RP:Annabelle meets Sophie

Kumorohyou isn't necessarily large, being only 6' 4" tall, with a lithe, dextrous form beneath his robes. Were it not for the black fur on his pointed ears, or the long tail swishing behind him, one might mistake him for a High Elf. The dark skin covers a chiseled, handsome face, with deep-set eyes, high cheekbones, and a hooked nose, much like someone hailing from India or Bangladesh. A very exotic kitty. As his electrified, bespectacled gaze meets Annabelle's, the panther offers a polite bow at the waist, much like a martial artist would bow.

Annabelle stood at a mere five foot two…and a half. The kitty was quite large especially from her seated position at the foot of the steps going in to Kelay Tavern. She was dressed quite proper, forcing her posture stiffly erect by way of whale-bone corset. She was simple, fiery red hair piled loosely- if even tousled upon her head, chartreuse gaze glimmering back at his politeness as soft cheeks rose to a full pearly smile. “Good afternoon, Sir.” She folded the large book, the thump of weathered pages sending a pleasing smell of ancient parchment wafting through the breeze. She stands, quickly enough so not to be rude and returns his gesture with a more than proper curtsy.

Kumorohyou allows a warm smile to form on his face in return of Annabelle's greeting, as well as to respond to the pleasant scent of parchment. One of those genuine smiles, where your eyes seem to disappear into slits, as if trying to contain the happiness. In an accent as exotic as his appearance, like a mix of Japanese and Hindi, the feline greets her, "Good afternoon. Might I ask what you are reading?" The panther enjoys books as much as any intellectual, whether they be technical or artistic.

Annabelle pulls the book centered in front of her chest; clutching it like death itself could not pry the thing from her slender fingers. “This is the Book of Ära. And one does not simply read the Book of Ära, one studies it.” Her voice was as plain as her features, nothing disturbing of offsetting to any emotion be it anger or affinity. She teeters slightly, standing before him, heel to toe, a rocking that brings her to a stride toward the panther. From the book comes a static in the air, the power residing in it was ancient, filled with a feeling of things forgotten. “I am Annabelle Ära, Keeper of the Book… and you are?”

Sophie is on crutches, to take the weight off her burned and bandaged feet. "The healer, smiles, to see her old friend Kumorohyou, and her new friend Annabelle are both here, she lowers herself to the ground, standing is still painful, something she avoids. Sophie patiently waits for them to have time to give her there attention; she wishes to talk to Kumori about the troubling events of the past two days.

Kumorohyou could sense the power in the book as if it were a flare going off. As Annabelle approaches him, she would likely notice a peculiar sensation, as if being gently pressed in on all sides by an unseen force. Kumori Spiritual pressure tends to be disproportionate in comparison to the size of his body, and it will engulf anything and everything around him in its embrace. Not necessarily claustrophobic, but certainly noticeable. Offering a bow of respect, the shaman replies, "Of course. I understand that. My name is Getsuga Kumorohyou, Shaman of Jangal and representative of their Technical Caste, but you can call me Kumori."

Annabelle smiles brighter, if at all possible. There was something just pleasing about her, not her appearance, it was more her way. The book tightens as the sensation of spirit energy presses against it. The pages begin to sear themselves shut as they did under any circumstance where the possibility of threat could ensue. Bella did her best not to give notice; instead she repeats his name with a lack of clarity that his accent would implore. “Kumorohyou.” She hadn’t heard of the Jangal, though she had met many Shaman in her past. The fact that his kind was not recorded in her history bothered her. “You are a rarity, Sir.” She was lost in his electrifying gaze until the point of a pleasant distraction. She turns to Sophie with little hesitation and lets go the book. The massive article fluttered downward, disappearing into a scattered mess of disintegrating feathers almost in slow motion. Even when the book was not really there, it still was. A secret she would easily divulge, as it should not be a secret any longer. Her hands cup Sophie’s shoulders to assist her decent to sit. “Dear, I am not sure walking is what the doctor ordered.”

Kumorohyou looks to see Sophie, the shaman still sensing the power of the book that doesn't appear to be there. A look of concern on his face, the panther helps Sophie to take the weight off her feet, "Sofi-san...what happened?"

Sophie smiles at her human friend. "Dear Ayameko did a fine job healing me, so long as I use my crutches to take some of the weight off, a little walking will do me no harm." The healer hesitates, unable to decide how best to approach a difficult topic. "You are both very knowledgeable people, what do you know of other planes of existence. The Hell plane, I, I ,I have suffered there...a few hours only yet, it seems like several lifetimes of torment. I suffer still...my mind, my soul.."

Kumorohyou looks at Sophie's injuries, turning the data over in his mind when she mentioned other planes. There was only plane that could hurt her like that, and her mention of its common name confirmed his suspicions. He had seen the doorway that Knelltic had opened the other day. "Jigoku...that is the name the Elven Templars gave it. In our native tongue, it is called Yamaloka. Why would someone bring you there, Sofi-san?"

Annabelle listen tentatively to Kumorohyou. “I have never been witness to the Hell Plane, Sophie, but the Ära holds the keys to many places. In my childhood studies of the hell plane, it is said that a lessor God can summon you there, it is a place that exists, but it doesn’t. Once entering upon that plane you may only return with permission from the one that put you there. A trickster God may allow your body to return, but your mind is something that must be included in the barter when rendering your soul back to this verse…” She laughs nervously. “It is only a legend though… right?” Bright green orbs aligned in golden halo look to the Shaman, one who is closer to the rights and deities than she. “Right?” There was a panic in her voice and as she sits she clutches Sophie’s hand without thinking. “None can really open the gate to such a place… I don’t think…” Her voice trailed off, if it were possible it could be devastating.

Sophie said to Kumorohyou, "I volunteered to heal the lady Awne, through a procedure that would otherwise certainly have killed her, my motive was to save her life, yet, I fear I helped her suffer terrible torture. She was flayed alive, by demons. For me, just being in Hell was torture enough, both for my mind and my body, poor Awne suffered unimaginable torment. "Sophie gazes at Annabelle, a haunted look in her eyes.”Either I have lost my mind completely, or that terrible place truly does exist, and I spent several hours there yesterday."

Vriskal wonders out of the woods into civilization, or what seems as such. As the light of day hits his eyes he squits. Breathing heavily from running through the sage forest to the east this half elf finds his way towards the tavern. As one would look they would see the horrible shape this man is in, chapped peeling lips, ragged clothing, all signs of a harsh struggle for life in the country side. Not having enough strength to continue on he falls to the ground before the people around. His arms clawing at the dirt beneath him as he crawls to whoever would be closest, "Wa-water." He manages to muster out, hoping one would be able to help.

Kumorohyou moves to face Sophie, the shaman gently placing his forehead against hers. His skin is warm, and with the power of his Spirit pressure, an additional sensation could be felt, like a tingling at the back of the skull. The panther mutteres in his native tongue, using focal words to channel a 'positive energy', for lack of a better term, into Sophie's Mind and Spirit. ~Do not be afraid...~ Kumori's mental voice, clear and without accent, whispers to the lycaness. ~The Shamans of Jangal enter Yamaloka as part of their final testing. I know what you've gone through, Sophie, but you can keep your sanity as we have.~

Annabelle felt out of place in the proximity of Kumori and Sophie’s embrace. She stands, faltering backward into the clutches of a stranger begging for water. It was odd to be clammered upon by a complete stranger, but his need spoke loudly over the concern for Sophie which was already being taken care of. Bella kneels down to Vriskal, reaching into a small purse and giving the worn gent the only offering she had readily available. “I’m sorry, I don’t have any water…”

Annabelle gave Vriskal 277 gold.

Annabelle couldn’t comfort Sophie, and she could so much as help a stranger with something to drink. Her uselessness was consuming her for the time being and she felt as though she was simply taking up too much space, as usual. She steps away from the stranger, Sophie, and Kumorohyou, backing in short steps eastward. “I really must go retrieve the book from where I sent it; it can’t be in the same place in both times for too long.” She smiles nervously, quickly performs a sloppy-yet-formal curtsy and makes her way far from these people.