Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

The seven colors spectrum is the senses
Nourishes the need and desire
Like a prism, it passes through every heart
Leaving the lights of absolution
Windward and crystallize

from Over The Rainbow
by Sulaiman Mohd Yusof

As soon as Pash had heard about the strange phenomenon of rainbow skies for an entire trial and how locals celebrated the occasion, he knew he had to figure out a way to contribute. Dancing on the beach? Well, that seemed almost too simple for the Biqaj minstrel who had perhaps in some ways spent a better part of his life at some party or another, usually with music and dancing. This, this he could do. He’d walked the beaches around Scalvoris Town enough over the past season to have a few favorite spots, and so he picked one that seemed to receive a bit of foot traffic and was in full view of a building or two so that, as folks danced their way up and down the beach, his spot would just be a part of the natural flow of the crowd.

Saun was decidedly not the season for bonfires—it never got dark and it was far too hot—and so, in order to offer a bit of respite, the seafaring minstrel spent some of his own nel for canvas and support beams and a spare hand or two to set up a shady, open-sided shelter-like tent with plenty of room for a handful of folks to rest in. He bought two barrels and had them filled with fresh water over which he prayed for U’Frek to bless to those who drank it, for while he was sure there would somehow be plenty of drinking, the hot weather was dangerously hot already this early into the season and he’d rather keep people hydrated than endanger them further. A few blankets and pillows with a smattering of old shipwreck beams and driftwood for sitting on formed a natural boundary, and a little spot where he could sit and play some music were all put together in a hard , sweaty trial’s work the bright morning before, but not entirely alone.

The next morning, the day of the rainbow skies, was truly breathtaking. While Pash did not enjoy the unending daylight, missing the stars and the moons for the entire season very much like he missed the sun at all during Cylus, the amazing sky over Scalvoris almost reminded him of what U’Frek’s auroras must surely look like in the faraway places he hadn’t yet been.

For a heartbeat or two, he even missed home, wishing for family and friends he’d known for arcs to be able to participate in the celebration, to dance with familiar faces and play music alongside people he’d known forever. The twinge of homesickness was brief, for the tall Biqaj enjoyed his new friends and looked forward to making more this trial through music and dancing, and he also knew he’d visit Ne’Haer again eventually and his father would be there with a hammer, waiting.

Dressed only in his loose, dark linen pants that tied just below his knees, the rest of his tanned self left to further darken under the hot glare of the two suns, he may have been far too excited to loiter too long aboard his sloop, no matter how good the sea breeze felt out on the docks. Barefoot, sun kissed hair tied up high on his head in more of a messy bun than a ponytail because it was far too hot for anything to be hanging near one’s neck for long, Pash would tarry only for Kali’rial before he and his lute made their way to his little hand-built spot on the beach.

Along the walk there, the cold surf a refreshing contrast against the fiery heat of the sand, there were others who’d set up areas for dancing and other enjoyments, all along the beach around Scalvoris Town and beyond. Musicians were already playing and people were already dancing at dawn, the lack of darkness making such a time ambiguous and fluid. Opportunistic merchants had set up food stands and drink carts, and there were even some games and contests for dancers farther up the beach from Pash’s chosen, quieter spot. He was still very bent on playing music to dance by, but he wasn’t as interested in competition or profit so much as admiring the sky and having a good time.

Settling onto his chosen piece of driftwood for a seat, the tall Biqaj spent some time tuning his lute, praying to first Zanik over the trial, that his music and entertainment would please and honor him as well as please and entertain those who wandered by, and second to Cassion, that his little piece of shade would be a nice respite throughout the trial for those who were wandering the beaches, enjoying the sky and dancing their way through the trial.

He’d have to find an excuse to go for a walk himself, eventually—if he spent the whole trial playing, he wouldn’t have a chance of his own to dance under the rainbow skies this trial. And, clearly, the only way Kali’rial was going to dance is if he convinced her to do so. With him. Of course.

For now, however, once as comfortable as one could be under the heavy heat of Saun, he began to play his lute. His first tunes were light an airy, like a comforting breeze from the sea at his back, and the melody was certainly one that could be danced to. While Pash didn't really have expectations of attracting a crowd, he did hope to see some faces he knew as well as meet some new ones.

When Kali'rial had heard about the rainbow skies, it sounded like some sort of myth or legend, a beautiful fantasy day to kick off the season with a bang. She had been sceptical, how could anything so wonderful exist in the hellish fires of Sauns dual suns? Still stranger things had happened and so when Pash had suggested she come to the beach that morning, the young huntress followed with curiosity, stepping out of the hatch onto the deck of The Muse with a gasp.

Immortals it was beautiful.

Standing on the bow of the sloop, the Sev'ryn stared at the sky as it broke quite literally like a rainbow over the waters of Scalvoris, captured by its ethereal beauty. It was like stepping into another realm of being, almost otherworldly. Reluctantly tearing her eyes from, Kali dressed in the crocheted dress she'd already begun to favour for the hot weather and followed the bard off his boat, reaching up to pull her hair up away from her face and off her neck in a makeshift topknot. The sand underfoot was hot, causing her to move down and walk along the splashing waters edge to keep her feet from burning. As she walked, the huntress looked around the beach. It reminded her of Worlds End, only with much less rain and more children running around in the perpetual sunlight. Watching Pash make his way up to a makeshift pavilion he had set up the day before, the brunette frowned at the sand for a moment before turning to look at the sky over the water.

It was just too hot for something so beautiful.

On a whim, she threw off her dress to reveal a simple two piece woven hemp garment that allowed her to swim without destroying her modesty. Dropping the dress on the sand, Kali waded into the water with her hands brushing the waves as they crashed against her legs. Moving through the waves to where the water was up to her chin, the Sev'ryn lowered herself so that only her nose and eyes were above the surface, relishing in the cool relief it provided. At this angle, the multifaceted sky reflected off the crystalline water like glittering gemstones going on for miles and miles. It was breathtaking to behold, and the brunette made a mental note to drag the Biqaj out to see it later in the day.

Taking a deep breath, she slipped under the water to swim with slow strokes, being sure to stay where she could stop and stand easily enough. Whilst the huntress could swim, she was not confident enough to swim out in the deep. Not only was it possible she could be caught in a rail and dragged out to the wider ocean, there were also things in the depths, terrifying creatures that appeared on one hand to be drowning people but once you got close enough were in fact monsters luring you out for their dinner.

Turning on her back, Kali opened her eyes and looked at the sky through the film of the rippling waters above, her hair coming loose and floating around her like a dark veil. It was like drifting through the Emea in the midst of some wonderfully silent but visually loud dream. The brunette, flipped again and swam back to stand up and break the surface. Pushing her dripping hair out of her face and squeezing it out, the southerner walked through the surf feeling far less melty than she had before. Picking up her dress, the brunette pulled it on as she moved up the beach to the familiar and welcome sounds of Pash's lute, a crowd already drawn to his music and moving to the rhythm. As she walked, her periwinkle gaze picked up a familiar blond head dancing in the crowd.

Tio. It was always Tio. Memories she'd never forget danced around the edges of her mind, seeing the thief now always gave her mixed feelings.

Keeping to herself, the brunette walked past the dancers with no move to join them. She was not a dancer, at least not on her own. If there was dancing to be had, it would need to be with someone she knew. Preferably someone who played beautiful music and sailed his Muse across the seas. As she passed into the pavilion, feet already grateful for the cooler shaded sand underfoot, Kali noticed Mero enter and throw Pash a smile.

"Mero! What a wonderful surprise to see you here." Gesturing to the sky she shot the boy a wide genuine grin.

"Isn't it amazing? I thought when I heard about it the whole thing would be some sort of exaggeration but then...well just look at it." Turning around to look again at the sky, she sighed like a lovesick child. It truely was a sight to behold.

One of the wonderful things about the lute was just how well the instrument leant itself to improvisation. Not that there hadn't been great compositions written for the lute—Pash was very sure such things existed, but he had also come to understand that sort of music was not his style. Instead, under the rainbow skies, the seafaring minstrel simply played what came to his mind, a few bits at a time. The lute was not a loud instrument, but plucking it with his fingers instead of using a pick of some kind allowed for an agility that was uncommon in stringed instruments because of the way the strings were coursed.

The seafaring minstrel watched people wander past where the sea met the sand, many of them with their feet in the surf to cool off. His choice of chords had a dancing rhythm, the notes bold enough to move to but not overpoweringly so. What set him apart, of course, was simply his presence, though no one could put any specific words to the feeling as a small group of people began to gather, meeting his calm, content tide pool gaze and returning his welcoming smile. Pash was playing for them, after all, and as people danced and moved to the songs he pulled out of the rainbow air, he found himself a little homesick. It was unfortunate he couldn't share the amazing sight with his family, with cousins and friends back home in Ne'Haer. He thought of beach parties, of good times, though his thoughts seemed to make his music livelier, not sad. Happy memories of wild times only seemed to encourage the salty bard, and despite the oppressive heat and tickling rivulets of sweat that ran down his tanned, inked skin, he was truly enjoying himself and his music, if only because those who'd come to dance were enjoying themselves, too.

When Mero appeared, the winged boy a familiar and welcome sight, Pash flashed him a broad grin, his hands too occupied to wave. Once the boy found himself comfortable under the shelter, woman and her child came to join him, the woman pausing to pour herself a mug of water from the barrel near the shelter and give it to the little girl with her. The two smiled at Mero, the girl too young not to stare, but her grin wasn't afraid so much as curious from over the rim of her mug as she gulped down the cool water.

Pash continued to keep his attentions on those who’d begun to gather at his little spot on the beach as more people ebbed and flowed, watching how they moved to his music and roaming through their feelings curiously as he did so. Just as he settled into a comfortable new tune, someone with a lovely hand drum wove their way from the crowd. There wasn’t any need to ask permission, the salty bard just grinning and nodding and letting the younger man with curly hair jump on in. The two found their rhythm together quickly enough, the tall Biqaj all laughter and smiles. Out of the corner of his tide pool gaze, he caught a glimpse of Tio among the dancers—he had a keen sense of timing, that one.

It was nice to see familiar faces, comforting considering how much even this small gathering on the beach reminded him of home, which he took as a kindness from the Immortals.

Ah, no, the kindness was Kali’s appearance—had she been swimming without him? By Zanik’s allure, that was not fair—and the seafaring minstrel caught her look in his direction with a wink. She was distracting, as usual, and he did his best not to just stare at the dark-haired Sev’ryn wistfully, though it was a challenge. Perhaps in half a break, he'd give playing music a rest and find a moment or two to steal her away. She moved to keep Mero company; Pash knew she wouldn’t be dancing while he played. He recognized Enrick as well from Almund, and while the heat was oppressive, sweat glistening from every body in motion, the tall Biqaj was quite pleased with how things were coming together under the rainbow skies.

Pash and the drummer worked well together, and they quickly found music that seemed to really motivate the crowd. After a few bits, someone else with an instrument showed up with a friend: one with another smaller drum and another with a much larger version of the Egilrund harmonika that he’d bought to play with as well. The four of them took a few moments to settle into each other’s play styles, though of course this was all accomplished almost entirely without words or hand signs, considering all four of the musicians had their hands occupied in various ways.

So if the music hadn’t at all been for dancing before (and the people dancing there in Pash’s little space on the beach would have argued otherwise), it was certainly dancing music now, lively and robust with the drums and the glass wind instrument as moving accompaniments to the tall Biqaj’s lute. Because his instrument was not the loudest, however, he did not necessarily lead the melody so much as steer it, and because of his emotional and marked enthusiasm, the heat was perhaps more bearable simply because his music was all the more exciting compared to elsewhere on Scalvoris beach. A decent crowd had gathered on the hot, hot sand and a few other folks came to rest in the shade of the small pavilion, helping themselves to water or just taking a seat.

Kali didn't miss the wink from the Biqaj and she turned back, her smile turning slightly more suggestive as she looked at him waiting for Mero to answer. It wasn't entirely hard to pick the sun kissed man's train of thought, and it would be a lie if her own thoughts weren't aligned. Hopefully he could find time later to join her in the cold but refreshing waters of Scalvoris. Turning her face towards Enrick as she heard the familiar voice, the Sev'ryn shot him a welcoming grin.

"It's incredible, like some sort of dream." Reaching up to wrap her damp dark tresses back into a high bun, she nodded at the man.

"So you've lived here for a while then, Scalvoris I mean?" Looking around at the scene that was slowly unfolding, she chuckled and shook her head, before moving to serve herself a drink of water and smiling at the woman and her son.

"Not at all, you're more than welcome. Pash there, he's the one that set this up. Got a knack for bringing people together with a bit of good music and company." The brunette shot the busy bard another warm smile, as the seeds of his labour began to bare fruit. A drummer had joined the music, much to the delight of the small gathering around them. It was almost magical to hear the two musicians feed off each other to create something new and unique, but still rhythmic enough for everyone to enjoy. Soon enough, there were more, another drummer and another playing a curious mouth instrument. Kali'rial had seen that one before, Pash had a small version of it, a harmonic? Harmon? Something that started with 'harm' anyway. It all came together in a nice little make shift band that people were dancing to regardless of the stifling heat.

Moving to place a cup of water beside the seafaring musician, the huntress almost found herself swaying to the music as she offered up another smile, unwilling to interrupt the wonderful improvised moment as she moved back to join Enrick and Mero.

"You're both welcome to water or dancing if that's your thing. There's a blond man in that fray though, I warn you he's a beacon for trouble. He's bound to step on toes or something." It was said with a fond humour, knowing full well that Tio was probably going just fine, and that maybe most of the dangerous things he managed to get himself into weren't entirely his fault.

Not entirely. Just mostly

They’d all found their groove together, the musicians gathered in a rough circle of driftwood on the searing hot beach. Pash could say that he was leading them, the others now including another stringed instrument, following his whim as accompaniment, though he wasn’t playing for his own amusement nor was his leading obvious at all. The crowd had gathered to dance, to be awed by the sky, and to forget the oppressive heat that had rolled in so quickly with the season’s second sun. His fingers were on the courses for them, their enjoyment an offering of his talents to the Immortal who’d blessed him with his mark, who’d reminded him of what mattered in his life and in his choices from that evening forward.

He was sweaty and his hands ached, but this was admittedly the sort of thing he lived for—and had lived for over the arcs of his travels. Lagoon blue eyes washed over the dancers, the tide of people who’d swelled and diminished over the past few breaks. Tio was among them, apparently having a good time, and Pash followed him as he paused to make his way to the water, grinning as he made sure to catch Kali’s eye while he looked over those enjoying the shade in the little pavilion.

He seemed to have held her attention just long enough, for she brought him water with a smile, leaving it beside him and teasing him with the slightest motion of her hips to their tune as she walked away from him.

It was perhaps time that the tall Biqaj also took a moment to himself, anyway, the driftwood hardly a comfortable seat and the heat hardly anything to ignore for too long, especially given how long he’d already been sitting in it and playing. Besides, he did so want to see if he could coax a bit more of that dancing out of the dark-haired Sev’ryn instead of just playing music all trial. Shifting a little from his position, he nodded to the other player with an instrument not too much unlike his own, letting him know that he was to be directing the movement of their improvised music for a while so that he could step away. He then carefully found the right chords to end his part on, sore fingers finally lifting from the frets before he reached for his cup of water and paused to drink it, draining its cool contents in one long swig. Immortals, he needed that. Once emptied, he stood and stepped away from the players, grinning at them and thanking them. Shifting so his lute hung over his shoulder, the instrument leaning with a comfortable, familiar weight against the sweaty curve of his lower back, he made his way across the hot sand toward the pavilion, stretching his arms and his back as he did so, feeling the stiffness from sitting too long under the suns.

It was a difficult choice, to first serve himself more water or to drift toward his lover who’d reminded him of his needs, though one that was made easier by the gathering of familiar faces under the pavilion with her,

“Mmm, I see y’ went swimmin’ without me, qua’ma.” Pash hummed his mock-disappointment, handing her his cup with a grin and a lingering kiss in wordless request for her to refill it while he paused to rearrange and retie the mess of his sun-bleached hair so as much of it was up and off of his skin as possible, “But you’re no’ gonna get away with that later.”

Mero and Enrick he greeted with a wave, “Good t’ see y’ both to-trial. Even with th’ clouds, there’s no respite in Saun, eh? Enrick, if y’ play ‘r dance, there’s plenty o’ room out there for you,” The seafaring musician offered, though he understood that the shade was also just a welcome respite from the rest of the scorched landscape, despite the distracting beauty of the rainbow skies, “but I understand stayin’ in th’ shade. Have y’ been up th’ beach any? ‘R there any more parties that way worth visitin’?”

He turned and offered Tio a grin as well, the blond man hardly any cooler than himself after all his dancing, though he’d also finally paused for some refreshment,

“Here’s hopin’ to-trial can jus’ be a bit o’ fun, eh? Jus’ once, though …” Pash winked at that, aware that even just a few trials ago, what had started out as entertainment and broken glass had turned into a bar fight. He’d accept another cup of water from Kali, fingers brushing hers with a warm expression of gratitude and wanting, “Everyone needs a lil’ break from trouble now an’ then.”

The shade and the drink cooled him, though he knew if he stayed still for too long, he’d have to admit he was tired already. Saun’s heat was draining, and playing music for a crowd to dance to took all of himself in a creative sense. Once he’d emptied his second cup and conversation with his friends and acquaintances under the pavilion had dwindled, he’d reach for Kali’rial’s hand and give her a roguish grin, tugging her playfully back into the suns’ light and onto the sand toward the moving crowd, aware that she’d prefer the edge of it, aware that she’d rather not join them at all,

“C’mon an’ dance with me, ot djal? I don’ want t’ go back t’ playin’ without enjoyin’ th’ music with y’ first.” Pash begged playfully, the baritone of his voice not quite a purred promise of enjoyment, “Jus’ a lil’, aye?”