Sideshow & Syrana

(Part 46) For the complete list of this series, please go here.

After a few moments of solitude in Sunfury Spire, Aerissa repositioned the cowl Twyla loaned her to obscure her face.  As Aerissa passed the large fountain on her way out of the Court of the Sun, distant shouting caught her attention.  She peeked over her shoulder at the commotion amongst the guards and quickly headed for the Bazaar.

She checked the information Tomber had given her and searched for the shop.  Aerissa wandered along the outer ring of the Bazaar, gazing at the window displays.  Occasionally she would stop to admire this item or that for a few moments, then move along, but the next window Aerissa passed drew her in.

She gasped, moving closer to the window.  Aerissa placed her hands upon the glass, staring at the beautiful dress before her.

“Ouch!” Aerissa yelped as the prick of the needle poked her hip.

“Hold still, missy!” The seamstress said sternly.  She readjusted the needle, wrapped measuring tape around Aerissa’s waist and pinned another bit of fabric.  “I can’t custom fit this dress if you keep squirming.” (continue reading…)

(Part 45)  For the entire listing of this series, please go here.

Reaching the hallway leading away from the Royal Quarter, Aerissa clutched the song book close to her chest.  With her other hand, she grasped her dress and raised the hemline.  She increased her pace until she was at a very brisk walk.  Aerissa chewed at her bottom lip, her cheeks and neck blotchy with redness.

I thought she’d be happy… instead I brought her more pain and misery.  How awful!

She decided it was time to head back to Silvermoon City and then return to Tranquillien as quickly as possible.  After several wrong turns, she eventually navigated back to the orb of translocation.  Once she reappeared on the platform in Sunfury Spire, she leaned against the wall with a sigh of relief.

* * * (continue reading…)

(Part 44)  For the entire listing of this series, please go here.

Aerissa wasn’t entirely sure why she felt so nervous as she got ready.  She felt a bit off, but figured it had more to do with not being able to see the morning sun.  That, and her stomach would revolt occasionally from the smells of The Undercity.

Guess I haven’t gotten completely used to the stench, she thought as she rinsed out her mouth again.

Quietly she hummed, trying to calm her nerves, as she slipped into the elegant green dress.  She stared back at herself in the scummy mirror.  The dress fit her very well, although it was a little tight across her hips.  Aerissa frowned as she rubbed her hands over her belly.

Have I gained weight?

(continue reading…)

I will have today’s RP post up later this evening.  I had about half written prior to the start of Polygamerous last night and was planning to finish it up after the show since we were starting earlier… but we had SO much to talk about, a guest, and just an all around awesome show.  However, I needed to go to bed afterwards.

So… stay tuned!

(Part 43) For the complete list of this series, please go here.

Keeping her head bent low, Aerissa made her way to the Court of the Sun.  She chided herself for making a fool of herself with the troll merchant.  I had no trouble bartering with Tomber… She wasn’t sure if it was the intimidating look of the troll woman, her accent, or the crowd that had affected her.  All of the above, I suppose.

When she reached the Court of the Sun, she stopped to politely ask one of the guards outside the palace where she could find the orb of translocation.  He informed her it was just inside the palace, in the inner sanctum of Sunfury Spire.  He warned her to stay away from the portal room, which was the territory of the mages, by following the ramp up and keep to the right.

When Aerissa reached the room in question, she was a bit surprised to see that the room contained nothing more than two platforms and a brightly lit orb.  Cautiously, she approached the orb.  Her ears detected a low humming sound.  She had heard about orbs like this, but had never used one herself.  Aerissa leaned back as she stretched out her arms, her fingers inches from the orb.  She took a deep breath and placed her hands on the orb. (continue reading…)

(Part 42) For the entire list of this series, please go here.

(A friend of mine made this when I started RPing Aly... I recently found it and it seemed fitting)

Scanning the sea of faces in the bazaar was a daunting task.  The place was too busy and the crowds swallowed people up as though they had never been there.  Aly let out a loud sigh, leaning heavily against one of the stalls.  Her head was pounding from the bloodthistle withdrawal, which didn’t help the strain her eyes were beginning to feel.  Rubbing her temple, she plopped down onto a crate.

“Wat yu be doin’ dere? Get off da wares!” the troll merchant hollered at Alynedarra, shooing her away with her hands.

Alynedarra hopped up, startled.  She turned to look down behind her at the crate, then back up at the troll woman.  “I’m sorry, I just needed a moment.”  She flashed her a weak smile.

The troll woman grunted her displeasure, using her large blue foot to slid the crate back into the confines of the stall.  “Yu be buyin’ sumptin, ya?” she cocked her head to the side, placing her hands upon her wide hips. (continue reading…)

(Part 41) For the complete list of this series, please go here.

Sitting cross-legged on her bed at the inn, Alynedarra swirled a dried leaf of bloodthistle around in her mouth while staring at a ripped and tattered piece of parchment on top of the bedspread.  She tried to ignore the voice in the back of her head that chided her for almost getting caught in the orphanage office.  Aly was not used to losing her cool and getting caught up in her own feelings while on the job.

Name: Alynedarra Chasseur
Age: Toddler
Siblings: 1 sister, possible others
Description: Reddish brown hair, green eyes, jagged scar on the bottom of right foot

She stared at it, not wanting to believe.  It didn’t make any sense.  And why’d the page have to go and tear as she tried to remove it from the drawer?  She really wanted to know what the rest of the chart said, but she couldn’t risk returning to the orphanage for a third time.  She’d barely scrambled out the window and down the alley out of eyesight of the matron who came to check on the office.

As the last of the bloodthistle dissolved on her tongue, she swallowed hard and peeled off her socks.  She traced her fingertips over the white scaring on the bottom of her right foot.  Her mother – at least who she thought was her mother – once told her she got it from walking on broken glass in the kitchen when she was very little.  Could she have been lying?

(continue reading…)

(Part 40) For the complete list of this series, please go here.

Aerissa wandered through the gates into Silvermoon City.  Her breath caught in her throat as she took in the sights and sounds of her capital city.  She couldn’t quite remember the last time she had been within its walls, but the magic of it never ceased to amaze her.  The buildings were intricately designed and vibrant with color.

Bending her head low and obscuring her face with the cowl, she walked along the streets towards the marketplace.  Despite her long absence from the city, she still knew its layout.  Aerissa couldn’t help but grin as she side stepped a lone broom sweeping the walkway.  Magic was useful for even the most mundane tasks.

Before reaching the marketplace, Aerissa turned down a side street and stood outside one of the magister’s libraries.  Peering in through the window, she couldn’t see many people inside other than a few magisters.  Satisfied, she walked in and pushed the cowl back from her hair.  She scanned several bookcases without any success before approaching an elf who was busy cataloging.

“E-excuse me?” she asked in a hushed tone, nervously running her fingers through her hair.

The elderly elven man turned to look at her, peering down his nose at her.  “Yes, Miss?” he responded politely.

She pressed her palm against her pocket, feeling the outline of the locket.  “I wondered if there was some information here about Lady Windrunner that I could read?” (continue reading…)

(Part 39) For the complete list of this series, please go here.

Aerissa was a bundle of nerves when she woke up.  She tightly gripped the edges of the sink, still shaky after vomiting.  The mixture of fear and excitement was almost overwhelming.  Splashing lukewarm water on her face, she worked at calming herself down.  She finished getting ready, dressed in meager linen and leather clothing that she had pieced together herself.

“G’mornin’, Rissy,” Twyla greeted Aerissa as she came downstairs.

“Morning, Twyla.  Do you have your list ready?” She forced a weak smile.

Twyla nodded, pressing the list into Aerissa’s hand.  “Aye.  An’ here be somethin’ ta help ye.”  She shuffled behind her desk, removing something from a hook on the back wall.  She shuffled back to Aerissa, a dark fabric draped over her hands.  “Ye can hide yer face abit.” She smiled warmly, placing the cowl over Aerissa’s head.

Aerissa fingered the material, pulling it low over her forehead.  She pushed it back, letting it rest on her shoulders, then pulled it over her hair again.  “I really appreciate this.  I-I’m not sure if he will be searching for me, but I’d rather be cautious.” (continue reading…)

(Part 38) For the complete list of this series, please go here.

The alley behind the orphanage was quiet, save for the sounds of rats scurrying around the trash.  Aly, dressed all in black, slinked along in the shadows.  The orphanage was dark, since it was way past everyone’s bedtime.  Peeking through windows on her way to the back of the building, it seemed safe to assume the office was in the back.

Aly carefully climbed on top of the piles of trash, gripping the windowsill to pull herself up.  Using her dagger, she jimmied the window lock.  She slid the window open and crawled inside.  She crouched on the floor, listening.  Satisfied that no one was nearby, she peered around the dark room.  Aly let her eyes adjust until she could make out objects in the room: desk, chair, bookshelves, and file cabinets.  Aly crawled over to the cabinets, and tried to open one of the drawers.

Locked.

“That never stopped me before,” she quipped, taking out her lockpicking tools.

Quickly she popped the lock and began rifling through the overstuffed drawers.  At first there didn’t seem to be much organization with the way they were thrown into the drawers, but after awhile the filing system appeared to be by year.  Doing some quick math, Aly tried to estimate the year Aerissa would have entered the orphanage.  The older the files, the dustier they were.  Aly kept rubbing her nose, struggling to suppress sneezes. (continue reading…)