RP:Alithrya - Off the Travel Bucket List

Summary: Josleen is hiking in the woods near Xalious Village to clear her mind when she chances upon a small child who she soon discovers is the naga Reginae in disguise. They discuss their respective cultures, homes, and ambitions. Reginae seeks to form alliances with outside races. Josleen privately vows to never visit Alithrya for it sounds terrifying, but this naga in particular seems sociable at the very least.

Mountain Path

Reginae stands atop a hill in Xalious, morphed into her common travelling alias of a child, draped in the only set of clothes that fit her; a pair of snow boots from Frostmaw and a blocky cloak atop tattered black pants. The crown of her head tips up to examine the skies above, trailing her snowy tresses against the fallen leaves littering the path. It would never do any creature justice to be this small, she reasoned, picking debris out of her hair, which was proving itself too long for her current impish form. Sure, she could have morphed it when she’d shape shifted but her vanity was a little more deep rooted than she dared admit. A sound in the woods surrounding. Tension rolls in her tiny shoulders. Pupils dilate and devour the landscape. Nostrils flare. Who was nearby?

Ever since she was a little girl Josleen has enjoyed hiking the woods surrounding the village. As a child she was Xalious's version of a girl scout. Her father, a prominent naturalist (among other things), instilled a love for the outdoors in his daughter. With the strange events plaguing Xalious these days, perhaps it is unwise for the near-defenseless woman to hike alone, but she needs the space to clear her mind and heart. Engrossed in private thoughts, sight trained on the fallen leaves just ahead of each pace, she relies on sound to detect anything amiss, and the child in tattered pants makes no sound. Thus imagine Josleen's surprise when the snowy tresses invade her peripheral vision. She gasps, flinches back, but quickly composes herself. She leans forward and inspects the girl's dress. "Hello. Are you alright? Where's your mother? Or father?"

Josleen's inquiry is met with a few silent blinks of her eyelids, her white lashes standing out against her tan skin. "Dead, I imagine. I don't truely know." came her composed response. "I'm actually looking for the Ruler of this Region." The tone is too old and composed for something so small. "Who are you?" Regi eyes Jos without suspicion, though the tension still holds in her stance. A quick once over is done of the woman before her; the naga devours the details like a catalog, without internal narrative or speculation. Only noting what she can see, hear, or smell. Human, most likely. Sharing a home with someone else or visiting for an extended period of time. Nothing alarming yet. "No one has ever asked me that." This strikes Regi as strange, but also charming. It made more sense to travel as a child; an adult naga slithering through the woods would invite too much attention.

Josleen can't help the wide-eyed horror that stretches her face taut against her skull. She's quick to neutralize her expression for the sake of propriety, to resume her pretty smile that dispels the notion that she has anything so base as a skull. As the 'child' continues talking, Josleen guesses that this is no child at all. Growing up in magical Xalious, this isn't the first time she's encountered some entity cloaked in the trapping of the innocent, but only the non-innocent feel such a need to do so. Rabbits don't wear sheep's clothing. Only wolves do. The hairs on the back of her neck stand. Her muscles tense. "I am Josleen Malovich. I live in the village. As for its ruler..." Reginae unwittingly touches on a sour point for the bard. She mutters through pursed lips, "A ruler of the people who represents them and their interests? There is now. But the de-facto power here is the Mage's Guild, though I do not recommend you greet its ruler.

Regi can tell that her disguise is a bust...she really needed to work on her bedside manner when it came to discussing things in this form. It's a shame shape shifting didn't grant you a complete guise, even after all this time, blending in was still a bit of a problem when creatures bothered to actually listen to her. This is where her rough Telemancy might have come in handy, if she had a better handle on it. Her instructors had been looking ahead to the future when they planted that seed, in an attempt to cover up her defect. "Anyone in charge of alliances and the like. Your facial expression says I've failed in keeping my guise up. I am not a local, but it more suitable to appear like one. Otherwise, panic ensues..." This train of thought brings the naga back to her current conversation. "I'm no danger to you. I can promise all day but I know that doesn't make it true to you. So I will just plainly state my intentions of speaking to someone who would be able to assist in my inquiry. The feeling is different here." She notes, calculated and thoughtful. "It's very different from my home." A brief pause. "Is the ruler of that Guild confrontational, Josleen Malovich?"

Josleen smiles stiffly at Reginae's assurances that she means no harm. "I hate to accuse without reason to, so I accept your assurances at face value. Though I must confess your words would carry more weight if I knew your name and intentions." At Reginae's guess as to the archmage's temperament, Josleen scoff-laughs. "The archmage is none other than the drow lich Tiphareth, so confrontational would be amongst his kinder characteristics. As it so happens, the village is currently beset by strange magical occurrences. I'm leading an investigation of these events and in some way acting as a liason for visitors to the village at this time. You speak of alliances. Who do you represent?"

Reginae watches Josleen’s features with a careful eye. “I am Reginae Naginis.” A pause follows to let the naga gauge the bard’s recognition. No one knew the name, it had ceased to come as a surprise. “I am the self-proclaimed working Liaison for Alithrya, the naga city, in governing affairs. It’s not as if we have a strong government but no one as of yet seems to oppose with my minor interference with current policies. My goal is strictly to strengthen the city that the Parasite destroyed so we can resume as a functional society, as opposed to a non-existent speck on the map. Once we are back to our full strength, we will have a worthy army of soldiers and skilled magic users to offer in the way of aid. For now, all I can offer is what I am capable of on my own. I hold no real political power presently.” This explanation takes a bit longer than the Regi would have liked. She shifts her stance on her short human legs and smiles at Josleen. “You can understand why I didn’t wish to traverse the wilderness in a more intimidating form. We naga are a little on the threatening side, when it comes to appearances. Forgive me if I don’t jump out of this skin for proof. I prefer to keep my identity as quiet as possible. There is not a lot of love for our kind here.”

Josleen isn't sure if she should be relieved or on edge. She knows little of the naga, but understands that they are an intelligent race that could be reasoned with, unlike goblins or drow. Still, the naga aren't known for being magnaminous like the avians. Nor are the naga as beautiful, and it is for this reason that Josleen shakes her head in agreement with Reginae that she need not reveal her true form. "No need for that. Well, Xalious could certainly use genuine, in-good-faith aid these days. I presume you are a mage? An illusionist perhaps?"

Reginae narrowed her eyes at Josleen. It wouldn’t do for the naga woman to snap at such a question. Naga’s were natural born shape shifters. But this knowledge was no longer common place, so she kept her thin lips in a straight line and replied with as much tact as she could muster. “Nagas are actually shape shifters, but I am a trained Illusionist in addition. I just do not rely on the magic of Illusion to conjure forms. Illusionary magics are hard to maintain for long periods of time in the physical world. They are more easily constructed within the boundaries of an individual’s own mind.” Meaning, it would be oh so much easier for Regi to project the image of something in Josleen’s mind rather than try to create it into the physical realm for all bystanders to see. Much less concentration involved in the prior act with nearly identical results. “I am also decent in the realm of herbology, but most regions have clinics these days, and little need for that service. What is it that you do in your town?”

Josleen doesn't realize she made a faus pax, and accepts the shape-shifting lesson at face value. "How fascinating! My adoptive father" -- there is nothing adoptive about it, but this lie helps preserve the blood-mixing elf's reputation, though no one believes it for Josleen looks too much like him -- "is an illusionist, actually, but of little talent. I'm not dishonoring him by confessing it so. He readily confesses it himself. His passion is with nature." The woman hesitates. Her suspicious stare inspects the 'child' for redflags as she debates the pros and cons of revealing more about herself to this stranger, a naga. Despite knowing that Reginae is in disguise, the disguise plays on Josleen's prejudices and she is more apt to trust than she would be if Reginae were in her true form. She continues, "As a herbalist you may have heard of him, perhaps, for he has written many of the seminal texts on herbs and other aspects of nature. His name is Kyl'oriel. I wonder if his texts have reached your city? And I am also proficient with herbs, and work as a nurse in the clinic, though my passion is music. I perform at the local tavern regularly."

Reginae searched her mental archives for the name Kyl’oriel. “No, I’m afraid much of the information that circulates through Alithrya is dated. We have been… disconnected for many years.” That was rather cut and dry, without the intention of discouraging the bard. “I would like to see your clinic and your healers, in due time, if we can form a union between our two homes. I am sure there is much I have missed in the past…” Who knew how long Alithrya had really been removed from the time flow? “…few years.” Human culture was so much different. They were painfully polite and welcoming when they were not trying to murder you. Regi assumed it was all based on appearances. So much of the human heart was swayed by physical form. That much she’d already learned in the past year or so that’s she’d been back. Human’s also had a need to feel connected to others, and reached out for validation and companionship. This was all evident by Josleen’s explanation of her profession and her passion. “You must be a very skilled performer. I would attend but I doubt they allow offspring into drinking establishments. Maybe with another shape at another time.” Reginae did her best to smile, and for all the effort it looked adorable and innocent on her guised features.

Josleen isn't discouraged by Reginae's lack of recognition of her father. He's achieved a notoriety where it's more embarrassing for people who haven't heard of him than it is for the family. "Of course you should visit the clinic and tavern. We actually have three. Pub culture is dear to our hearts I suppose. I mostly perform at The Dancing Destrier." Cue a wry grin, a hint of pride, and no shame that a significant portion of Xalious Village is likely comprised of functioning alcoholics. "I must confess my ignorance of your city. If I wished to visit it," she does not, "I wouldn't know which way to turn. Where exactly is Alithrya?"

Reginae tilted her head at the question. How would Humans get there? No one had ever asked! “If you were Naga, I would tell you that you could just swim off the Cenril shore before swimming underneath the waves...” This question seemed a little –too- vexing. What kind of liaison didn’t know this information? “My best guess would be to travel up the tunnel beneath Vailkrin…” What were the creatures that lived there? Vampires right? “But, be warned. I would not make this journey alone. I’m working with the remaining Alithryan citizens but right now they are hostile. Even to other naga.” The child’s eyes shone with sincerity. “It would take less than a breath’s time for them to tear you apart. If you wish to visit, I will accompany you. You can send word ahead of time. We still get missives, but they are few and far between.” The child’s frame relaxed, tilting it’s arms behind her tiny neck, elbows skyward, and giving Josleen a reassuring grin. “I’m stronger than I look. Not to say there aren’t good reasons to visit but, right now things are a little on the rough side. Better to be safe.” And just like that, Regi looked the part of a normal human child. It was indeed disarming. “There are only two others that I know of that can make the journey without resistance. A red haired bard girl who served my sister is a recognized slave, and a preklek who I’ve caught a time or two by the castle. No idea why…” Ignorance might have been better than the brutally honest truth, but Regi wasn’t one for falsehoods in outreach programs. Her work outside depended on her ability to tell the truth, even though lies would have gotten the job done a lot faster. The cost was too high. It could cost her the few remaining lives left in Alithrya, and that was a gamble she just couldn’t take.

Josleen winces at the thought of diving beneath Cenril's waves, among the merfolk known to haunt those waters. No thanks. Next option? Vailkrin. She visibly pales and her face grows further gaunt as Reginae suggests a tunnel beneath the city of the undead. Nope. The graphic description of dismembered visitors to Alithrya, with herself cast in the starring role, don't help settle her stomach. Should she ever want to visit, which she still does not, her only shield is this naga who openly admits to having no political clout via title. Surely the bard can be forgiven for being far from reassured. At the mention of a redheaded bard, Josleen fails to place Alvina. She knows Alvina foremost as an engineer, and not a bard. At the mentionof a preklek, there is only one who travels so freely as far as Josleen is aware. "Kang? Is the preklek named Kang, perchance?"

Reginae nods with Josleen’s recognition. “Yes! His name was much longer, but he said most call him Kang. You know of him? Should I be concerned to find him lurking about? Isn’t that tiny flame pet perfect?” The naga does notice that Josleen looks paler than before, but she can’t place why. Swimming amid the Seaborn or surfacing to Vampires sounds like a pretty normal naga day, right after murdering something with your bare…tail or claws or trident or fangs or…well, the list goes on and on with the murdering function, anyway. Besides, Political clout and pure strength were two different things. And what Reginae lacked in the first, she made up for in the second. Not that she would mention any of this at the time. Better to keep neutral parties just as informed as enemies..unless you need something, like Naga did now. Maybe if Josleen ever saw her in her true state, visiting Alithrya wouldn’t seem so daunting. Most likely, it would. It was scary. Full of hungry mean snake…things.

Josleen has killed many a cockroach (literal insects, not a metaphor for horrible people, take note) in her days as a student in Cenril. Aside from that, her murder record is squeaky clean. "I do know of Kang. I helped reset his arm after his... llama... pet.. thing... Gigi? Gigi. Gigi bit him. And he is in Frostmaw last I heard, but I don't regularly keep tabs." Perhaps she should because actually just last week, unbeknownst to Josleen, Kang was in Xalious meeting with her investigative partner, Linn. "Why does he concern you? Are you enemies?"

Reginae give her small head a small shake at the question. “Not at all. It’s always a pleasure to see things appearing in Alithrya. Good things. Things that aren’t down there trying to steal all our resources or murder our people. Things just existing. We had a little chat. He seems level headed to a degree. Very focused on the restoration of his people. I get it. I’m playing the same game.” Game? That might have been the wrong word for what she was attempting to accomplish here. “He said that someone advised him to visit, said he was looking to create a home. After that things got a little vague. We were both being cautious. You know how it is…” This sudden attitude of ease must be coming from the child form. Something about the different in anatomy messed with her own head sometimes too. Regi clears her throat and tries again, sounding more like herself. “ When things are up and running again, and safe, you should consider a day trip. It’s really beautiful. There’s no place like it in anywhere else. Water has carved the whole region into one extravagant water garden, but there’s still air to breath. It’s about as close as you can get to being underwater and being comfortable alive.”

While the water garden-city does sound beautiful, its natives still terrify Josleen. Thankfully, she doesn't need to make a decision now about whether or not to visit Alithrya (still a no). "Perhaps one day I will," she lies with an easy smile. Now what? Unsure of what comes next, the bard looks to disentangle herself from this unexpected encounter. "I should go. I have an appointment. It was lovely meeting you, Reginae. If you stay in the area, do call on me in the clinic. I would be happy to show you around." Her body language suggests she lingers for only a good bye and will soon leave.