NationStates Jolt Archive

Dranon looked over the balcony, over the capital city of Rastaban: New Avalon.

He smiled. He was going to do it. The prince had it all decided. He thought of his girlfriend Kirith, whom he'd been seeing for the past two years. He was going to do it for.

The balcony he was on wasn't to far from the room where Kirith was staying. His sister, Queen Cora, had given her attendents, but he wasn't sure if the elf have refused them or not.

No matter. All the attendents in the world couldn't make her more beautiful than she was already.

Kirith looked at herself in the mirror and gave a quick twirl of elation. It had been a while since she'd seen Dranon, and she was almost exploding with the joy of seeing him again. Every thought of him made her excited, his laugh, all the stuff they'd fought through together.

Kirith Sotheril's situation was unique. She was an Elven goddess. Just a minor goddess, tasked with looking over the mages and securing those pesky magical crisies, but it made her special in many eyes. Having fallen in love with a mortal was her classicly precarious position.

A lot of people had tried to keep them apart, but considering she was just a few doors down from him, that had failed miserably.

And tonight...she felt was perfect.

She straightened her blouse one last time, and stepped out the fine hardwood door of her room, listening for the soft click of the bolt before she went down the hall.

With practiced silence, she opened Dranon's door and strode up behind him.

"Hi there." Came the whisper in his ear as two soft arms hugged him from behind.

Dranon turned around in her arms and gave her a small kiss on the lips. "Hello, fair Kirith, are you ready to see New Avalon?"

It seemed like ages since he had seen her. She hadn't changed much from what he could tell.

He remembered what his sister had told him, that the public was mixed about him seeing Kirith. Some loved the fact that she might marry the prince and of her divine nature. Others weren't happy, most of them were the devoutest in to Rastaban's gods and didn't want or like and outsider goddess coming in.

It didn't matter to him. He didn't like Kirith because of her goddess status, there was much more to it.

He smiled at the elfin goddess. "And might I say, milady, that you do look rather beautiful," and he kissed the back of her hand.

The radiant girl beamed at the prince. "Thanks, I always try to look my best for you. I've always wanted to see this fabled city of yours, and I couldn't wish for a better companion to guide me. Where are we going first?"

"Thanks, I always try to look my best for you. I've always wanted to see this fabled city of yours, and I couldn't wish for a better companion to guide me. Where are we going first?"

"You don't need to try very hard," he said.

"Your Highness," a servant said, entering the room. "Your carriage awaits you."

Dranon nodded his head. "Very well."

He turned back to Kirith. "Well, I was thinking of taking you down the bazzar. Its a continous market place with all sorts of trinkets and articles."

"Sir," the same servant said, hold open the door. Dranon held out his arm for her to take.

Kirith took his arm and walked close to him, intwining her fingers in his.

"Good, I can't wait." She told him softly.

Dranon lead them to the open carriage. He driver opened the small door to let them in. "Madam," he said, bowing.

Dranon stepped to the side of carriange, to hold out his hand to help her up. "My lady," and a smile broke out on his face.

Yes, to night was it!

((OOC: An elfin goddess? Damn, how's Washu gonna compete with that? ;) ))
A tag by any other name...

((Lol Resi, I dunno, make some anti-goddess robot?))

Kirith took the helping hand and stepped into the carriage, before turning around and offering her hand to him.

She smirked. "I can return the favor, right?"

((Le bump?))

(ooc: Bah! I was house sitting, sorry!)

Dranon smiled and took her hand. As soon as he sat down, the carriage started to move.

"Sorry we're not taking something more comfortable. No cars of any sort are allowed in New Avalon. It is to prevent any sort of damage to the buildings. Most people just walk once they get into the inner part of the city," he wrapped his arm around her. "That's what we'll be doing, if you don't mind that. If you do, we can always ride horses or bikes through the city."

The goddess smiled and laid her head on Dranon's shoulder.

"No, that's perfect." She reassured him. "I'm glad your people have that much respect for the land."

Dranon smiled. "Yeah, my great grandmother or something created that law once automobiles were pretty common. They said she was a seeress, and foresaw that if New Avalon had cars running through its streets that it would fall to the earth. Whether or not that's true is besides the point. The buildings are so old, that the polution would surely have caused them to crumble."

He looked around, and some people were pointing at them. When they stopped to let some people cross, a little girl came up to the carriage.

"Pwrince Dwranon, may I have youwr autogwraph?" When she smiled and held out the paper and pen, one of her front teeth were missing.

"And youwrs two Lady Kiwrith, please?"

Dranon smiled, and signed her the paper, then looked to Kirith, to see if she would sign also.

Kirith beamed at the little girl and took the pen. She signed her name on the paper with a little flourish and handed both objects back to her along with an ancient looking golden dubloon.

"There you go, a little present from me to you." She said in a warm tone.

The little girl smiled, and toddled off, acting very excited.

"She'll worship you forever now," Dranon said, jokingly.

The carriage stopped as they came just a few yards from the open market. The opened the door, and held out his hand for Kirith. "Milady," he said.

The market was very busy, with people chatting and bartering away. "Many extoic things will be found in the Bazzar. And very lovely things too, though all pale in comparison to you," Dranon said, smiling lovingly at her.

Kirith blushed deeply and took his hand. "Aww, thanks."

She gave him a little peck on the cheek before looking around.

"Well, my handsome guide, where to?"

"Well, was thinking we see what the Bazaar has to offer, then maybe show you a few of our places of worship. But its up to you, since you haven't see anything here yet," Dranon said, and looked out at all the people, happily going on about their lives.

"Hey, I trust your judgement, so let's check out what this grand Bazzar of yours has to offer." She told him, smiling.

Dranon smiled. "Yes, let see what it does have to offer." And he gladly lead Kirith through it, showing her a stand of miniture dragons.

"These are probably one of Rastaban's most popular pets. Legend says that the first of these dragons were hatched from an egg that had spells of some sort thrown out at it. When it hatched, white, black, red, orange, green and purple little dragons came flying out.

"Would you like one?" He asked. "Perhaps a white one? They are the rarest and the female ones are even rarer, often called the Queens."

"Miniture dragons. Amazing." She said to herself, smiling at Dranon.

Kirith spotted a white one and held her hand out to it. The tiny dragon nuzzled up against her palm, and she picked it up in her arms.

"It's so cute. How much is it?" She asked.

"It doesn't matter," Dranon said as he paid the stand owner.

"It is very simple to keep," the owner said. "Just little bits of meat, perferably red meat, twice a day. Oil it twice a month to keep its hide from drying out, and lots of love. They communicate with a series of chirps and all sorts of noises. And they also use mind communication, they relay feelings and simple words and phrases to you. And you can do the same."

Dranon looked at her and smiled. "When it 'speaks' to you, then you'll be able to tell if its male or female."

"Would you like one prince?" the man asked.

"No, I am fine right now, thank you though. I may come back for a black one later, sir."

The man inclined his head to each of them. "As you wish, your highness."

"Lets see," Dranon said, looking around. "Would like to see some clothing, or fabrics, perhaps some instruments?"

The tiny dragon chirruped happily and nibbled on Kirith's shirt as she listened to the stand owner. The Elven girl giggled and produced a small piece of meat seemingly from nowhere. The dragon gobbled it up and crooned quietly in satisfaction.

"A black one, nice. Salt and pepper." She grinned at him. "Any ideas for a name?" She pondered. "Instruments...for music, or are we talking about magical gadgets?"

She gave him an adoring look as she looked over his handsome features and remembered how they met, for the millionth time. Such a curious story, one that was entertaining with or without an audience, as it was their story.

"A black one, nice. Salt and pepper." She grinned at him. "Any ideas for a name?" She pondered.

"Hrm, how about . . . Lady? Or Beauty? Duke?" Dranon suggested. "Something that reflects you, but still fit its. Has it 'spoken' to you yet? It'd be easier in naming if we knew it was male or female."

"Instruments...for music, or are we talking about magical gadgets?"

"Both, actually. The magical kind are limited, being that there are few Rastabites who are hightly gifted in magic. And the musical kind are just abound. Won't find a better place for some of the finest crafted instruments."

She stared down at the dragon, and it met her gaze equally. Then it crooned softly again. Simultaniously, she heard a word echo in her mind.

'Food!'

She let out a laugh and fed it again. "This is one hungry dragon. It sounds male to me...I could name it Zeus. Ok Zeus, let's go see those instruments." She looked at Dranon and blushed slightly as she spoke. "I really should learn how to play something, so maybe you can help me pick out an instrument to learn."

((Bumpism should be a form of art.))

((A bump a day keeps the doctor away...))

(OOC: Cyber, you still alive and willing to speak to me? ::sheepish grin:: ))

((You bet I'm still hoping to get this going, but I'm not so sure about the whole "being alive" thing...

>>

<<

Right.))

((Aye, I know what you mean. ;)))

((Well, there's no reason to keep stalling! I believe it's your turn ^_^))

((Oy, vey! ::has to re-read quite a bit.))

She stared down at the dragon, and it met her gaze equally. Then it crooned softly again. Simultaniously, she heard a word echo in her mind.

'Food!'

She let out a laugh and fed it again. "This is one hungry dragon. It sounds male to me...I could name it Zeus. Ok Zeus, let's go see those instruments." She looked at Dranon and blushed slightly as she spoke. "I really should learn how to play something, so maybe you can help me pick out an instrument to learn."

"I like that name, Zeus," Dranon replied. "Seems rather fitting." He sratched the miniture dragon under the chin. "You picked a fine one, my dear." Before they left the little dragon stand he purchased a bag a meat, to at least tie over the little beastie.

"Here, to feed the bottomless pit," he handed Kirith the bag as he guided her towards one of the finer instrument stands.

"Ah! Good day Prince Dranon and his Lady," the woman said, her husband talking to another customer. "And to the lady's mini." The woman dipped her head at the little white. "How may I sereve you today?"

"Lady Kirith here would like to purchase an find craft piece of yours. She says she has no talent for instruments, but I'd like to say otherwise."

The woman turned to Kirith. "My lady, what would you care to learn?"

"Ah..." The Elf scratched the back of her head as she poured over the multitude of instruments neatly organized upon white linen. "I'm not familiar with Rastaban's instruments. Something melodious, and fairly easy to pick up. Something similar to a flute? Or a lyre, perhaps?"

The woman smiled kindly at the elf. "Aye, milady. We do have both a flute and lyre for your pleasure." The woman left them briefly before coming back with two flute and two lyres. Both were lovely, the flutes had craving on them: one of a two dragon twined, while the other had a flowers and a phoenix emergering. The lyres were made from nothing less of the best material in looks and standard.

"We also provide sheet music, everything from beginners to advanced," the woman offered.

Dranon looked at Kirith, wondering which she would pick. He had little musical skill, save for the piano and guitar. And even those were limited. No doubt she would excel at which ever she chose.

Kirith brushed her fingers along the beautiful engraving of the phoenix. Humans, for all their belligerence, were capable of such stunning art. "I'll take this flute, and a few sheets of beginner's music."

She paid for it herself, and gingerly placed the flute and fragile sheets of paper into a plain bag at her side, which doubled as the portal into the Elf's own pocket dimension.

"Good choice, milady," the woman said, bowing her head. She looked to Dranon. "Anything that the young prince would like?"

Dranon smiled. "Oh, not at this moment, craftswoman. But I may be back." The woman nodded at this and excused herself to attend to another customer.

"Where to now, Kirith? New Avalon awaits you and all your glory."

Kirith beamed at her prince before replying. "Well, we seem to have lost our way amongst this wonderful bazzar, I guess we could go somewhere –"

She was caught off guard by the little dragon's piercing mental call for food. The little white Zeus was so light, she had forgotten about him. Kirith fed him, and then realized she'd lost her train of thought again, as she always seemed to do around Dranon.

"Well, you do know the city best, and you haven't been a disappointment so far. Let's see if you can keep it up." She teased, giving him a playful nudge in the ribs.

Dranon laughed, and smiled at her. "I do my best to impress you."

He thought about where to take her next. "Well, I think you've seen you're fair share of the market. Perhaps its time I take you off the beaten path. Would you care to visit one of the temples?"

The Elf nodded and placed her ivory hand in his before flashing him a coy smile.

"Lead me onwards, my love." She said, her amber eyes softening.

He waggled his eyebrow playfully at her. "Well, then, my dear, I think we shall visit the Temple of Toboga. She our goddess of water, guardian of the south, and appears as a dolphin."

Looking at her rather shy, suddenly, he continued, "And if you want, I would build a temple to here in New Avalon."

Kirth drew in close and planted a kiss on his lips. "Mmm, ok, if you insist. I could never make you do such a thing, draw the populace away from your official religion. You don't need to build a temple to me, I couldn't be that immodest. And though you know I'd love it, you don't need to secure my love with some temple. Ah, but I'm getting out of line. Please, I want to see your goddess of the sea."

"Well, if you don't want a temple, then I insist on worshiping you," he took her hand and kissed the back of it. "And I promise I shall be the most devoted practitioner. Now, before I start singing hymns to praise you, we should head off to Toboga's Temple."

Taking her hand, Dranon lead them through the crowded streets until they reached a quieter area. A few people in simple garb walked, they were priests and priestesses. It was somewhat obvious, if you knew who the gods were, which temples belong to each god.

The temple east to them, with pillars of fire at its entrance was the temple of the phoenix goddess of Ho'huang. Another temple in the west was over grown with plant life and was the temple of the stag god Ois'in.

Dranon lead Kirith south, toward the temple of Toboga. There was a man made pond that wrapped around the temple and patrons had to cross over a small bridge to enter. The temple had an ocean view that could not be beat.

He took his love over the small bridge and stopped just before entering, so to allow her to take it all in. "What do you think?" He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

Kirith's eyes glittered in symphony with the crystalline water as she took the temple in. "It's breathtaking. Rastaban gives a lot of attention to their gods, they must certainly be powerful. Who is the head of all this construction? I've seen other civillizations take decades to plan and construct something like this."

"Well, Rastaban definately had decades to do this. Our country is over 2,000 years old. But, see, the stone temple its self isn't really used. We believe we are closer to the gods when we worship them in nature. The temples were built before the gods told our ancestors such. They are maninly used a place of gathering, like for meetings or discusssions, and used to shelter the priests and priestess and their families. It also it to house the gifts that people give to the gods."

Dranon pointed to a group of priests to the right of the temple, near another small body of water. "See those priests, they are standing around an alter. They dedicate the offerings to the gods for the people." Then he pointed to the left at some priestess. "Those priestesses also do the same thing, but they also give blessings and if a woman thinks she pregnant they talk her down to the dolphins that roam the seas around here. They can speak to the dolphins and dolphins can dectect if people are pregnant, ill or what not."

((OOC: Don't be surprised if I start RPing with my Rastaban account. I just recently got it back after months of delaying. :)))

((w00t.))

The Elf moved closer to Dranon and gently put her head on his shoulder.

"Your people are so prosperous, and in tune with the land, their gods, themselves. It's...utopian." She whispered quietly through a soft smile. "And this is to be my home, after wandering for so long. I could not be more grateful. Thank you again, Dranon."

"Your people are so prosperous, and in tune with the land, their gods, themselves. It's...utopian." She whispered quietly through a soft smile. "And this is to be my home, after wandering for so long. I could not be more grateful. Thank you again, Dranon."

He wrapped his arms around her. "No, thank you. Thank you for being here with me. Rastaban was hardly a 'utopia' before you came here. We still struggle though. There are dissenters with in our population. People who wish to see my sister out of power. And people are human, we are all bound to make mistakes now and then."

He looked into her golden eyes. "Now, before we both start crying, do you want to meet the priests and priestesses? Perhaps even meet our Dolphins? And you never know, my cousin Bronson might be wondering around here. He has a thing for one of the priestesses, but she's engaged." He gave Kirith a wink and an affectionate squeeze.

Kirth's soft smile widened into a full grin. "And he hasn't given up yet, even though she's engaged? Is he one of those guys who prefers to admire a girl from afar?" She began leading him towards the sea by the hand. "And what do you mean by that wink? I might be hopelessly in love with you, but I'm not blind."

"And he hasn't given up yet, even though she's engaged? Is he one of those guys who prefers to admire a girl from afar?"

Dranon let Kirith lead him, he didn't mind. This was her day to see the sights. "Hardly. He's been kick off these grounds so many times for 'offending' a priestess, its not even funny. And yet they still allow him to come. I think they secretly hope he'll find self-control, but I think that's highly unlikely."

"And what do you mean by that wink? I might be hopelessly in love with you, but I'm not blind."

"I never doubted your sight, my love," he said laughing. "But I shall reveal the secret of my wink later. And no, I won't tell you when. Its a surprise."

The chirping of dolphins reached the couple's ears, and Kirith quickened her pace. A few moments later, the two stood at the water's edge, watching the sun glare off the dolphins' backs and play across the waves.

"Oh, it's wonderful." She cooed quietly. "You and your secrets...I'm going to be wondering all day now. But I'm being frivolous and gamboling around the point – you've seen all this before, I can't help but feel there's someting you want to do."

Before he could reply an priestess, in robes of navy, light blue & white came forward. She bowed before each of them. "Greetings, Prince Dranon, and Lady Kirith," she said. Her hair was of a faded blond, revealing that she was in her late thirties, early forties. "How may I help you today? I am Boann, at your service."

Dranon smiled at the woman. "Priestess Boann, you know her by name, but please meet Kirith. I am giving her a tour of New Avalon and decided to bring her to Toboga's temple."

"We are pleased to have you at Toboga's temple, Lady Kirith."

"I was hoping if you could introduce her to the dolphins," Dranon said.

Boann smiled,"It would be my pleasure." She then turned toward the sea and began to sing a beautiful song. All the times Dranon heard it, and had never been able to understand the words or remember them. He respected the priestesses like Boann for it.

Sure enough, a small pod of dolphins began to come forth. They stopped a small dock that had been constructed for such visits.

Boann lead Kirith and Dranon to it. When they arrived where the dolphins were, they were clicking and clacking away. Boann sung a few words to them and they made even more noise. She laughed and turned to the couple. "They send their greetings to you, Prince Dranon, and Goddess Kirith. They say they have met very few of your kind and consider it an honor to speak to you."

Kirith smiled warmly at Boann in greeting, and stood silently by as the dolphins were called forth.

Grinning widely at the priestess' translation, Kirith replied, "Well, please tell them that I am also honored to be in their presence. Rarely have I seen animals so devoted in their coöperation with humankind, or a priestess as skilled in their language as yourself."

The Elven goddess stooped down to stroke one chattering dolphin's nose, and the friendly creature fell silent as it was introduced to her aura, nuzzling against her hand in human-like compassion.

"Well, please tell them that I am also honored to be in their presence. Rarely have I seen animals so devoted in their coöperation with humankind, or a priestess as skilled in their language as yourself."

The priestess repeated as much when the largest, a female, and leader of the pod replied to Boann. "Aphrie says they are the ones to be honored. And they are not only devoted to humankind, but to their goddess, Toboga, who created them and gave them the ability to understand humans in more than just voice." The older woman than blushed. "And I would like to add thank you for your comment. I thank the goddess for this ability every day."

The dolphin that had been nuzzling Kirith's had pulled away slowly and clicked off a few sounds.

Boann laughed. "Oh, Tobby says that she likes you very much, Lady Kirith, and hopes that you stay for quite sometime." Tobby clicked and clattered a few more sound. "She would also like to add that perhaps next time you'd like to swim with them."

A smaller one came on the other side of the dock and splashed Dranon. "I suppose he wishes me to swim with them two."

Boann shook her head. "No, he just wanted to get you wet, rather than one of us ladies."

(ACK! I regress to the old Rastabann account. Shame on me!)

"Swimming with dolphins." Kirith thought aloud. "I'd love to try that. If these dolphins like me so much, it might become regular."

The Elf moved to flick a bit of water off of Dranon's face.

"C'mon," she teased, "I can't have you showing me around if you're all wet!"

"Whenever you wish, milady," Boann said, and directed a bow at the elfin goddess.

Dranon shook his had like a dog, sending droplet to splater Kirith and the priestess. "Wouldn't dream of showing around looking like drowned rat," he said, laughing.

Kirith giggled and swatted playfully at Dranon, finally taking his hand in her own and giving it a gentle squeeze of affection.

"Now, now, don't think you can best me that easily." She warned, smirking at the dolphin behind the prince. "I might just have to push you in and have Tobby and her pals deal with you."

(OOC: Obviously we're both very slow at this. Should we skip to the party?)