[Conservatory] A step towards infamy. (Closed)

[Guomundr]

1st of Cryxatum, Morning, Spring
Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum

Secrets : The Bardic Henge lay nestled in the deep recesses of the woodland surrounding Natura. For a long time; indeed for as long as the inhabitants of the town could remember, the bards had hidden themselves away from the prying eyes of the local populace. Why they had done this was not for any great dislike of the Naturans, but merely for the protection of their own secrets to which they made a habit of passing only to those who had endeavored to find their great home. But then something had changed and the Bards had stripped away the illusion that sheltered them, exposing the grand hall of their home to those who restlessly wandered the forest. They made no great announcement of this sudden decision, but allowed others to find them first and from there the word spread quickly. The Bardic Hall was once more open to be seen. This was a building of white-streaked stone in the forest, a structure of great beauty, and from it emanated music of a lilting, haunting variety. Those who dared approach soon found out the source of those melodies. This was the hall of the Bards, the great hidden place that many had long since given up searching for. It was a large facility, some two stories tall and completely structured of solid, gray stone veined with streaks of white and black. For all its clunky exterior, it was still a graceful thing, its ends boasting a pair of rounded towers that peeked up to the tall heights of the forest canopy and overlooked the small clearing in which the building stood. Columns flanked a double-doored, wooden and arched entryway, vines snaking their way up from here and smattering across the front, breaking up the dismal gray with romantic greens that burst with vibrant flowers in spring and summer. The aspect of the Bardic Conservatory spoke of strength, of purpose and of fragile beauty enmeshed together in an eternal dance. A large garden sprawled out before the building, arrayed with a variety of exotic blooms and bushes. There were hedges, too, lining meandering, stone pathways. Some of the hedges had been shaped to resemble animals and even people, giving life to the place even in the depths of winter and the dying months of autumn. Benches scattered the gardens here and there, smooth seats of cold stone carved with images of blossoms and ivy. In the center of this expansive garden was a ring of large stones each with a snowy white hue. Their crystalline structures glittered even in the sunlight and within them a small stage, also of stone, seemed to have been upraised, doubtlessly for performances of one sort or another. To enter, individuals had only to stride out from the beneath the canopy of the forest and walk across the exposed path that led straight to the front door. These were open, usually slightly ajar, and led into a massive stone hallway and reception area with high, vaulted ceilings rising up the full length of the two stories. The walls were lined with candelabras, their curling designs boasting upwards five candles that cast their warm light across the stone walls and tapestries. There was a sparse amount of furniture in this room, but flowers and vines continued to snake their way around the columns that supported the high ceiling at odd intervals. Many rooms branched off of this main hall, all of which stood open for inspection should a person pop their head inside of one, while just ahead of the entrance was a grand staircase of stone that lead to the second level. Music trickled through the area, ranging from horns to woodwinds to percussion to stringed instruments, with the occasional voice thrown in the mix. Despite the odd variety playing their own tunes, it was a beautiful intermingling of noise and lent the place its peace as visitors permeated the place.

Two cycles it had been, two cycles in the city of Natura and now, just now, the young gypsy marched on the Conservatory. Marched being a loose description...

Guomundr just stood in front of the main entrance door like a statue, while the morning air was still chilled from the evening before and the tail of winter, a bead of sweat left his scalp to roll slowly down the side of his features. Nervous, would be an understatement. He had learned to play from his Kumpania, his Familia, his mother, to be precise, but this... This was an establishment. A permanent fixture in the bastion of human kind DEVOTED to the art of a Bard. Very. Very. Nervous.

Swallowing a lump in his throat, his hands folded across his stomach, each hand gripping tightly an opposite forearm, his cloak was wrapped about his figure and the neck of his lute peeked out from underneath. His clothing was the best he had, the vibrant white shirt, his emerald green sash matching the color of his cloak, pitch black trousers and his high ebony riding boots, polished so vividly one could see their reflection in them. It was quite apparent the gypsy wished to make a good impression.

Finally, after several minutes passed, with a shaky step, he pushed the doors open with closed eyes and peered into the main hall. Now that he was in, he gingerly opened one eye, followed by the other, to peer around as if a trap were ready to be sprung upon him at any moment. Much to his relief, no such event transpired, but now the next problem... There was no desk, no reception, only the sound of music reverberating about the massive entry way. Once more he forced a lump in his throat down before steeling his courage and calling out, as quietly, but with as much resonance as he could muster to not disturb, but at least be heard, in the hall of Bards.

"Excuse me...? I seek an audience with a Master Bard..."

And that was that. Now to just wait.

[Fox]

The doors to the conservatory swung open and the trap that he seemed to think would be there was conspicuous by its absence. The wide open halls were empty and it was a strange thing indeed to consider that this place was in any way somewhere where the public would come. The Bards of Natura were traditionally quite reclusive, but these brightenings the doors stood open.

And Guomundr's words echoed throughout the Hall and slowly disappeared into the memory of the place itself. For some few moments nothing happened and no one came. It got to the point where most people would be wondering whether they had been heard at all. But then, there were footsteps and a woman walked out to him.

She was not, in the traditional sense, a beautiful woman. She was tall and had long hair that was almost cherry-red. Her face had a smattering of freckles on it and her lips were full and red. However, her face was just a little too... wide, in truth, to be attractive, although her eyes were undoubtedly her most amazing feature. They were so pale that they were almost silver-white. Although she was human, those eyes gave her an other worldly look which was quite hypnotic.

She walked out and looked at Guomundr with a smile. "Serale. You are here seeking an audience with the Master Bard? He doesn't see anyone without reason, so why don't you tell me what your reason is and I'll tell you whether he'll see you?" she said, and looked at him with what could only be described as an expression of pure mischief.

[Guomundr]

Where oft Guomundr was a well spoken, composed, and calculated man, his real age started to show in this encounter and the fact that, in some ways, he was still a little young. While gray eyes were a regular for the Air'riela, the woman that approached the gypsy were so pale her eyes appeared washed out. She could have passed as an Air'riela, which the next few moments were laced with silence after she spoke, as the boy gawked at her trying to place her lineage. Eventually, the boy would figure he was making the situation more awkward then needed, and this was not the impression he wished to instill...

"O-oh. My apologies! I did not... It is just you seem... Amria... Dilo." He muttered to himself at the end in Aire before running his left hand over his head and let it rest on the neck of his lute, the comfort it gave placing him back in the present. Clearing his throat, he stepped back with his right foot and gave a sweeping bow, not to be confused with a bow from a nobility, but a genuine bow from an Air'riela, a bow of deep respect. Upon standing straight, he let his head drop an inch in reverence to the woman he was speaking with to mask his embarrassment. "Again, my apologies... To clarify, I am sadly not here to speak with THE Master Bard. I do not deserve that honor, not yet. But I wish to speak with someone skilled in this facility on matters of performing the Arts."

Guomundr paused a moment to let his gaze drift up to meet, and match her silver-white eyes, and steeled himself, to not flinch, let his eyes drift or wander, but to be completely lost in her eyes. "I wish to learn to sing, I am able to hum well enough, but that is not my intended goal, to perform the lute with all the emotions that a being possesses, and able to instill those emotions in the hearts of my patrons." The Air'riela are a very passionate people, and his hands conveyed this as he spoke. However, if another Air'riela was standing in the room, they would be able to have their ears plugged, and still understand what the boy was saying. His hands, in every movement, were a language of sign, and while theatric to behold, it worked well to convey points to people that had no idea there was a sign language for Aire.

Continuing, he cleared his throat once more and spoke boldly, "And, as this is a place for Bards, where music is involved daily, I am most certain that dancing would be a part of such repertoire and I seek to immerse myself in ALL of the Arts, if offered..." Guo thought for a moment, ran another hand over his hair, and broke his steeled gaze at this time to look at the ceiling before looking back at the young lady. "That is... If you are taking students..." Dilo...

[Fox]

She laughed a gentle, lilting laugh as she looked at him and she shook her head in amusement "I don't think you need to be nervous" she said, smiling "You are quite charming, you know.. bordering on cute, in fact" she chuckled and watched him. "I am Lyssa, and I would be able to teach you to sing.. but I'm not sure thtat that's what you want... do you want to become a Bard? Is that your final aim?" she asked, looking at him with her strangely whitewashed eyes and considered him carefully, almost like he was a specimin in a jar.

"If you wish to become a Bard, then we will take you in, train you and so on.. but you must pass a test first, pass some kind of quest. If you don't do that, then we will teach you to sing, perhaps, to dance, that kind of thing.. but the art of the Bard requires you to commit to this Conservatory, to become on of us... what is it, exactly, that you want?" she asked, looking at him. He was an interesting soul and Lyssa rather hoped that he wanted to become a Bard, because at the end of the brightening, she found him quite charming and his flustered nature added to that. She smiled at him and awaited his answer.

[Guomundr]

While Guomundr prided himself on his calculated appearance, he was not one for compliments, and needless to say, his mouth opened slightly and his cheeks started to get warm. He was, as some might see him, a handsome young man, but this was partly due to his personality as well, but again, compliments always set him his wheels off from their path. Trying his best to recover from his outward bashful look, he bowed respectfully once more, but lingered a little longer facing the ground to let his emotions and the red hue cool.

"Yes Lady Lyssa, my final aim is to become a Bard." His voice was quiet, soft spoken, but their was a passion underneath, and a fire in his eyes at the mention of this. This was what he had been looking for, this was what he found, and this was what he would follow, here in this Conservatory. The mention of a 'quest' was a little odd, in his eyes. In the Kumpania, those that wished to learn, simple did so, but this was no Kumpania, and this place was much more 'structured', regardless, he would take this quest up in arms. "I will take up this test in joyful arms Lady Lyssa." A slight quirk in his eyes appeared, for only a fleeting moment, that line sounded better in his head...

[Fox]

Lyssa looked at him and chuckled gently "I am just Lyssa. I am no Lady, not at all. I am just Lyssa." She looked at him again, then and her eyes seemed to be rather insightful for one so young.

"That you wish to join is not a guarantee that you will. But that you want to is a step on the right path. If you wish to become a Bard, you must prove yourself to us in a test.. a quest... but then, and this is important, you need to commit to this place. To us. Ours is not training to take and then disappear forever. Ours is a way of life, always united in one family, no matter where the winds take us. With family comes responsibility... and I've heard that speech so many times that I'm starting to say it myself.. oh by the Gods, I've become one of them.."

She looked at him and smiled "If you are prepared to commit to us, then there will be a time when you learn.. a time when you are unbound... and a quest. Tell me, Guomundr, if you will... what sort of a quest would you think would be appropriate?" she asked and her eyes were gleaming with interest.

[Guomundr]

"Kumpania..." There was a soft look in the gypsy's eyes as she described the family that the Bards were. The word muttered was soft, even by an Air'riela's standard, and soft eyes grew distant, just briefly, until she mocked herself jokingly and Guo snapped back into reality, with a nod, a sigh, and a hand over his hair. Unbound? While Guomundr prided himself on his eloquent speech and his wide vocabulary, the word was unfamiliar, at least in the context it was used.

Listening, a thin line creased in his forehead as he entered into thought, not only at the word 'unbound', but at the question asked of him. A few minutes passed as the boy shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his hands folding across his stomach or one waving in the air in circles, trying to pinpoint a thought, and his head angled towards the ceiling, lips smacking periodically or emitting a 'hm'. The pose would be comical, but to the boy, normal. Gypsies of his Kumpania were always known to be slightly, eccentric...

After the brief show, the boy looked back down at Lyssa and that crease in his brow was still there, "Lyssa, I honestly have not a clue. Music was always something that was a part of anyone, whether it be the singer or the hearts their music touch. To quest for music... Hm... Maybe..." Once more the posed was resumed, except his head was angled down, his feet grounded, and both hands waved, off to the side, until his left rested on his hip and his right rubbed his neck, words being mumbled in Aire under his breath.

Suddenly, the boy grew silent, his head bobbing once, twice, then his movement remained as silent as his voice. Looking up, that crease was still there, but there was look of uncertainty in his gray eyes. "The best would, in my opinion, not be to make music, as that is a part that is inherent in most, but to make something to showcase it, to give it life from paper or memory to the hearts of patrons, an instrument. To craft an instrument, perhaps not by my own hands, but to gather those materials to make it, so that it is still, an inherent part of myself." The boy finished, and looked into Lyssa's eyes with a searching intensity, as if he would find some recognition of the words he said strike true. Granted, she would probably voice her opinion on the subject quickly, but each passing moment would tug at the corner of his mind, that he had said something wrong, or incorrectly, and would be refused to play... The atrocity if such would happen!

[Fox]

Lyssa looked at him and nodded "That sounds like a good quest. To create an instrument, to craft it yourself from your own resources and give it life.. it has to have life as we see it. That works" she said, and grinned at him. "You see, we could set you a quest, but it would have meaning only to us. To have meaning to you is far more important, and it will mean that you do the quest, and do it well. So, that sounds like a good thing to do. Well done!"

She looked at him, and as though she read his mind, she spoke "If you want to learn, if it is what you want more than you want to raise your head from your pillow in the morning, then you will learn... it might take time, it might take longer than you wanted, but we will teach you. So go now, make the instrument, and then come back. We can train you in the meantime, if you want.." she said, looking at him "But you'll be being trained as someone not a member, so it will cost money... what would you like to do?"

[Guomundr]

A childish smile crept into his features, a wide eye look at the approval for the quest and a quick shift in his weight at the mention of, 'what would you like to do.' The answer was simple, and there was a flash in his eyes of want and need to do exactly what he said. "Everything." His true age showed, the spirit of youth, and the excitement of acceptance. The boy's eyes gleamed with the truth of the word, eagerness, would be an understatement.

Of course, after a brief, fleeting moment, Guomundr's hands clasped together so tightly his knuckles showed white, he was obviously keeping himself from exploding in song and a 'victory' dance. Inhaling, and exhaling with closed eyes, he let them slowly drift open and met Lyssa's cooly, his composure regained. "What I mean, is I would like to start immediately, every coin I have is yours, so that I might learn what I have set out to accomplish. Dancing, singing, performing. Acrobatics. Theatrics. To compose and sing a song that could turn the tide of war, or stop it all together. I am ready to learn. Everything." She would certainly ask for clarification, and no doubt wish to state how much each lesson would cost, but as the boy had said, every coin, and he meant every syllable of it.

[Fox]

She looked at him and laughed as he spoke that one word.

"Everything?" she said, kindly and with a similar light dancing in her own eyes "That might take a while" she grinned and nodded "Well, we can start wherever you want, and your choice it is."

She looked at him and grinned, his enthusiasm was infectious "I like you" she said, and her eyes danced over his face "I'll teach you, if you like. Some stuff, anyhow, I can't teach you everything, good Sir, cos I can't do it. But I can teach you most of the things you said. Name your pleasure"

It would appear that she was not above flirting a little, too, the woman with the silver eyes and the face that was just not quite put together well enough to be beautiful.

[Guomundr]

Neither was the gypsy, the boy gave her a quick wink with a wolfish grin and nodded. "Name my pleasure..." He chuckled lightly and ran a hand over his hair, his own gray never leaving silver. "My pleasure for this moment in time would be singing, to accompany my lute in the future, and to change things up, the movement of two bodies, in time with each other and song." Folding his arms behind his back, the grin remained on his features, until he spoke up clearly.

"To lead in dance that is. The basics of course, as outside of simply spinning in circles to music, I have nothing more then that and would like to learn more." The boy would wait, the two of them standing in the grand hall, with the work of bards around and about them. The boy could certainly become used to this place, and the abilities learned here, would of course pay off for the Tavern as he progressed in skill.

[Fox]

She looked at him and grinned, then, nodding slightly "Singing and dancing it is. I can teach you both of those, if you'd like me to. It would be my pleasure, that's for sure" Lyssa smiled at him, both of them engaging in a little flirting it seemed and it gave her cause to chuckle.

"So, then, Guomundr, why don't you tell me about what times you have and whether you will be coming here to learn and live, or just to learn? What's your commitment to us, if that isn't a rude word?"

She put her hands on her hips and looked at him wickedly. He was friendly and she was pleased to see him here, in truth. "Once we know the times that you are able to learn, and the level of commitment you can and will give to us, then we can decide what sort of format these lessons will take. What would be your ideal?"

She asked, looking at him with amusement, pleasure and... maybe just a slight challenge.

[Guomundr]

Guomundr rapped a finger against his chin in thought before murmuring in Aire under his breath. Letting his head fall back to stare upwards at the ceiling, the same hand that was at his chin, drifted down to rub his throat before allowing his head to return to some semblance of a normal position casting a sideways glance at Lyssa. "I will not be staying here, sadly. I have loyalties to the Drowsing Dryad as the Master of the Inn was kind enough to give me a position and room. That will allow me to practice the knowledge that I learn here in a slightly more 'hostile' environment, so to say."

His eyes noticed the look of a challenge, and this caused his lip to curl slightly. Though he was a young man, he had learned much in his short life span from members of his kumpania, and through basic dropping of eaves, had learned that the language of the Empire had it's own body language. Stepping to the side, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze now centered over his shoulder looking straight into Lyssa's eyes. "My dedication in this place of Bard's, is to you. The Master of the Dryad will allow me time to practice no doubt, so my devotion will be every moment that I have off, except for lunch. That is my own time. Mornings, would be best, as business is slow. Evenings, I will be able to showcase what talent you give Lady Lyssa."

Guomundr was being quite playful, his stance, a mock challenge, was also flirtatious, as it was with, an apparently strong willed woman. The boy would keep it, and his wolfish gaze, he was enjoying himself, and the lessons had not started, or had they?

[Fox]

The smile that she gave him lifted slightly when he told her that he would not be staying here. "Very well" she said, and nodded "I understand entirely. Although I wouldn't be too sure that the Drowsing Dryad is more hostile, in truth. Criticism is the means by which you grow" she said, sagely.

His words were pretty and she laughed gently "Nicely said, Guomundr, but I warn you that we expect more of you than that. This is not a hobby, this is a way of life and as such each and every spare moment must be taken up in the thoughts, words and actions which allow you to step forwards as a Bard. Now, if you are prepared to accept that then on the morrow we will begin. Come here as the suns rise, dressed in loose clothing which is light. We will start to move together, to discover our joined rhythmn. If you are to become one of us, you will, eventually, have to undertake quests and so forth for us. If you accept these terms, then I will see you as sleep banishes itself from your eyes and we will dance together... if not, then I will dance alone as the suns begin the brightening"

She grinned at him and dropped a curtsy. "So, until next time our eyes meet each others, do you have any questions?" she asked, looking at him with amusement in her eyes.

[Guomundr]

"As they say. Drunks and children tell the truth. I believe the Drowsing Dryad will be adequate enough. However, one I develop my skills, I will need a more prosperous position and one that will suffer fewer mistakes." His hands folded behind his back, and he inhaled deeply to let his eyes settle on his teachers, a much more professional air coming about him...

"I would expect no less from a place of Bards, but until I finish my quest for a lute, I am simply a paying student. When accepted in after my trial, my time will be fully in this place, as will be my lodgings." The air wavered a bit, as the boy let a slight turn to his lip appear. Should she not be paying attention, she would miss it, as it was very briefly there before returning back to his stoic, statuesque posture.

Taking a light step back, he spoke with a tone of admiration, "Then retire to sleep I shall, to be greeted by the beauty of the suns, and of silver, red, to dance as two, then to one, in time with the song, and rhythm of the heart. I look forward to our lessons Lady Lyssa. Until the morrow, dream sweetly." He shifted his weight to his back leg and made a sweeping bow of sincerity, the exchange was pleasant, and would be a memory long burned into the boys memoirs...