A Breeze's Curiosity

[Ayla]

(( Completely open to any that want to join, I tried to give a decent step-in scenario. Uh. Ignore the title, I was clueless so just came up with crap. xD ))

The night air was cold, as expected in the midst of the winter months. Northern breezes swept up over the mountains, bringing with them the almost daily flurries of snow here and there. Yet, she did not feel them. Each breeze that slipped over the tower of the eastern gate, strong enough to send that banner snapping in retaliation, had no effect upon the young woman that had her face to the wind, as if challenging it. A strange expression was etched over her thin, direct features. Confusion, maybe… Uncertainty. Her steady, honest brown eyes were turned to the south, roaming freely over the distant barren forests that lay thick in the piling snow. Yet, they saw nothing of the leafless twigs and white flurries. They were off in thought, as if watching something pass in a completely different world.

Her thin face was so unguarded that every thought, whether upsetting or contented, contorted her expression to match it. At that very moment, a sense of defeated acceptance radiated from her. Slowly, those unseeing eyes fluttered closed just as another bitter breeze swept up over her shoulders, tugging at those long, wavy brown locks of hair, trying to free them from the leather trap they were bound in. With that breeze came a slow, long sigh from the woman. With shoulders hunched, her arms pressed warmly about her stomach, she simply stood there, letting herself become wrapped in the wind’s chilled embrace.

Nalani tucked her chin low after a long moment, grimacing against the breeze that swept about her. Her lips parted again in that soft, low humming sound that had become so habitual as she shifted her weight. She could feel the cold touch of the stone wall of the tower against her, but she made no move to step away from it. The chill did not even register in her thoughts of the moment. Before long, she lifts her pale brown, determined gaze back to the distant forest at the south. Biting her bottom lip, she gave a small nod, more to herself than anything. She seemed to be answering a question, undoubtedly one she had asked herself in the thoughtful silence. Her feet scuffed carelessly over the stone of the tower floor, intent on stepping away but never to do so. For a long moment, Nalani remains as she is, one foot with its heel up in hesitant uncertainty to step away. Her eyes were again locked upon the distant land, silence falling about her only to be broken by that snapping banner. She asked herself silently what had stilled her movements. What had made her freeze upon that tower? Then, her chin drops as she catches the sound of voices below, the voices that had unknowingly been heard moments before. Her eyes ran along the street three stories below, scanning the faces of the group that had stopped upon arriving at the eastern gate. Her eyes narrow slowly as she lets her gaze slip over the few bodies, some recognizable and others not. Her head tilts curiously as she keeps that narrowed stare upon those below, of whom were oblivious to her presence. Slowly, she turns back and presses her hands on one of the low dips in the wall, leaning upon the cold stones and closing her eyes, listening as the voices echo up. With an almost inaudible, curious hum, she moves to cross her arms instead, sending small bits of chipped stone to roll off and bounce along the gate wall, unknowingly letting her presence be known to any whom would have paid attention.

[Lance Thunnigan]

Arthael picked up his rod and his bucket, now full of fish, and stood.
He rolled his shoulders with a contented sigh.

He turned to the west and walked slowly along the path towards the
eastern gate of Trollsbane. His expression was soft and content as
he strolled casually towards the gate.

He hardly noticed the wind as it blew past and sent his hair every
which way and that. The coldness stung his cheeks though, and with
a free hand he rubbed over them.

As he neared the gate, he moved a hand to the closed doors to pull
them open. As he was pulling on them, a stone fell from the upper
parts of the tower and struck him atop his head.

"Ah!" He let out a short cry, his hand moving to rub over his head.
He shot a glance up at the top, only to see hair waving about in the wind.

He moved into the gatehouse and sat his things upon the table.
Then he turned to the ladder and began to climb t slowly. He growled
a bit, the newly formed knot on his head stinging.

He made his way to the door, and pushed it open, not bothering to
close it as he passed through. Then neared the stairs up to the top of
the tower. As he neared the top, he began to speak, a slight tone of
anger in his tone.

"Hey! Watch where you throw the stones hmm!" He yelled, not realizing
who it was he was yelling it before reaching his head above the stairs
and looking.

When he'd realized, he offered a short shake of his head, and shot
her a warm smile.

[Konrad Knox]

The painted gypsie with thick brown messy hair, known as Konrad, strides into the tower in his usual, almost catlike rogueish manner, his soft soled ranger boots making little sound against the pavement. Two crooked thin blades strapped behind his back - almost look too heavy for his tall, thin, slightly feminine figure. He's carrying a stack of leather vests across his shoulder, trying to push them to Morgan as always, overpriced.

Konrad smiles, Morgan parries.
Konrad smiles wider, insists, hugs Morgan by the shoulder. Morgan, being himself, refuses to give an extra coin in exchange.
Konrad tries to tell a joke. Morgan laughs.

-Oh, come on, for the old times' sake?
-Fine! 40 coins, that's the best you're getting out of me, Knox.

Konrad grins. "Done deal!" A handshake strikes.

The rogue adjusts his weight, popping his shoulder in a manly manner, though it looks wider because of the arm protector, and anyone who's ever saw Konrad without armor, knows that it's width is fake, and his shoulders aren't nearly that wide.

He pockets the copper coins, salutes to Morgan and joins the group of adventurers who were waiting on him to head out the gates.

"Let's go kick some bones, fellas."

[Ayla]

She had not even realized her slip-up, that one move that sent the bits of stone and rubble clattering down to the cobbled path below. Nor had she readily given any attention to the elf that weaved his way through the small group standing idly between the gate and the bridge. She had been listening for a bit now on the echoed talk of adventure, demons and skeletons, the fun of battle and the possibility of treasure. It had caused a quaint smile to curl her full lips as she remained leaned over, watching from above.

It took a full moment for her mind to even register the elf’s sudden exclamation as her careless movements sent a rock landing upon his head. By the time she lifted her chin in response, he had already made his way to the tower’s top floor, behind her. Slowly, she cranes her neck about to let that same, even stare wander over his face as he appears at the stairs. The smile offered to her was responded with a simple tilt of her head, her own quaint smile broadening warmly after a moment as she speaks one short word in response his previous, careless shouting.

“… Sorry?”

It was then, amidst her own word that her smile suddenly wavered. The reason of that short hesitation soon enough crossed out into plain view feet below where she stood. An odd look slips over Nalani’s face as she turns back after a moment, again watching the group as they drew together. Her eyes were specifically on the thin figure that stepped about the others, his voice echoing up as he shouted about bones. Nalani’s brows knitted slowly as she watched them, pursing her lips after a long moment. That same glint of indecisiveness passes over her face as she tosses that short look to Arthael from over her shoulder.

Only moments after, her direct gaze turns down to the group as they speak amongst themselves, preparing to head off to whatever they had in mind. With a deep sigh, the woman finally seems to carelessly make up her mind, leaning over and sending more bits of rubble scattering down to the ground as she speaks.

“Kick the damn bones… Just don’t get anyone killed, aye?!”

Her gaze was once more directed on the gypsy waltzing about below. Her voice sounded, to those that knew no better, fully serious and demanding. However, it held the faintest lilt of amusement as well as worry. With no smile, or even a smirk to go along with her words, as would have been normal, she nods her head against the breeze before turning her back after a long moment. Only then did she look fully to the elf that had made his way up to where she stood. A slow smile curled about her lips at last as she tucks her chin a bit against the northern breezes.

“ And what are you up to, aside from yelling at careless people?”

[Lance Thunnigan]

He offers a light chuckle and another soft shake of his head.
"Well had I known it was you, I wouldn't have yelled."

After a moment he adds in, "As much." A jestful tone flowing
from his lips as he speaks.

He then moves towards her slowly, his smile still playing upon
his expressions as he moves nearer to her.

He rests himself upon the edge of the tower beside her,
his look seemingly locked upon her face.

"Nothing really. Walked from that place in the woods this morning,
Grabbed my rod and went out for a fish." He speaks softly.

"What about you?"