RP:A Proposition
This is a Mage's Guild RP.
Black Library
As you climb down into this room its immense size is the first thing that strikes you. The old wooden ladder creaks un-nervingly as your foot rests on it. This dimly lit room is huge and filled with dusty ancient bookshelves. On examination you can see the shelves are carved from solid black oak, strong sturdy and known for its arcane properties. Lining every shelf is thousands of books all colors shapes and sizes. All the books appear to be about necromancy and black magic and thus the whole subterranean chamber is filled with a most ominous evil aura that seems to sicken right to the soul of any who enter. The smell here is of stagnation for not much fresh air reaches this place; it seems to invade the nostrils like some strange miasma adding to the sickly sensations the room seems to invoke. On the walls hang various ornaments from candle stick holders that bring a tiny tinge of light to certain areas and preserved skulls of all kinds of creatures from Human to Dragon, Drow to Centaur and things even stranger than that. Faint but heavy footsteps can be heard against the cold stone floor distantly so it would be wise not to stay too long without sound reason.
Redhale had left his spot in the reading room to stalk the maze of books for a while. He moved slowly down each row, occasionally reaching out one bony hand to grasp a book, glancing at it briefly before letting it drop to the floor where a dutiful librarian would pick it up and place it back on the shelves before shuffling back after its master. He wasn't looking for anything in particular, but found that browsing aimlessly was sometimes better study than close reading while curled up at his table.
Svilfon has been searching for days to find Redhale... though, that's not entirely true. He came to Vailkrin a few weeks ago to find him, but didn't do much looking. This time he's been determined. So leaving Frostmaw he flew to Vailkrin. From speaking to Kasyr he knew of the Black Library, and being studious, and living in fact in two libraries himself, he has been eager to come visit. Wandering in, apparently unbothered by the stagnant air, Svilfon begins to wander through the mage of shelves, quietly moving closer to Redhale. When he nears the Undead Lord he offers him a tip of his hat and a brief smile. That Redhale sure is one spooky dude, the wizard thinks to himself, before speaking aloud to the Vailkrinian Ruler. "Greetings, Redhale." He grins, flashing beneath his magnificent beard the gaps in his teeth alongside the fangs which rest within. "I have been looking for you. If you have a spare moment, I have a few questions." Svilfon just assumes Redhale knows who he is, but considering the wizard is a ranking member of Kasyr's vampiric house, and also known to be a member of the Mage's Guild, this is perhaps an understood assumption.
Redhale stood taller as he was addressed, uncurling his twisted form and stretching out his neck to better resemble the shape of a person. The book he had clutched when Svilfon came upon him was dropped without even a cursory glance and the determined undead behind him awkwardly pushed its way forwards in an attempt to re-shelve it, bustling its way between the wizard and the wight only to fall forwards onto the book and lie in a jumbled mess wedged between the shelves and the mages. Redhale looked glumly down at the librarian for a moment before responding to Svilfon, "I'm sure I have time. Let us find somewhere a little more conducive to discussion." He beckoned Svilfon follow and began to make his way back down the shadowy aisle.
Svilfon offers the Undead Lord a brief grin before following quietly in his wake. The librarian is given a warm smile - Svil understood the desire to ensure books remain undamaged, so he is perhaps a little less caring of the man's zealotry towards them. Nevertheless, he's content to follow Redhale, even as he asks a question casual enough for any ears which may be close. "How fares Vailkrin? I miss this city."
Dimly Lit Reading Room
This room is slightly better lit than the library due to a larger amount of candles placed strategically around the room, yet the room is still dim compared to what human eyes would be accustomed to. The wax runs from the candles onto brass and carved out skull holders fixed into the cold stonewalls, casting eerie shadows throughout the room giving the place a very chilling atmosphere. Scattered around are large black oak tables and finely padded armchairs for people to read from the libraries dark literature. Some tables have their own candles illuminating evil passages in leather clad books whereas some tables have long since been abandoned to the spiders. Large intricate webs cover these tables and the books on them while their inhabitants cast fearsome shadows upon the walls. The air in this room is again stagnant and unclean and seems particularly unwholesome. Dead centre in the room is expertly preserved skeletal remains of a dragon in a pose that would suggest it is about to take off from the ground as its skull's mouth opens wide baring all its fangs for a moment you can almost hear a terrifying roar. You could stay here to read or go back into the library.
Redhale strode onward back towards his reading room, sending the few other librarians he ran into on the way scattering, "Vailkrin has calmed for now. We lie peacefully like our brothers who choose to remain in the earth. This is surely a new age of prosperity for the undead," Cold and still is not the generally accepted description of a golden age, "There is still some talk of further construction, and it is suggested we begin talks with foreign ambassadors to cement our new Vailkrin on the world stage, but there is always time for all of that." Redhale made his way around a large table at one end of the reading room and sat himself down on the opposite side, his form sprawling outwards once more to envelop his chair and most of the table. Surely his study spot had been chosen more for image than for practicality, as his raised position let his grim mask stare out over the rest of the floor, his hulking figure backed by a set of immense glass fronted bookcases full of ancient and forgotten knowledge while on the table before him lay a mess of books and papers promising much the same content.
Svilfon follows quietly behind Redhale. He nods while the man speaks of a calm Vailkrin, though the wizard is sure it will not last. Such things rarely do. For a moment as he enters the end of the reading room his gaze takes in the books. He doesn't pay much attention to the large table, and after a brief moment spent looking at some of the titles, he turns and casually sits down upon a chair on the opposite side of the table to the undead ruler of Vailkrin. Svilfon seems relaxed, and after a brief smile he speaks. "I am glad the city propers." An ambiguous enough response. For a moment after the wizard remains quiet, before speaking again. "I understand you are powerful, Redhale." The wizard extends a hand and lazily pulls from the air itself his Xalious wood wand. "I wanted to know why you never joined the Mage's Guild? If you wished to enter it would be at the very high and rarely attained rank of Provost Esoterica... you will not have to teach, we do not care how you use what knowledge you gain within the Guild... You will be given a Xalious wood staff... There is much to gain, Lord Redhale. For all of us." The wizard grins at that.
Redhale hunched his shoulders up and turned his head slightly away, "This is important enough to travel all this way to ask? Unfortunate…" His masks gaze tracked along the room, attempting to illustrate disinterest, "I will admit I was once curious; I thought it would be good to be back among others like myself, that there might be worthwhile opportunities… But that was some time ago. I have found my own enlightenment, and the companionship of the guild offers no worth to me any more. But for a piece of Xalious wood, what would I really have to gain?" His gaze settled back onto Svilfon, and through the mask would not be seen eyes or scarred flesh but a reflection of the wizard himself, in a cramped, underground room surrounded by those enslaved to the dark man, "Or perhaps the more pointed question is what you would hope to gain from me?"
Svilfon spends a moment silently regarding Redhale, seemingly unconcerned by his words. Despite the city being one of undead, and far away from Svilfon's usual home – though, he does live in Xalious also – the wizard is nevertheless relaxed as he sits there. “Our ranks would never grow if membership is never offered, Redhale.” The wizard offers a shrug of his own at that. “Let us continue to not beat around the bush, as it were. I prefer this direct route. First, the guild would gain another powerful member, and one who is wise in ways others are not. Secondly, it also opens up the channels available for study in different areas. I would not presume to enter your library every day, for instance, though were we both members of the Guild I would be less inclined not to.” For just a moment Svil spins his wand through his fingers. “Plus, the Xalious items are powerful. You can take on an apprentice, if you so wish... though, I do not do it. And it will help loyalty from Trist'Oth and Frostmaw when Vailkrin... how did you put it?.. is on the world stage?” Svil grins. “There is much to gain for us all. Think about it, at least.”
Redhale chuckled a little, although the sound was less joyous and more reminiscent of broken glass being ground into sand, "You would suggest that we might not garner support from the land where Kasyr is King consort, and the Drow whose leader is a follower of our patron Vakmatharas? Not to mention whose city is literally entwined in our lands. I appreciate your attempt to offer some kind of deal but the only value I see in your offer is the Xalious tree. Would it be worth my fealty? I am not so sure…"
Svilfon laughs, the sound rich with genuine good humour. “Fair enough, Redhale.” He tips his hat. “I will not force you to join, for the price of what you will give us truly isn't mine to sell. There is much gain to be had by all. And we ask for no promises of loyalty or honour. We're a guild of study, knowledge and power. I destroyed Tiphareth's body once, and was given a promotion. You will give us the expertise of your skills, we will give you shared knowledge of our own. The pool you can drink from is far deeper than the one we can in return.” The wizard once again shrugs. “But the choice is, of course, your own to make. Just do not be so eager to give up such opportunities. They do not come around all that often.” A final tip of his hat finishes those words.
Redhale gestured to the library beyond Svilfon, "I have a fair range of knowledge available to myself right here, let alone what is freely available beyond these walls. Enough to last me many years before I would need to return to the mountains to study with you and yours. In fact, most scholars freely share their resources without the need for brotherhood and secrecy, for sharing knowledge is the truest form of learning. This is not something I have learnt to expect from your guild."
Svilfon waves away the words with a brief gesture of his hands. “This library is excellent, yet it is nothing compared to the Mage Guild's own library... that which holds powerful books written by myself, Tiphareth, Satoshi... that Forsaken necromantic book, bound there and sealed. We have a library that is shared to the public, and one that is only for the masters of the tower. For some knowledge, Redhale, is best kept only to those who can control the consequences of knowing it.” The wizard nods, then, firmly. “Such is our responsibility.”
Redhale grumbled in annoyance, "I suppose I can understand the need for such precautions," Given the expanse of 'forbidden' tomes stacked behind him, "Though if you can determine that I am worthy of your guild rank, then what does it matter to share such knowledge with me, whether I am one of you or not? The distinction seems petty or, at worst, selfish. I would like you to prove that you are not so."
Svilfon doesn't immediately respond to Redhale. Instead he pauses for a long moment, before speaking again. “You make a broad argument, but answer it I shall.” The wizard shifts in his seat, before his wand resumes its spinning around his hands. “First let me say that if you ever came to the Guild and asked for knowledge, we would share it with you. What you asked for, we would give, gladly. The difference is slight; when you are part of the guild, you are proven trustworthy enough to be given the freedom within the guild to do as you please. Otherwise, we would be flooded with young mages who learn spells they cannot control and destroy themselves. You seem determined to find some evil in what we do – we're merely a school for knowledge and the shift between being seen as a student or a teacher reflects such things.”
Redhale shook his head, "No, I know your guild exists outside of the distinction of good and evil, I'm not sure that the way you operate is for the best of all involved… But I will attempt to be understanding. I am honoured, of course, that you think of me at all, and curious as to why you would come to me now. Is this offer all you have come to see me for, or is it because you want something specific of me? Am I merely to be another book in your library or have you come seeking more?"
Svilfon shakes his head. “This is all I needed to speak to you about. As you eluded to earlier, anything that happens between Vailkrin and Frostmaw effects Kasyr and Satoshi. I come here rarely, but I am loyal to my Guild and take upon the task of finding those who should join our ranks. Many I have tested in battle. You are, admittedly, the first I have come to with an offer and a higher rank than entered apprentice. I do it, as I said earlier, for the strength of the Guild. That and Frostmaw I am loyal to, little else. I thought we could all gain by you accepting, though in truth none of us lose if you refuse... merely, an opportunity is lost. But even still, if you decide against my offer, you would still be welcomed to the guild if you wished to study something there. This offer holds no animosity balanced on the decision. It is merely... an offer.”
Redhale looked down to his papers, reaching his twisted claws out once again to flick idly through them, "Well as I said, your offer is flattering, and I'm sure there is some value in such a deal. I hope you will not be offended if I decline an immediate response; I already have many decisions to make before I can properly consider this one. You could, of course, perhaps offer something to help me see what worth lies behind your public access… Some knowledge, it seems, is lost even to the ageless dead."
Svilfon smiles once again. "I would be more concerned if you made such a weighty decision without due consideration. Take what time you need. As for a gift of knowledge..." The wizard laughs. "Come to the Mage's Tower some time, and I'll show you something that'll put hair on your chest." The wizard flashes a crooked grin at that, unsure even whether the undead ruler has a chest. But he doesn't mind. Instead he stands and offers Redhale a brief bow. "Come to Xalious, Lord Redhale. There is much you can learn and many benefits you will see." The wizard nods, "If you have no other questions, I will leave you to your study. I may spend a while within your library before returning to the tower..." The wizard pauses for a moment to let out a quiet chuckle. "Do think well on this decision. I think it could be beneficial to us all."
Redhale nodded, "Do browse, and feel free to make copies, but do not remove any books without my knowledge. I will send word to you in time." He forewent the bow and simply waved one gnarled set of fingers in a way that was either a farewell or a shooing gesture as he grew more absorbed in the set of notes before him.
Svilfon offers the undead lord another smile and a final tip of his hat, before adhering to the gesture and leaving the man to his study. If Svil was at all offended by being shooed away, he doesn't show it - he's content to merely wander the library and contemplate the discussion he had with Redhale before he returned home once more.