Heartbeats of a Desert Song [Open]

Festivals.

A word that many fail to associate with the fierce desert warriors of the Ki'sha. And for good cause. Until recently, the borders of the Ki'sha have been sealed. Only a chosen few had been welcomed into this barren landscape of sand and rock, and fewer still had managed to slip past the border patrol unnoticed- and made it out to tell their tales unscathed.

Until recently.

The Ki'sha are a fierce people, this much has been proven true again and again over the course of thousands of years. But the lingering view that the Ki'sha are heartless savages- That has never been- and never will be- true. A Ki'shan's heart is strong and true; to win the trust and loyalty of such an individual is no easy feat. The fierce vibrancy with which with which Ki'shans throw themselves  into life with can often be mistaken for savagery- as indeed, they are savage warriors when need be- but Ki'shans simply live life to the fullest. As such, Ki'shan celebrations and festivals are among the most intense events held on the entirety of Nuira. Those who have attended such events often remark on the stark differences between such festivals and daily Ki'shan life. The laws are still enforced of course, but many other formalities are dropped in favor of simply enjoying the festival. During the oppressive heat of the day, most dragons simply rest, decorate, and prepare. For at night... nighttime is when the true festivities begin.

And that time was fast approaching. The sun had already sunken low in the sky, tongues of red, orange and pink beginning to lick at the horizon like a bright and colorful bonfire set at the edge of the world. Kuz'a Asherna Ky'aelri rested a forepaw on her balcony, watching the colorful display wash across the sky with a sense of excitement and mild impatience growing in her chest. 'At last, the spring equinox is upon us.' And with that- She could already pick up faint echoes of drum beats and flashes of lantern-light from down in the city proper. Soon enough, the festival would be in full swing, and the laughter and song would echo out across the silent desert for miles around. Children, laughing and daring each other to run through the mists drifting out of the grates. Their parents, finally getting a chance to dance and relax with friends. The young finding love, the old rekindling an old flame; forgiveness and catharsis are found for many on nights such as these. Laughter, song, face and body paint, spiced meats, sweet bread, the smoky scent of burning incense, throbbing beats that drove dancers onwards to the point of dizzy, breathless laughter- Ki'shan festivals were places of joy and revitalization, beautiful flowers amongst an otherwise strictly barren landscape.

However.

This time was different. Asherna had been in power for many years before this, but this was the first time the doors of the Ki'sha had been thrown open to outsiders. This was the first time foreigners were explicitly allowed to partake in the festival as they saw fit. Of course Asherna had taken the necessary precautions in case problems should arise, but there was a lingering sense of nervousness nonetheless. She hoped that- like her subjects- any visitors would respect the peace brokered by the festival and leave any grudges behind for the night, but she wasn't foolish enough to believe that everyone would be so courteous.

Nevertheless, Asherna had a festival to attend. She stayed until the sun had set completely- leaving only a few streaks of dark purple across the clear night sky- and rounded up her guards and attendants. "You, you, and you- I want you blending in with the crowd. Enjoy yourselves, but be prepared in case trouble rears its head. You four, I want you on the outskirts, be obvious, and collect a few other guards if you feel it necessary. Just the sight of the guards may quell some of the smaller potential issues. Am I clear? Excellent. Well, we have a party to attend then, no? Let us be off." Having set some basic precautions in place, Asherna and her entourage leapt off the palace's ledge, and spiraled downward towards the city proper, eager to see who- if any- would dare to dive into the rich depths of Ki'shan culture.