An'Ryshe says to you, "...ehm - many thanks for inviting over. Promise am not trying to run as soon as talk about problems."

Gurashi peers about himself unscrupulously.

Her lips twitching upward, you say to Gurashi, "I'm sorry I didn't have any real goodies to offer you for coming. Thank you."

Bizirik, the leothin rubs up against a genteel peacock crowned with a crest of bright scarlet drooping to one side, purring like a cat.

You have emoted: As Lief bows her antlered head again to Gurashi, Savit chirps again at Bizirik, the leothin, feathers fanning.

Bizirik, the leothin chirps happily.

Gurashi gives a happy cow cheesecake to you.

Gurashi frowns at you.

The prickling on the back of your neck dissipates as Gurashi departs to the northeast.
With a playful chirr, Bizirik turns sharply and scampers off to the northeast.

You have emoted: Lief lowers herself gently to the earth, kneeling amongst the bluebells and forget-me-nots. She breathes a quiet sigh, something like relief colouring her silent features.