Just Don't Get Caught

[Balthazar Black]

43 Ashan 720

Where is that bard? Balthazar thought to himself as he arrived at the Temple of Delroth. It wasn't any larger than a poor man's garden shed but it was the most intricately decorated garden shed Balthazar had ever seen. There were people moving about- some probably priests and others probably worshipers, but they were all dressed in their best clothing. Balthazar was not and as he approached the shrine he couldn't help but notice people giving him second glances... disgusted glances. Screw them. He'd blow their damn garden shed over if they wanted to look at him like that. He'd trash the whole thing and show them to mind their own Immortal-damn business. His fists clenched and sparks began to arc off of his arms. His hair rose a little as the static in the air rose and then a few trills later it all stopped. Balthazar took a deep breath and reminded himself he was an Element now... he couldn't go around beating up priests unless he could make a convincing arguments they were cultists and their religion was harmful. He'd learned the hard way about that second specification.

Balthazar had attuned to Devin a few trials ago and while he shut himself off from the bard's frequency at the end of the trial, it was still there in Balthazar's spark- imprinted forever. Then a trial ago he'd remembered his promise to the bard so he got the trial off and decided to find exactly where the wannabe-winged was hiding. The Temple of Delroth. From their conversation he had assumed that would be the right place to go but all the same he'd relied on his magic to find Devin. He didn't know what he expected. Dousing was never so specific and surely everyone at the shrine had been affected by the bard in some way as to draw Balthazar here. Balthazar approached one of the priests outside the "Temple." "I'm looking for Devin. He said he was one of the priests here."

Balthazar had a fun idea of how they might be able to spend their night because frankly... he'd grown tired of doing it alone.

[Kalortah]

Kalortah stood in front of a full length mirror, on the fourth story of his tower. This was what he dubbed, the Room of Reflection. Which was essentially a room full to the ceiling of mirrors. A place for Kalortah to reflect on the many angles of his glorious self. It was also a good place to practice his expressions, and try to brush up occasionally on his acting skills. He found the skills of pretending to be someone else often helped build his confidence, and not only that, but helped him to take a side he might not necessarily agree with, but needed to form an accord in order to get in the other party's good graces.

But none of those purposes brought Kalortah to the Room of Reflection that day. Here, he was to tear down his identity again. He'd acquired, by some brush of luck, yet another transformation gem. He had quite the collection now, perhaps more than any other Avriel at the count of three. He certainly had more than any avriel he knew. And he didn't even worship Syroa!

Nevertheless, he was set in front of the mirror, concentrating while letting the droplet of blood seep into the surface of that beautiful gem. He had two disguises as it stood. One dark-haired, thin, and on the short side. The other slightly taller, thinner, and red-haired. Now Kalortah had in mind to make himself someone that Devin might envy, in total. Someone just a fraction of an inch taller than Devin, willowy in build, with fair, golden hair and light bronze skin.

He'd already made up the name he wished to assume. Alsing Van-Der-Ley. Alsing would go to the Temple of Delroth, dressed in a gossamer shirt and leather pants and boots. The shirt was thin and sheer, so as to show off the crimson Tarouz tattoos on his shoulders, for all to see. Nobody could dispute he was a priest of Delroth, should he claim as much. But as it was, Devin would see through that, having never seen Alsing at the shrine. Kalortah had respect for his rival, as much as he despised him. He was formidable. His vanity wouldn't settle for a rival that was any less than Devin. So it was.

He wore a beautiful amulet around his neck, conspicuous and grand in its brilliance. It was of platinum metal, masterwork, with two large topaz divided by an intricately carved groove. The two gems complimented the form Kalortah had crafted, where one eye was pink, the other baby blue. The gems were of the same color, only inverted, so as to compliment them with their asymmetry. The amulet hung from a chain of the same platinum, several chains, all of which were polished to brilliance.

On his hip, he wore a simple dagger, a token weapon just in case violence broke out. He didn't anticipate things would get that belligerent, but it never hurt to go prepared!

So, having acquired his new disguise, he hid his transformation gem in a hiding space, separate from the others. Then he climbed down the stairs from the Room of Reflection and made his way over toward the shrine.



Once there, he marveled at the treasures that Devin had collected in the name of Delroth. Doubtless, the Calamity was proud of his priest, and his acquisitions. But Alsing would teach him that he was more worthy! He was always seeking ways to improve himself, without the crutch of gaudy trinkets and baubles! True beauty and value radiated from what a person was, not just what they owned! He would expose Devin for the corrupt and treacherous fiend he was!

Alsing was interrupted from his reverie, by a question from a nearby man, He turned, to see the familiar face of the man who was there when he met Devin. At first Alsing's paranoia kicked in. Was this man in league with Devin? Was he onto Alsing and Kalortah!?

He cleared his throat, and answered the question with a small smile and shake of his head, "Oh, I'm not sure where Priest Devin is... I'm a pilgrim. I just arrived in town, and when I heard there was a temple to the Winged Calamity, I jumped at the chance to seek it out!"

[Devin]

There were quite a number of people standing in front of the shrine (because that was what it was, a shrine and not a temple which was a bigger kind of building) when Balthazar arrived. They were all dressed in their best clothes and had taken a lot of care of their appearance, as followers of Delroth should, and they were talking about the mass they had just attended quite animatedly. When the white-haired and golden-eyed Defier stepped into their midst, they stopped talking abruptly and looked at him instead though.

It was true that some of them seemed to be disgusted, some of them also seemed to be strangely intrigued though. Why, a young woman with long golden hair and big brown eyes even offered to give him a makeover and go clothes shopping with him and gave him a lot of suggestive looks, as if there were a few other things that she wanted to do with him as well.

While people were either disgusted with Balthazar’s appearance or wanted to give him a makeover, for the most part, they just stared at Alsing with desire, awe or envy because he was such a good-looking man. Some also admired his clothes or his amulet instead though and were without a doubt wondering how they could get their hands on it. They were greedy followers of Delroth after all. Some of them probably didn’t have a problem with stealing!

There were quite a number of people standing there, but the most important person was nowhere to be seen. The music that could be heard from inside the shrine might give Balthazar and Devin a hint though. Some was playing the lute. It was a beautiful song, with relatively complex harmonies. Devin was playing the lute. He always played the lute when the congregation left the shrine, not for them, but for Delroth. He had even composed a song for him because Delroth should have a song about him in his opinion.

The song lasted for another bit or two, and a few moments later, Devin finally stepped through the door, a huge smile on his face. He wore an incredibly luxurious golden silk robe over his normal clothes (that were quite luxurious as well, of course). The sleeves of the robe were rolled up to his elbows so that the Blessing of Delroth was visible because something like that shouldn’t be covered!

Devin was about to converse with a few members of the congregation when he spotted Balthazar and immediately walked up to the mage, a spring in his step. “Balthazar!” he exclaimed, smiling even more than before because he was so excited to see him. He wasn’t mad at all because the other man had pranked him back in Beacon; on the contrary, he was in awe of his great skill. Balthazar was such a talented prankster, and what more, he was hot and electric!

“What brings you here? Have you finally decided to take me up on my offer and attend one of my masses? This one just ended, but there’ll be another one tomorrow! Who’s your new friend, by the way?” he asked and looked at Alsing with unmistakable curiosity, his violet eyes wide. The man was incredibly handsome, and what more, he was a fellow Tarouz!

How great was that?

It had been a while since he had met another Tarouz besides that stupid feather-face!

“I’m Devin! I’m the priest of this shrine and what more, I’m also a doctor!” he told him in an almost overly enthusiastic tone as he continued to look at him with utter fascination before he abruptly extended a hand for the other man to shake. “And who are you?”

[Balthazar Black]

43 Ashan 720

Not a priest. Balthazar chastised himself in his head as the man with the golden hair explained who he was. Balthazar was fooled entirely by the transformation, not looking passed it in any way because he wasn't looking for Kal, he was looking for Devin. Though as the man spoke and Balthazar listened he couldn't help but think that this 'Alsing' looked quite a bit like Devin, maybe a little taller and with a little sharper a jaw. More attractive? Balthazar couldn't tell to be honest. The man spoke of the Winged Calamity but Balthazar didn't know or care what that was. He was here for the bard from Beacon. "Sorry, enjoy your Calamity." And Balthazar heard the music beginning. What was that? A Lute? No. Yes. A Windilly? No! It was a lute for sure.

Balthazar turned towards the sound but he didn't move from the golden haired individual he had been speaking too. He didn't think he was going to have to. A bit later his suspicion was confirmed when Devin emerged from the shrine wearing a golden robe of silk. Balthazar locked eyes with the bard as he came out of the shrine and as if the bard had been reading the mage's intent, he strode across the gap towards Balthazar. Devin spoke quickly as he always did and Balthazar grinned. This will be fun. "I'm not sure, I just met him. He likes birds I think." Balthazar said. That was what the Winged Calamity was right? Birds? Balthazar wasn't too sure and it came out in his tone but he turned the conversation back to why he'd come to Delroth's center of worship. "I'm not here for a mass, but I was thinking we could go for drinks around town as an apology for the closet incident." Balthazar didn't sound like he was asking a question so much as stating what he wanted to do.

But Devin had turned to the golden boy and sought an introduction, so Balthazar watched and listened. It couldn't hurt to meet new people.

[Kalortah]

"Sorry, enjoy your Calamity." Said the sullen soldier. Alsing's eyebrows lifted fractionally as he turned around toward the sound of music, without moving. Then his mouth twisted into a wry frown as he heard what could only be Devin's lute. Yet for all that Kalortah's personality wanted to come out in Alsing, he only allowed himself that momentary lapse before reverting back into his assumed character of Alsing.

He let the two have their reunion, before answering to Devin's introduction. He gently extended his hand to shake the hand of the 'doctor' and 'priest'. Alsing imagined a friend he had in Athart, and it made him smile. Enough to convince Devin that nothing was wrong? Perhaps.

"I'm Alsing Van-Der-Ley. One of the more well-travelled pilgrims among the eastern and western continents. I've been about everywhere, you know?" He let go of Devin's hand, and checked his fingernails, as if for dirt. Then he blew on them and smiled again at the two. "This is a very fine Shrine. These treasures must please our Patron very greatly. Personally, I take the approach to Vanity in a more personal way, always improving myself. But treasures are always great to pursue and have."

So saying, his hand drifted to the platinum amulet around his neck, hanging against his chest.

When Balthazar mentioned drinks, Alsing perked up. And then the mention of a mysterious closet incident. Oh, Alsing really needed to know what that was about! He was determined now!

"May I join you two for drinks then? I'd love to learn my way around the town more, having only just arrived from Korlasir." Alsing kept his eyes trained on Devin as he spoke, trying to gauge his reactions and overall demeanor. Did Devin know who he was yet? Kalortah wasn't the greatest actor by any stretch, just a novice in fact, but he liked to think he had a natural talent.

"I'd like to sample the local brews, I really enjoy honeyed ale."

[Devin]

“I like birds as well!” Devin proclaimed and smiled brightly at Alsing, revealing a mouth full of perfect, white teeth, before he shook his hand, a little bit too enthusiastically maybe. Having done that, he turned to face Balthazar again. “Don’t worry about the closet incident”, he told the mage. “It was pretty funny, everything considered! I’d love to go drinking with you regardless though. I love alcohol! You can come with us if you want to, by the way”, he told the golden-haired stranger. He was really excited about the prospect of getting drunk with a fellow Tarouz. He had never gotten drunk with a fellow Tarouz before – especially such a good-looking fellow Tarouz! He hadn’t known that somebody like that existed in Scalvoris!

He had thought that feather-face was the only other Tarouz in Scalvoris Town!

“I’ve been to a lot of places as well!” he informed Alsing in an attempt to impress him. “Just last cycle, I was in Desnind for example. I’ve also been to Viden and Rynmere though. Rynmere kind of sucks at the moment though because there was a plague and a lot of people died”, he remarked, frowning momentarily before he smiled even more than before because he absolutely refused to be sad right now even though thinking of the place where he had lived once upon a time still hurt after all those seasons.

“Thank you!” he replied in a genuinely happy and grateful tone of voice as Alsing complimented his shrine. “I hope that it pleases Delroth. He told me to restore the shrine when he blessed me. As for Vanity, I aim to embody all of the domains of our patron to some extent. I actually have some background in cosmetology. I don’t have such a nice amulet though”, he admitted and glanced at Alsing’s jewelry for a moment, sighing longingly. If he had known who he was facing, he wouldn’t have complimented the amulet, of course.

He wouldn’t have complimented anything about Alsing – and he definitely wouldn’t have smiled at him like that!

“We can show you the area – and the best taverns in town, right, Balthazar?” he asked the electric mage before he abruptly – took his robe off. Fortunately, he was fully dressed underneath it, in a fancy black and golden ensemble, so that nothing embarrassing and awkward happened. “I don’t think that a robe is the right piece of clothing to get drunk in”, he explained. “It’s so long that you can trip over it if you aren’t careful. Anyway”, he continued, once he had put the robe into his shrine and locked the door so that nobody would be able to steal his treasures while he was gone.

“Where shall we go first, Balthazar? Do you already have a plan?”

[Balthazar Black]

43 Ashan 720

Alsing introduced himself to Devin with tales of the many places he'd been and Balthazar listened. Well... he waited. He was coming to discover he didn't quite care for all this Delroth stuff. It looked nice and all but when two grown men entered a duel of words about who expressed their vanity better Balthazar generally left. It was how he kept from hitting people. Alsing seemed alright though and he was decent enough looking that Balthazar figured people would leave him alone to talk to the finely crafted individual. Devin seemed to leap at the man's request and Balthazar said nothing in protest because his plans were not as intricate or elaborate as one might imagine. Yet when Devin began to compare his map to Alsing's, Balthazar waited again. He heard the words and recalled a few things but for the most part his mind was set on the drinking to come. He'd just come here to round up others to do it with him.

Devin suddenly disrobed and Balthazar watched him passively as he put away the robe and locked the door to his shrine. He understood Devin's logic but he'd never really tested that theory. He'd worn a dress once as part of a disguise to get into a building but he was mostly sober then and it had been... alright. All the same, the glorious time came. Devin asked what Balthazar had planned and his eyes lit up a little. His face twisted in thought for a moment and then he offered a slight shrug.

"I was honestly just thinking we'd start on one end of town and get a drink anywhere that sells them from that point to the other end of town. Though you both like Delroth, does he do drinking or is that another one? Any suggestions?"

[Kalortah]

"Yes, birds are amazing. I have my familiar somewhere around here with me... Hold one, let me call him!" Alsing summoned his familiar, a primarily blue-feathered owl with grey and pinkish ruff mixed into its feathers. It was, in Alsing's opinion, a far more beautiful bird than any other owl he'd so far met.

There were the Three Wisdoms, one of which was roasted and eaten by his grandfather, but they were more impressive for their stature and ability than their beauty and coloration.

The owl swiftly descended upon Alsing's shoulder with its back to Devin and Balthazar, and there he perched. It turning its head one hundred and eighty degrees to look at Balthazar and Devin, before blinking its ice-blue eyes twice. Master, do you think it's wise to carouse with your rival and his friend? The bird made its concerns known telepathically to Alsing. But Alsing shook his head with a smile at Devin.

Don't worry, Glorius. I've already found several leads on Devin, that I might be able to use against him! Imagine what I can discover once he's fully drunk and falling off his chair! Alsing sent back his thoughts to the Owl, at which the creature sent back a signal that was the equivalent of rolling his eyes. Very well.

"Oh!? I lived in Desnind. It was one of the first places I found on my pilgrimage! I even learned to sing..." Alsing instantly regretted it when he said it. Kalortah had mentioned spending his hunting arcs in Desnind while in the Council House in Almund. While it wasn't a sure thing that Devin would draw the lines connecting the two statements, it was a risk. Again Glorius rolled his eyes mentally toward Alsing.

"Have you ever seen the stonework of the eastern ruins? The reliefs on display there were quite beautiful, there are even carvings of birds that seem to hint that they have some significance toward our Patron Delroth!" Alsing remembered those ventures into the ruins fo civilizations long past fondly. Then he came back to the present moment.

"I've never been to Viden and Rynmere..." Alsing pouted at Devin in envy. "But I have been to Yaralon. The temples there and their stonework and treasures put every other Temple and holy site in the world (that I've seen) to absolute shame. The rest of Yaralon is unremarkable though, very muddy and unclean." Alsing tapped his chin, trying to remember other places he'd been, "I've also visited Athart, but when they found out that I was a Tarouz, they chased me off! Avriel of Athart don't like Delroth, you know..."

A rather insistent and aggressive eye-roll from Glorius informed Alsing of his own lack of discretion. He only realized moments later that he was handing Devin information that he could use against Kalortah! Glorius! Why didn't you interrupt me!

One final eyeroll the owl flapped its wings against Alsing's face. Like that?

Alsing internally grumbled, but outside he was beaming. The Tarouz he was posing as was overjoyed to meet another, and couldn't keep his mouth shut.

"You ought to see the Temple of Delroth in Yaralon... I've never been inside, only his greatest are allowed inside. Those with the gift of flight. It's beyond the reach of anyone else." Alsing sighed wistfully. Of course, Kalortah was making tall tales. There was no Temple of Delroth that he was aware of in Yaralon. Much less one floating in the air or inaccessible to those on the ground. It's not as if a weakling and thin-blood like Devin would be able to survive a trial in Yaralon. Someone would see the sword on his hip and challenge him to a duel. Perhaps it was worth urging him to go there, just to be rid of the horrid and debauched Councilor!

"Anyway, yes, I'd love to see the best areas and taverns in town, will you two show me?" Responding to Balthazar's suggestion, Alsing nodded fervently, "Yes, that sounds like one way of getting it done! Let's start the bar crawl!"

[Devin]

“Oh!“ Devin exclaimed and smiled all over his face as Alsing told him that he would call his familiar. The owl that landed on the other man’s shoulder was truly beautiful, with blue feathers with hints of grey and pink. “He’s amazing! Does he talk to you in your head as well?” he wanted to know, his eyes wide with fascination, before he continued, “I have a familiar as well! Look!” With that, he summoned his own familiar that was a big parrot. Devin’s familiar had mostly bright red feathers, with hints of yellow, blue and green, and he croaked quite loudly when he landed on the young Mortalborn’s shoulder.

“He communicates with me telepathically, but he can also talk normally! Do you want to hear it? I have a crow and a flunny as well though! They are at home at the moment. If you want to, I can show them to you sometime!” he offered in an excited tone. Alsing, he decided, was great. He wasn’t hot and electric, and he probably couldn’t do magic, like Balthazar, but he was still pretty fascinating, and he couldn’t wait to get to know him better. He had even lived in Desnind, just like him. That was awesome!

“I worked in the Medicine House”, he told Alsing enthusiastically. “I taught the Sev’ryn more about Northern Medicine – that’s what they call normal medicine over there. And I have seen the ruins! They were amazing! I even went treasure hunting in the jungle. Some of the decorations in my shrine are actually from the treasure that I found. My treasure hunt was incredibly dangerous!” he told Alsing in an attempt to impress him, talking incredibly quickly, as always when he was excited about something. “One night, a Kudi’Eltu even crawled into my tent and tried to do things to me!”

“Why don’t the Avriel in Athart like Delroth though?” he asked a moment later, frowning. “That doesn’t make any sense. He’s the Immortal of Birds!” he pointed out.

“I’m kind of curious about that temple”, he admitted. “I’m not sure if I like muddy and unclean places though”, he continued, frowning some more, before he beamed at the incredibly fascinating and handsome human again. They had so much in common!

He did of course still not have any idea that he was currently facing his rival. If he had had even the slightest suspicion that the man that he was admiring was Kalortah in disguise, he would probably have gotten sick.

“Uhhh”, he murmured as he heard Balthazar’s question, momentarily looking a little confused. “I think that’s actually Ilaren. She’s the Immortal of Alcohol. Delroth doesn’t have a problem with drinking either though, I think, so let’s get drunk now!” he decided. “There’s a tavern not far from my shrine. Let’s go!” he told them, took Balthazar’s left arm because he had forgotten what happened when you touched him again and attempted to take Alsing’s right arm in order to lead them to the place where they would start their bar crawl.

He was really looking forward to it!

[Balthazar Black]

43 Ashan 720

In the trill that Alsing summoned his companion, he immediately became far more interesting to Balthazar. The consequence of that being that now Balthazar sought to attune to him. Now he wanted to know the many things he hadn't cared about trills before. Even in the darkest trials where Balthazar's heart could find little motivation beyond the drink, he found anything somewhat magical interesting enough to investigate. An owl appearing suddenly- let alone such a beautiful one, definitely got Balthazar's attention. Maybe having Alsing along wouldn't be so bad after all. It would take about a bit to fully attune to Alsing, but once he had the real test would begin. He'd try to attune with the owl as well. Balthazar was more concerned with cementing both attunements than really searching for notes which would take more time and he could do once the journey had begun.

Alsing and Devin kept comparing maps but now Balthazar had something to really listen to and it was not their words. His eyes seemed fixed on the owl as he tried to sift through it's frequency to see if he had any similar notes- not that Balthazar expected to have the same frequency as an owl, but he was curious. then he became distracted when he heard mention of Yaralon. Balthazar's head turned towards Alsing and his eyes narrowed. Did he just trash talk your city? It's not your city, you just lived there for a few arcs. Yeah, but you also got marked as a citizen. He's trash talking your city. But is he wrong? No, it really was mostly mud. But also fractures.
"As I remember, Bastard's Grove and the fractures around the city provided more than enough to look at." Then again the bloodwater was an aesthetic choice only Balthazar might have really be able to enjoy.

Alsing mentioned Delroth's Temple in Yaralon and Balthazar's face twisted slightly. He didn't recall any temple floating over Yaralon in the arcs he'd lived there. That was when it came to him, Alsing was lying. Why was he lying? What was he trying to hide? Balthazar looked to Alsing's frequency, sifting for the note he knew well- deception. How loud would that note sing in him? The man who's whole being was a lie.

It was clear that a lie had been told but Balthazar had no way of knowing the depth of this deceit. He didn't know the purpose behind it because this was not a case, this was just a casual interaction. Balthazar had approached the pilgrim who he now knew to be a liar... but weren't they all liars to some degree? Perhaps Alsing just wanted to make Devin feel inferior... which Balthazar wasn't sure he was okay with. All the same he didn't call Alsing out openly. Instead he wanted to see where this went. Balthazar was a cynic and now he believed he was being lied to. He was also self-centered to a degree but that was something that came and went with the hardships of his life. Isabella had hurt him too recently though and so he felt that all lies were lies meant to hurt him. Was Alsing an assassin trying to infiltrate this group?

Let him take his best shot... You've dealt with assassins before. Yeah and they stabbed you a lot. But you lived. Balthazar's mind fluttered with it's own private debate while the group began to move onward.

Devin presented a familiar as well though Balthazar had to admit he was more fond of the owl than Devin's familiar and because it was a trick Balthazar had just seen Alsing perform he didn't see a need to attune to Devin. One had to imagine he would hear similar notes if he wasted that time. Devin seemed enamored with Alsing to a degree and so Balthazar let their discussion go undisturbed while he analyzed the pilgrim. But then things turned back to Balthazar and Devin corrected Balthazar's inaccurate assessment of the Immortals. Balthazar was from Yaralon, he thought he knew Ilaren's domain's well... but apparently he'd missed one. Everyone seemed to have agreed with his general plan. Good. Saved them having to come up with another.

Devin took Balthazar's arm and like most forgot that he'd be shocked. "Alright, off we go." Balthazar did not want to proceed into the night, shocking Devin and Alsing every time the two of them touched him. So he focused inward towards his own spark while they walked. Within his own frequency there was his soul. It was a good soul. It wanted to do good but it didn't always know how. It had three parasites latched onto it. A yogi, an undying flame, and a vainly curious spark. Balthazar knew which of the parasites made him so shocking to meet. He focused on his Defiance spark, taking a deep breath in and a deep breath out. To the others it would seem hardly like he was doing anything more than meditating, but meditation was only the first step of many. Whenever he used magic, clearing his mind was the first step. Then Balthazar began to attempt what he'd only learned recently, to soothe his spark. The physical change that washed over Balthazar would be noticeable to those with keen eyes. His hair seemed to lay a little flatter on his head and the glow that spread through his skin seemed to slowly diminish until it could hardly have been said to exist at all. But Balthazar did this slowly as they walked and would only have his Defiance spark soothed by the time they arrived at the first, surprisingly small tavern.