[Zinn'Sunn] How far can one run?

[Eir'helm Mithania]

First day of Winter

A young man had approached the gates of Zinn'Sunn, a wooden staff in his hand and a drum on his hip. He was quiet, pondering the news that had moved by simple word of mouth, the type of gossip that only one of his could gather, sad news, the outcome of a trial he had run away from. Quietly the bard approached the gate, and as was more and more common for him in these long winter days, he was sober.

Eir'helm's fingers met with the hide of his drum. He was playing a song, a song to warm the skin and fight the winter cold. Magic kept him going, kept him a little warmer and a little less hungry, though there was a painful ache in his stomach as the gate had come into view. The cold had taken hold, and set deep into his elven bones, but the pace went on. Eir'helm fought the need to reach a hand up to the budding berries on his staff head.

He tried to resist the need to numb the pain and chill with a nibble. The youth just kept moving, kept drumming his hand. He made it to the gate, and tried to explain the reasons, the need to study, to become a better bard, a better musician.

If they let him in Eir'helm would make his way to find the school, to find the supposed home of the bards of Zinn'Sunn. He was trying to find a way to become more, become better, so he could face Silrosia and its monsters in elven hide. He was here to learn to play, to fight and resist the need to vomit at the sight of blood.

[K'trenn Vampyler]

When the half elf arrived at the gates, he was greeted by two guards. One was a young human, about seventeen years of age, the other was an elderly dwarf, his beard longer than he was tall.

The human guard took a step foward when the bard arrived, "Can I see...." The dwarf waved his hand, "Hush, he's one of those bards. There's been so many of them coming through the city now adays that if we kept track of every single one of them we'd do nothing but work all day." The dwarf eyed him up with one eye, he looked undernourished. "The school's three blooks up, two to the right. If you get lost you can ask just about anyone in town, there's been many a students that have come this way lately, so we've all had to get used to where it is."

As he began his travel's through the city, there were an abnormally large amount of people with instruments, or practicing singing. It seemed like he was surrounded by bards or those who wished to be so. If the half elf payed attention closely though, he would find a man sitting back in the shadows tuning the strings of his guitar, a blank look on his face as he put the instrument away and began sharpening his sword.

[Eir'helm Mithania]

Tired. He was tired, and wary. More and more the elf was finding life to be tiring. He was finding it harder and harder to keep the anger and self set loathing at bay. He had used drink and herbs for so long, too long to numb the feelings. Eir'helm had tried for too long to hide from the simple fact that he was a coward, but it always took more to keep the guilt down.

There came an end. There had been a night when he had heard the rumor of home, of the trials end, a fallen house and family burned alive. He had sat on the waters edge, wondering just what it would feel like to have water flood his lungs. It had been the night that the bard killed the drink for the first time. He didn't take another sip to take the pain away. He didn't go looking for a bed to share.

Eir'helm chose to go and try to become more. He had walked the empire, and was now surrounded my so much music, but though he walked he didn't know the way. It was only when he caught sight of a man who played strings, and as the blade was being sharpened it provided a slight added interest. If this was a song mage, it was one playing with armaments he wasn't used to.

"Serale..." Came a quiet voice, "I was hoping you might guide me to the bardic school, and perhaps an inexpensive inn as well?"

[K'trenn Vampyler]

When the elf mentioned the bardic school the man snorted, "I could show you to the bardic school but there's no use in going there, they charge such a ridiculous rate. Eight hundred crowns. Can you believe it?" He laughed, and than continued his reply, "If you're looking for some instruction in the bardic arts though...." The man paused for a few moments, thinking, "That could possible be arranged cheaply, say, three hundred crowns. If you couldn't pay that, you could always pay by helping me with a little task I have to do...."

The man looked up at him, "Hrm?"

[Eir'helm Mithania]

He didn't know this man. The elf didn't know this human at all, and from the start talking to a human, a male human was distasteful. Learning from one, well, maybe. It didn't sound right, didn't seem to fit into any natural, or even unnatural order. Learning from a human, that wasn't likely going to happen any time soon.

Still, he didn't have gold enough to afford the fee the human mentioned. Assuming that it was telling the truth, it was by far out of Eir'helms range. In truth, anything more then five crowns was well outside of his price range. There didn't seem much choice if what the human said was true. He just had a few simple questions, and one important note.

"Well, I'm interested, but I'm an apprentice now, so I assume you are, or know a master or two. I'm also not aware of all the songs customary for someone of my rank, and I'd like to correct that. Don't have the funds to pay you, but I'm interested in this little task you need doing, that and..."

How did he say that humans were distasteful without hurting the poor little man's feelings. How could he? Well, what did it matter in the end?

"I'm interested..." He didn't know the human's name and hinted that he might introduce himself, but made a special request. "but I don't suppose you know any elven or half elven bards?"

[K'trenn Vampyler]

The mage picked up his guitar and played a few chords, and the sound was quite amazing. It was obvious he was quite skilled with his instrument, but to anyone's surprise who watched his face, he frowned. He spent a few moments tuning the instrument, and played the same chords again. Anyone who knew music well enough would notice a slight change it how it was played, but only minor and if they knew very well. "The task itself is just helping me with something, nothing overly major. A minor task to help repay what is a lifetime's worth of income, power, and ability."

He put the guitar in a leather case and slung it up on his shoulder, standing up, "I can talk to you about it, but I'm planning on going back in. It's winter so it's not the best weather for me out here, I was planning on going back to my house to get something to eat and drink, you said your were in need of an inn. While I trained you, you could sleep there."


The Human smiled, but it wasn't warm or welcoming. It was an odd smile, almost twisted. "No, I couldn't say that I would know any elven or half elven bards. Though, I do know some elven mages with which I hang out with quite frequent, and depending upon your level they might be helping with your promotion. If you would prefer paying eight hundred crowns, you could always go six blocks up, four to the right, and look for the school on that block, it is quite obvious."

He turned and began to walk towards his house, "Coming?"

[Eir'helm Mithania]

Well, he didn't have the funds to afford to study in this school that the human was talking about. There was no way he could manage that, let alone be sure he could actually rent a room for a cycle. The elf saw no real option but follow along. Eir'helm could join the human or just stand there in the streets watching the people going by. That was the only choice he had, learn and deal with the human or simply remain as he was, limited.

Sighing to himself Eir'helm followed along. He was curious about this job, hoped things would turn out. He hoped it wasn't something extraordinary but had little choice in the matter. He had been promised an education, a residence and a hot meal.

Without saying a word Eir'helm followed along his new teacher.

[K'trenn Vampyler]

The bard was quiet as the two walked through the streets, and for awhile they did walk. Through many dark and twisted allies, where one might be mugged or even killed, but if he had wanted to do that he could have seven allies ago. After fifteen minutes of walking through the twisted path, they finally came to the bard's home. It wasn't much, as he opened the door, the inside told a different story. A large, spacious, and clean living room was what they walked into.

Walking over towards the seating area, the bard sat in one of the two cushoined chairs by the fire, and waved his new apprentice to sit in the other. "I like this place, overall the area is rundown and poor, so there are few burglaries, no one thinks there's anything of value to steal." He looked over to the fledgling bard, "Tell me a bit about yourself, most importantly, what all are the instruments that you know, and what level of training are you looking to complete?"

[Eir'helm Mithania]

Not saying a word the elf followed along, his fingers solidly holding his staff in one hand and his drum in the other incase it was needed quickly for an arcane retreat. That option wasn't yet called for though as he made his way in the other man's wake with a mix of fear and curiosity, but at last they had managed to make it to what must have been the human's home. It was larger then he had expected. Eir'helm had half expected the human to live in a pile of filth, but that didn't seen the case, not that it could compare to his living childhood home. So it was that the young apprentice wasn't quite impressed.

"Nice." Was the only thing he said as he took the place in. It was likely that he could survive the city, and having a human teacher, but there wasn't a great deal of excitement as Eir'helm looked about. Only looking to his teacher did he at last follow, taking a seat as well, for it was time to cut to the chase.

"I was born and raised in Silrosia, and I received most of my training form a master there. I have spent some time traveling the empire, studying the variations of the few songs I currently know, learning a few stories, and I ended up here. As I mentioned though I'm currently an apprentice and looking to be an adept, and hope to join the rank of masters in the future. I'm curious though, what task do you need done?"

[K'trenn Vampyler]

As his apprentice spoke the master reached below his chair and pulled out a small box. It was a rather non-descript box, about five inches high, seven wide, and four thick, but when he opened it an unmistakable smell came out, that of extremely strong leaf. He nodded his heald, making a few sounds while appropriate, but it would seem that most of his attention was focused at the task in hand, breaking up the leaf and putting it on a small and rather thin sheet of paper. By the time his new student was done speaking, he was done rolling. "Silrosia's a wonderful area, not as known as Zinn for it's music, though I would say there's more talent there. Many people who've been playing longer than any of my race could every live." Putting fire to his new creation, he took a long inhale, "Time to wait. Would you care to indulge? Some of my associates will be coming over here soon, and it will make much more sense what you have to do than. More or less, it's a bit hard to explain by myself, my companions will probably give a much better explanation of the circumstances than I." The sweet smell of leaf was filling the room, it' s intoxicating smoke sending tendrals of teasing to the elf's nose, and man, did it smell strong.

[Eir'helm Mithania]

The young elf knew herbs. He knew more about the dozens of different types of concoctions and how they could affect the mind then he expected the human ever would. Eir'helm has tasted prismquest, leaf, qaifa and so much more, and while he had enjoyed these many drugs this was not the time. He was in a stranger’s house, in a new city, and they were expecting guests. This was not the time to be, impaired!

It wasn't easy fighting smoke though. It had such a sweet, comfortable smell, but he did. Softly, with the lightest of blows of fingers against hide, the healers hymn was played. Eir'helm played the song for himself; he played it quietly, far outside the normal range of human hearing; especially when the human was a few paces away. The elf played, more feeling the vibrations reaching though his fingers, through blood and bone, then reaching his pointed ears. The healers hymn was played with one hand, helping the body fight the smoke. Eir'helm breathed in some of the smoke, but the song helped the body recover before the effects were fully felt.

"No, thank you. Such indulgences have caused me troubles in past. I try to do without. Thank you. Tell me though, before your friends come, I am lacking many of the more aggressive songs that my peers know, I would like to learn them, hopefully without suffering their use at your hands master."

[K'trenn Vampyler]

Time past realatively quietly as the master smoked his leaf cigarette, nothing much happened except him getting happier. After an hour or so there was a knock at the door, and he stood up. Picking up his sword he walked over to the door. After sliding open a small portal in the door, he saw who was outside and the grip on his sword loosened. Seconds later a vysstichi woman and a human were inside the room. Pointing to the elf with his sword he laughed, "Knew student, he's going to be helping us with our task, but first we need to promote him."

The vysstichi looked at him and was about to say something, "Don't worry, I know how you feel but we could use some extra help, and there's enough times for me to teach him the new songs, and you know an adept would be handy to bring along." The master got his guitar and the other two went to the elf's sides. They began their work and the bard was soon unconscious as a wall within himself was brought down, bringing him to a new level of power, and letting him have access to even more majestic and powerful songs.

Hours had passed when Eir'helm awoke, and he felt strange, body and mind still adjusting to his knew level of power. The two people had vacated the premisis, and the master sat there tuning his guitar, "I'm going to be teaching you soon. Was wondering how well you know how to throw that blade of yours around?"

[Eir'helm Mithania]

Time passed, and quietly the young man played out his song, and though his eyes drifted closed from time to time with his own weary body and the passing effect of too much smoke, he was awake for their guests. Lifting one eye to watch the human make his way to the door, the elf sighed inside. He didn't even know this one and already he was wearing on Eir'helm's restless, hungered patience; not that he made it evident. Instead, the youth sat up, and then raised himself from his seat, see just what all the fuss was about.

What they were waiting for however seemed to be another human, and making the company only slightly more interesting an elven woman. Yes, she was a vysstichi, but with a slight smile there was the fact that she was better then a human. That was the smallest comfort, at least he wouldn't be stuck dealing with a bunch of humans who never would have any real perspective on the world. one elf, two humans, they were nearly a half elf in all, if one played with the math enough.

It was the three of them who then circled the elf, magic furthering him, unbinding him. It was only a matter of time before the mind gave way under the pressure of the new magic. Eir'helm passed out.

It was only after some hours that he woke. Eir'helm woke, his eyes sprung forward, and not only was he alive, but it was only him and the human. Fine, he could manage that, but with an unsure look he looked side to side, and back to his staff. With a torn look he said simply.

"It's a staff, not a sword... but, could you maybe teach me the more offensive songs? like that thing that some masters do, impart, or parting...." Pondering for a moment, before trying to climb to his feet there was another question. "What’s with this task you’re doing anyways? What do you want from me?"

[Z'kron]

OOC: Taking over as peer mod.
IC: The voice of the master cracked out at Eir'helm, sounding far too loud. Perhaps it was the unbinding, perhaps it was simple tiredness, but the noise level in the room seemed unbearable. Even the slightest scuffle of a boot across the floor felt like iron nails drawn over blackboards.
"An offensive song, hmm? And what would you want that for? Skewer some random with pretty notes? I suppose I could teach you something along those lines. Racheting up and down the scale until eardrums burst and nerves jangle like a coin-covered katta skin in the wind."
The man watched the elf closely, his tongue darting over his lips in a hungry fashion. He seemed nervous, strumming his instrument as he spoke. It was almost like a crutch.
"But lets see how the art went. We've broken a few more bindings on you. About time we gave you a bit of a test run. Hmm?"
Moments later, the Vysttichi woman was standing next to Eirhelm, a wooden bowl of what appeared to be water in her hands. She had a smile on her face that seemed genuinely friendly, and a deep voice that was unusual in a woman so petite.
"Drink. It'll clear your mind. We can discuss the task later."

[Eir'helm Mithania]

Bothered, agitated and annoyed, they were all terms that could be used to explain the young man's current mentality. He disliked humans, and as a rule the voice of one, lacking any grace, sounded like some screeching animals. It was with a sigh that Eir'helm stood there, rubbing his temples and trying to fight the overwhelming need to tell the human to go fall on his own sword.

He didn't. No, Eir'helm stood there trying to follow just what the human was saying, trying to keep control. All he did for the moment was stand there, stand and nod.

It was only when the dark elven woman seemed to appear again, with a bowl in her hands that the Silrosian let himself have a small smile. The company improved, slightly, and Eir'helm let himself explain his interest.

"The Scales of Dissonance, Bryn's Brillante, Dolcissi Discorsa and others. There are songs I have heard of that can bend space and time more then just make ears bleed. I have gaps in my education as I was on a pacifist path, but like you with your sword I have realized a need for other abilities. Give me these?"

The bowl? It looked like water, but the elf knew well enough of the human's habits. He had seen the man consume a mass of leaf; more then could be easily justified. Leaf was supposed to be savored, but the short lived man had consumed it to extremes. He expected little more from the vysstichi, though there was something curious about the woman. She was small, but seemingly no child. She had a voice that was deeper then he had expected, and things didn't seem quite right in the lady elf.

She didn't seem like vysstichi he had known as a boy. She was too small, still, his fingers traced the border of her smile and the lightborn dared to try a steal a kiss to the mouth's edge.

There was no water, just that, and the second set of fingers set to play the healers hymn, to recover from the sensitivity of his promotion. He tried to give her a little kiss in thanks for the offer before retaking his seat.