Around the Fountain

Log Info

• Title: Around the Fountain
• Emitter: Kira
• Characters: Halani, Kira, Cryosanthia, Garak
• Place: A10: Temple District
• Time: Thursday, May 14, 2020, 10:45 PM
• Summary: Halani and Kira are sitting at the Temple District fountain, talking about future plans. Specifically a school, a dojo, to train people in non-lethal combat as well as provide food. Cryosanthia enters the area, exiting the Temple of Daeus and acting strangely. She joins the two, and turns the conversation to Halani's hair and Kira's experiences. Garak arrives as a coherent mist, transforming into a person, provoking an extreme reaction from Cryo and mild ones from the other two women. Conversation continues and people leave one by one, with Cryosanthia appearing to mentally check out before her she physically returns to the temple.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A10: Temple District *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The air of solemn, heavy divinity in the area is often broken by laughter. The dual presence of the deities Althea and Daeus, man and wife, stand towards the center, with their children and their children's temples positioned around them. The presence of the divine is felt not only by their temples, but also by the actions of their worshipers. The great plaza is as a social center, paved in brilliant, white flagstones and covered in benches and sitting areas. Priests, acolytes, and servicefolk of all stripes roam the plaza, going from one task to the other.

At the front of the temples of Daeus and Althea, at the Plaza's centermost point, rests a great fountain, the cheerful waters reflecting the Sun during the day, and the Moon and Stars at night. The fountain is strategically centered, and is oft a place for wisdom and lesson-giving. It is not uncommon for a priest of some stripe or the other to stand there, surrounded by the curious and faithful, delivering messages of hope or contemplation. At other times, it and the plaza become a landscape of celebration of the holy holidays.

Few vendors are seen in the plaza--the nearby temples provide most food or services. Towards the west, the great Bridge stretches across the river, and towards the east, the Redridge mountains. The plaza rests in the midst of it all, the temples massive and grand on the Alexandrian scale.

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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Appearing, in Order  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Halani       5'4"     120 Lb     Human/Xian        Female    Shortish, dusky skinned woman with almond shaped eyes.
Kira         5'0"     120 Lb     Human             Female    A young blonde woman wearing simple robes and an eye patch.
Cryosanthia  6'9"     267 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Garak        5'10"    180 Lb     Hobgoblin         Male      Just a simple tailor...er Cleric, of Serriel      
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Halani and Kira are conversing near the fountain, the small smiles suggesting that this conversation at least is at least moderately pleasant. Kira has her basket of bread loaves, and Halani has a dirty smudge on her forehead. "I like the sound of that, yeah?" Her smile brightens a little bit more and her stance suggest some measure of gained relief. "I think it would offer peace of mind, too. This is going to take some planning.. but.. if you truly mean it, I think this might work."

Kira nods to Halani. "I like it, too, and I hope it would offer peace to mind and body, both, for many. How could I do anything but support it? If we could bring those interested and willing, we could feed those in need that much easier. That would easily make more time for me." Her smile grows more, as does her optimism.

A whitescale sith emerges from the Temple of Daeus. She's acting strangely, starting into what seems to be a dance, then ending it a few steps later. A new, different style of dancing occurs, and is also abandonned. This is followed by some tumbles, rolls, leaps and other acrobatic maneuvers. She gets a lot further across the temple district, before this is dropped also.

Noticing the pair near the fountain, the sith stops her strange whimsy and heads straight for the two. Once she's close enough to speak she says, "Peace on your nests. Halani, Kira! This one is happy to see you."

"I like that," the islander monk admits when Kira suggests the school could also be a place of feeding as well. "I call it a plan, then, yeah?" Halani then says, closing her hand into a fist, then smacking it into the palm of the other. Still smiling, Halani turns at the sith'makar's hail.. and then she bows her head over the fist clasped in hand towards Cryosanthia. "Cryosanthia.. I am glad to see you. And you're so happy. This is good, yeah?"

"Happy?" Cryosanthia sounds confused, glances back at the Temple, "Ah, trying to be happy."

She thumps heavily down on the fountain, draping her tail over the back of the rim. She smiles at Halani, lots of teeth, "Relieved, mostly. Your head is a most strange shape without hair, your skin a most interesting colour. Do you plan to keep them that way? This one did not mean to interrupt your discussion."

Kira turns at the greeting, too. Her smile is still in place, though there is a prompt coloration of worry at Cryosanthia's words. "Peace on your nest," she returns. "How are you?"

Wind whistles and a hazy white figure made of vapor darts by overhead from the west. It overshoots the plaza and stops, hanging suspended in midair for a moment. Then it changes direction to drop straight down - and out of sight - behind a temple. A few moments later Garak emerges from around the building. His form is still a bit indistinct but seems to be growing more solid with each step. He tugs his down the bottom of his coat and adjusts each sleeve as he approaches. "Good evening."

Halani rubs at her head... again... nope, still not used to it. "It /is/ strange... and I can't even see it. I look ridiculous, yeah?" She points to her eyebrows, or lack thereof. Then she shrugs. "It would make sense.. I mean, less things for people to grab in a fight, yeah? But.. it makes me look too much like my grandfather." She makes a sour face, which is when she sees the darting vapor.. and Garak's emergence a moment later. Her eyes are wide. Clearly she's not familiar with that particular form of travel.

The whitescale exhales a long sigh at the question, her breath visible in a small condensing cloud which drifts away and fades. She stares impassively at the paladin, still and expressionless, her eyes flat, featureless, looking like sapphires. She reaches out and grasps Kira's hand, squeezing it. "This one apologizes for her mate. Zeke is... distraught, as you would know. This one also knows the hospitality of the Mistress. I should ask the question of you, and I worry you are not okay. If you need to talk, if this one can help, let me know. I'm glad it seems you are making plans, for a thing? A dojo?"

And Cryosanthia has a dagger in her hand. An icicle that formed after a graceful gesture and a cascade of light down her arm. She's turned to face Garak, ready to spring off the fountain. Clearly on edge she demands, "Vampire? Demon? What are... you were there when Kol died. This one remembers."

To Kira's credit, the widening of Halani's eyes only makes her turn, not startle. The plans in progress have improved her mood significantly, not that she's one to spring first. "Hello," she offers Garak simply, then recognizes him as well, and she adds, more comfortably, "again." Her smile starts to rekindle when Cryo takes her hand.

Mention of Zeke makes the bloom wilt before its fully formed. "I tried to protect him... I did..." She gives the sith's hand a squeeze, in lieu of possibly another awkward outburst. "I don't know if I am, Cryosanthia, and thank you." Kira then nods, much more comfortable with the last question. "A school, of sorts, yes. Maybe? To help others defend themselves, and others. Without weapons, or great harm."

Garak pauses at the sight of Crysanthia's icicle dagger. He seems...untroubled at the weapon itself, but watches with what might be professional interest. When she guesses demon he does seem troubled, and an instsnt later his brows draw together alarmingly at the suggestion he's a 'vampire'. And then he nods in grudging ackowledgement when she finishes. "You won't need that with me," he nods at the dagger. He watches a moment longer to see if she shows signs of believing him. Then he shifts his gaze to Kira. "That is quite a coincidence. -Quite- a councidence. I was thinking along much the same lines. A school of self-defense," he says, so pleased that the implication of being a vampire now seems completely behind him.

So this is normal. Halani slowly nods, then smiles tenatively at the Arvek in greeting. Then she takes a step back, a physical indication of removing herself from the coming conversation. "I should go. I need to get to Vardama's temple to.. uh... let them know I died again." She clears her throat. "Your... Zeke... he will be okay, I think, Cryosanthia. If you're any example of your people.. he's tough." She turns to Kira. "Thank you for..." Halani pauses, reconsiders. "Thank you for the bread, Kira.. and for entertaining the idea. I'll try to have a better.. um.. more detailed plan to present to you in a little while, if that's okay?"

Cryo tosses her dagger in the fountain. It floats in a strange way, tip upwards and bobbing, and then it melts and vanishes. "This one has had far too many things jump her here. Oozes, twice. Demons, Twice. Kol, Twice." She is slightly hunched as she explains this to Garak, the others, then it passes when the sith turns back to Kira and takes her hand again.

"This one is never truly disarmed, but I see the value in what you want to teach. It will help, keep focused on that."

She goes silent for a moment, looking down. Talking at Kira's lap more than her. "The Mistress forced me to choose between my cihuaa and my foundling, over and over. She would latch onto anything in you, to see what she could exploit. To see how she could wound you. This one is not a counsellor, but you should speak to someone, and I know."

She stands, curtseying to Halani as she rises to go. "Thank you. Zeke will... come back. I must say before you go, your grandfather was beautiful! I did not know softskins used skin polish." With another sith-makar grin full of teeth she makes a rubbing motion in the air at the monk's head. "Good luck updating your... status."

Kira winces as Cryo recounts the far-too numerous assaults on herself that happened here, and her encouragement on the planning isn't enough to brighten her much. Not when she brings up ... her. "I would like to, I think. Speak, that is. Just... not now, not here." Cryo's lowered eyes help Kira to not meet hers as she likewise finds the fountain, or maybe its the tip of the sith's tail, utterly fascinating.

She hasn't forgotten Halani, though, and turns to her. The comment of her grandfather and status does get a flicker of grin from her, even. "You're very welcome. For everything. I will try to think of ideas for you to consider." She then dips to Halani, in a bow, rather than her usual curtsey. It seems more appropriate somehow.

Garak nods in acceptance at the Sith's explanation. "Well spoken," he admits. He raises a hand in farewell to Halani. "It was your idea then? The fighting school? I would love to speak with you about it more, when you have time." He places a hand in his chest. "My name is Garak." He turns to Kira next. "I would love to speak about it with you as well of course." He hesitates and then looks between Kira and Cryosanthia and adds slowly, "Forgive me if I'm interrupting..."

Halani just stares at Cryosanthia for a moment, picturing her old, stooped, grandfather... beautiful? Then her eyes narrow, and she points at the sith'makar. "That's a joke, right? You're making a joke. Or making fun of me." Then she grins. "Either way, thanks, yeah?" She turns to Garak, then nods eagerly. "I'll seek you out when the idea is.. better formed, yeah? Garak." She says the name to herself, probably to help her remember it. Then to Kira she returns the bow in her fist in hand style. That done, she turns and breaks into a swift jog in the direction of the mountain road.

"Later then, we shall." Cryo promises, giving Kira's hand a squeeze, then withdrawing it. Her tailtip twitches back and forth. "Are hugs uncomfortable now? This one apologizes for earlier."

A very wide, tooth filled grin meets Halani's question. She watches at the monk runs off. Turning to Garak she's less toothy and waves her hand, making brushing motions, "No, no, it's fine. We all had a trying time yesterday and are recovering. Events march on. You two might have more to talk on than I, I'm... " she shrugs, "... wandering."

Kira nods to Garak as she returns her attention back to Cryosanthia. "No, it was my doing. I think that I ...reminded him of what was. I pained him, so I was frantic to leave before I hurt him further." She releases Cryo's hand so she can instead offer her arms, in an embrace. Because hugs are the best.

The whitescale sith is very eager for the hug and leans into the hug with Kira. She hug tight, a cold embrace, leaning her chin on the back of Kira's shoulder, "Thank you. This one understands. I am, as I said, eternally and overwhelmingly grateful."

Cryo sits back, her blue eyes sparkling.

Kira thinks its a warm hug, regardless of the temperature. She can't help but smile some, now, though it is much more ... cautious than before. "You don't need to thank me. Just make sure that he rests, and heals. I know there's no one better than you for him." Kira may not be able to tend or help him so much, anymore, if earlier was any indication.

Rather than dwell on that, she admits, "I should get some rest, too, I think, but I would like to talk more. There is much to do and plan. " She hefts her basket and tries a little harder at her smile. "There's always someone who could use some bread, too." With that, she excuses herself to head to Althea's Temple.

Garak watches Kira depart, expression thoughtful. He turns back towards Crysanthia. "You said earlier you were 'wandering'...somehow I think Serriel would approve." Which of course means Garak also approves. "I've taken to a much faster way of moving about the city," he gesture vaguely at the sky. "And yet I find myself missing the simple act of passing through the city, through the different districts. It reminds me of how many different people are here, how they've all come together to make something wondrous."

"This one doesn't know much about Serriel, I'm afraid." Cryosanthia says, adjusting her sitting position on the fountain and leaning forward to rest her arms on her knees. She sighs, and her breath is visible again. "Flying would be enjoyable, I'm sure. The closest I can manage is swimming. I should go swimming. Oh yes."

The sith nods, agreeable, "There are. This city is amazing, unbelievable sometimes. There are demons around. Did this one warn? There is a huge summoning circle beneath the city, and they go about disguised as humans. If you have Truesight, you might find some. They read minds..."

Her voice drifts off. There's a sense of something not quite right. An experienced soldier or cleric might recognize something resembling war-shock. Her jumpiness, her rambling warnings.

Garak smiles gently. "I'm afraid the city has been plagued by demons for years," he says. "Even before the infamous Eclavdran. There was an arch-demon named Mar'Tek, and others summoned by a villain known as Asumit, the self-styled 'demon binder'" He watches Cryosanthia to see if she's familiar with the names. "I sometimes fear it's the curse of civilization. For all the wonder a city like this brings, there's also so much evil and chaos." His lip twists a bit as he says the last word, probably without even realizing. Then he looks at her more closely. "It's our blessing that there are so many heroic adventurers here, willing to help others even at great risk to themselves. But it always takes a toll. On all of us."

"There weren't nearly enough to save them all." The whitescale whispers quietly, staring off at nothingness. There was no reactions to the names beyond Eclavdran, which provoked a visible tension and a gesture that started then stops. "Oh, it's the every day then. The service at the Fernwood must be terrible."

She silently stares at the flagstones, then looks up. "My apologies. I was in the Tower. This one should get back to her cihuaa. It has been nice seeing you again." She stands. Where the sith makar was sitting is a rime of frost in a round imprint. She gazes at it for a moment, "Yes, this one has been sitting too long."

Garak inclines his head. "I enjoyed speaking with you as well." His eyes are drawn to the frost. Talk of not sitting perhaps triggers another memory. "You mentioned you'd like to fly someday...Serriel can grant you the power to do so, for the greater part of a day. And if you do enjoy the experience, there are ways you can someday gain the ability for yourself. Not through Serriel's blessings perhaps," he admits. "But there are quite a few other ways."

"Oh? I'd love that. It would not be of use today sadly. I must watch my mate in the Temple. I can't leave him long, he might awake and wander. I need to be there when he wakes up." Cryo sounds more and more anxious as she speaks. She bows quickly, "This one apologizes. I should return. In a few days, yes. If we meet I would love to fly."

Turning, she bounds off, a quick run towards the Temple of Daeus with her tail streaming behind.