RP:A Stranger Arrives
Synopsis: Aarika, Toth and Kaval have a chat within the Barracks. Kaval, had come at the rumors of being able to earn coin. So she displayed her interest in joining the Steel Collective.
A Stranger Arrives
Kaval paused at the steel gates and towering walls before her. Her jaw tensed upon eyeing the stone sentinels before taking those first few steps past the threshold of the barracks. The human’s mood had been soured by the trek through the mountain range paths and long hours to dwell on the attack at the Frostmaw city gates. All those pelts and salted meats, burnt up and unusable. What was one to do when you’ve lost your means of income? Find another, and so she supposed she happened upon one. A few names had been given in passing on who to speak with for work, and the compound just ahead seemed the right place to see if Aarika, Eirik, Grizelda or Jarith were about.
Aarika noted the new face, Kaval, that ventured into the Collective's barracks and offered a dip of her flaxen head, " You look lost, friend." She called over the clashing of other spars occurring on the grounds. The nod turned into an inviting jut towards the main building while Aaika carried the broken arrow into the mess hall, she would trade wood for a rag with a servant. They crossed the threshold and the hall was full of life, mercenaries sitting about discussing contracts, reminiscing over battles and tuning their personal weapons."I agree." She replied to sparring again as she set coarse for a cluster of empty chairs, "I like your fight." A wave of her hand set a drink order in motion, two whiskeys and whatever the other female would have, "I'd be more then happy to help you with close quarter combat." A smile sounding in her words while a hand offered a single pat to Toth's back just before applying pressure to her open wound. Shortly after she melted into her chair Henry joined her with a bowl of water and stitching tools. Henry was Aarika pupil, he was a young man with a messy head of brown hair, swampy eyes and a baby face. He helped clean the wound of the griping matriarch then sterilized the needle with the flame of the candle before piecing her back together, "So I noticed different arrows...What exactly did you have in store for me?" She'd arch a brow with a pensive tone before turning to inspect Henry's patch work, a craft that had improved immensely since the two became antiquated.
Toth follows Aarika, ears perking at each sound, making note of the greeting that was offered..waiting for the person to come closer before he would make any kind of gesture or spoken word. He slows himself into a chair next to the woman , speaking softly to himself for a moment as an orange-ish glow shone about his leg for a moment before seeping into his skin, wincing slightly as he moved himself comfortably in his own chair. "I don't like to give all my secrets away on the first date.." He smirked before resuming, "I Will say that each color holds a different surprise for everyone. The blue is a sleeping sedative, depending on how well I can get the incantation off or if I can soak the arrow with different herbs that I like to collect." his ears twitched a bit as the woman, Kaval, started to get closer..squirming in his chair a bit as he removes his bow and lays it across his lap.
Aarika shook her head and the snicker that over took her features was audible through the clamor of the room, "First date? I thought this was the second." She was clearly playing, the expression evident for Kaval to read, "Men, am I right?" Henry piped in with a defending, "hey" as he knotted and cut the line before swapping the approaching employee the tools for booze, his eyes lingering on the departing woman's physique. Aarika was impatient and moved to pluck the bottle from his hand, a second 'hey' was issued. "I liked that snap, crackle and pop one." She complimented with the uncorking of the glass bottle. The matriarch poured the table's drinks while water would soon be on the way. "Now how did a blind man hit you?" Henry picked at his mentor as he leaned over to issue a clasped hand to Toth's forearm in a congratulations, "Women, am I right?" He mocked Aarika which earned him an elbow to his gut. Kaval's question pulled the blonde's attention along with a cheeky grin, "Depends what kind of coin you're after." She replied as a cup was placed before those around her.
Kaval furrowed her brows in realized she must had appeared as out of place as she felt. “Aye!” she called back with quick paced jog up to the pair entering the main building. Not being in many large structures like this, her sights where attracted to everything shuffling about. Catching word of two mercenaries going over a contract caused her to pause briefly before she joined the others. She pulled off her bow strapped loosely to her back and rounded her arrow quiver to her side as she sat down, mulling over how she could go about asking for work after asking for some chilled water. Eyeing Toth’s own bow she waited until there was a pause in the conversation to speak up, “I was told this would the place to go for coin.” She looked back up to Aarika, jaw tensing again in anticipation.
Toth heard the tone between the two women before slowly moving his bow to rest against the chair he was sitting, his hand moving along the table before finding his glass and taking a sip. His face moved over towards Henry smirking a bit, "Guess your a glutton for punishment?" His head turned towards Aarika as he smile return to him, "Look at us go." His ears tilted some towards Kaval, waiting to hear what she had to say. His hand bringing the drink to his lips once again as he takes another drink, stretching out his leg a bit he turns his face towards the woman he was unfamiliar with.
Kaval gave a slight smirk to the teasing and attempted to relax a bit. The group did not appear to be as harshly militant as she had originally assumed. Perhaps this was the correct choice. Having seen Henry’s needle work at stitching she wondered and mused with the idea of inquiring if they needed a healer. Damned it be however, that wouldn’t work, not yet at least. Henry’s comment on a blind man made the women realize that the elf must be blind. Blind and able to use a bow? His skills must be perfected for such a feat and almost caused her to bluntly ask him how he learned to use his bow. However, Aarika once again pulled her attention. She tensed again, almost glaring at the women but not in rage at her. A storm brew behind those grey eyes as she spoke, “Any kind at all.” Her tone dropped almost monotone. A year’s work, gone in a few hours. It burned her
Aarika's glass was refilled by Henry as he spoke across the table addressing Kaval, "I'm sure there's a position in the kitchens." His comment earned him look of annoyance from the matriarch as she replied to Toth, "He -is- a glutton for punishment. Maybe we will have to test your aim again after some drinks." He didn't see so smug after Aarika's suggestion and sighed raking his calloused mitt through his mess of curls that sat on the crown of his head. A drunken blind man shooting objects of the youth's head didn't sound ideal to him, "What skills do you possess?" Aarika asked from behind the whiskey she nursed, her gaze catching Kaval's.
Toth reached up once more, taking the glass and finishing off the drink before asking Henry for another. As he waited for the drink, Toth slunk down in the chair a bit more, resting his head back against it as his eyes closed..not that it made much of a difference. his ears stayed high as usual as he waited and listen to the people talk. His foot toying with his bow as his hands fall down to his lap, "That might be fun." His words spoken softly, a smirk could be heard through it all.
Kaval tried to seem less tense. The kitchens, now that would be interesting. Lowlands seem to have extravagant kitchens that simply make no sense. Why overcomplicate what a crackling fire and good old cast iron could cook. They probably compensate salting their meats for unneeded sweeteners. Bastardising good game, no, no the kitchens would be horrible for her. Easing herself she sighed, “Skills, I am a hunter of the Frostmaw peaks.” She gestured to her bow, “Though, I still need some sight to hit my mark.” She said, slightly worried their expectations for archers having a higher benchmark than she could hit. “And...” she murmured, pulling back her sleeve to reveal what looked like a black tattoo. Its center point her wrist, reaching out like tree branches around her arm, “I can mend enough to stop someone from bleeding out. No more.”
Aarika would snicker along with Tosh while Henry moaned, "Hey we're supposed to stick together here." He addressed the archer as he filled his glass. Aarika had paused for a second as she let Kaval's words stew, tracing traces was always a helpful skill and a second bow covered more grounds, "And what is your moral compass?" Aarika's questions were asked in a casual manner while she swirled the contents of her cup stirring the whiskey aroma to life. "Would you be apposed to hunting different people and beasts?" Again she fell silent but only to sip on bourbon, "You may choose what contracts to work, however only the Gods know the outcome. One could easily be placed in a compromising position." There was a soft smile paired with a warning for her to consider her decision though, "If this isn't a problem then there is coin to be made." Aarika shifted slightly towards Toth, "Falling asleep on us?" She teased.