RP:A Tense Meeting in Xalious
Xalious VIllage This once small village hidden amongst the Xalious Mountains has grown over the years, as studious visitors come to study within the Mage Guild's public library, and also to visit the ancient Xalious Tree. Many of the young magelings have built homes here while learning at the Tower, and most chose to stay when their formal lessons are done. It has a thriving economy built upon this, and is well protected from roving dragons which frequent the Xalious Ranges by the Mage Tower. The houses which line the streets are all simple in construction, yet sturdily built with a caring touch. To the south is the town's well and beyond it the legendary Xalious Tree. To the west is a large inn which houses the town's frequent visitors. To the east is a rocky path back into the Xalious Ranges, and to the north, rising up to challenge the sky itself, is the infamous Mage Tower.
Ember was out of her armor for the evening, dressed in a much more lightweight tunic with comfortable pants and boots, all tailored in the elvish fashion. A knife was sheathed at her belt but it was more a tool than a weapon, the young paladin shaking the water off her hands from the well to the south, having splashed a bit on her face to help keep her awake. Her hair was still tied back in a single tail, a few stray bangs hanging in front of her face, as she walked back towards to the inn where she'd put in for the night. Between the ascent to Frostmaw earlier, her journey through the dwarven kingdom, and the trials from both, the she-elf was definitely feeling the familiar ache of muscle fatigue all throughout her body.
Lanlan wore very regal looking clothes of a fashion designed solely by him. Stark white pants contrasted exactly with his pitch black shirt. A cloak of a vibrant royal purple billowed behind him and at times around him, it wasn't heavy. A questionable gem clasped it around his neck, though it was red; could he afford a ruby? For some reason he wore striped white and purple socks, they seemed to whimsical for the sternness of his countenance. It was gray, the result of a mixing of two rival elf races, joined in the most unhallowed of meetings. His hair too was gray. And his eyes, a vengeful red. He had business here. The truth was he had business everywhere, he was...busy! Though this was ultimately where he called his home. A checkpoint from everywhere, the mage's tower and the library. Usually he came back to this place in order to follow a lead. And today it seems, he would find a new one. An elf. "Hello, you're new to this place aren't you?"
Rilling had taken a liking to her new elven friend, this had led her to adhere close by her proximity. Never one for subtly the youngling plowed ahead zigging and zagging in all conceivable directions, never one for conventionality walking straight was so boring after all... The strange creature stood a little over two and a half feet tall, one simple glance upon her would reveal suggested unusual ancestry. Long unkempt gray light brunette braids, uneven and tangled obviously the work of a child whose never heard of a mirror before. Bright light purple irises with a mysterious glow from time to time, flesh that looks to be a hybrid of glistening white scales and pale skin. One could also simply not ignore the white and blue horns jetting out from her upper cranium as well as the similar colored medium sized wings trailing from her back. Yes, the pointed eared child sure was a strange one. Excited, and curious to learn about this strange newcomer, yet also cautious, good things come from watching and waiting she concluded as she stood behind Ember and watched this situation unfold, her head cocked to the side as she analyzes.
Ember looks to the man who spoke to her, a polite smile on her face, which then freezes there as her body tenses upon seeing him. His skin, rather, even if not the full black of most drow, still links him to them in her mind. She doesn’t pull the knife or anything so dramatic though her tipped ears perk alertly, cat-like. “Hello.” She replies, a slight edge of discomfort in her voice, one hand reflexively brushing the symbol of Arkhen that hangs around her neck by a thin silver chain. “I’ve passed through once or twice, visiting the mage tower, but I rarely linger.” The paladin turns her head enough to give Rilling a small smile and a wave, becoming aware of her presence there, but doesn’t let the drow out of her field of vision in doing so before returning her green-eyed gaze to Lanlan. “My name is Ember, paladin in service to Arkhen.”
Lanlan is utterly courteous, whipping his cloak behind him and bowing slightly, "My lady," he says. And then stands back up to meet her gaze. "Ember, my name is Lanlan. I must admit, though I think this is the first time you've seen an elf my color, you seem to be taking it rather well. Or at least you're pretending to." He looked North to the tower, staring, frozen, as if in fear. Then he turned back, "Yes I tend not to linger either, a shame but I find certain of my colleagues," he loosened his cloak pulling down on the brooch, "most off-putting." He tilts his head to the side to aid in seeing around her legs, he waves at the young one, "Allo! My aren't you a pretty little girl? But your hair looks a bit messy. My hair used to be like yours. Then one day I cut it all off! My mother told me if I couldn't take care of it myself, then I didn't deserve to have it..." Lanlan demonstrated the cuts by haphazardly shoving to fingers into his short gray hair.
Rilling sheepishly turns away instantly upon realizing she'd been addressed. Things only seemed to get worse once she realized what exactly had been said. Dropping to the floor she starred up at the two glancing back and forth between them while on her knees. Odd, two new elves in such a short time. Her eyes widen once she notices the apprehensiveness of Ember, she had to do something she felt, with that the surrounding area started to cool and become crisp and then bitter, suddenly light snow was falling from the sky as the young girl twitched and shuddered. Quietly she uttered to no one in particular in a soft voice sounding akin to if she were to have a mouth full of syrup "Elves, an bad and ell em.." Her head once again returning to staring at the ground whilst quivering.
Ember looks surprised, perhaps by the courtesy he displays, but not unpleasantly so. It does a good deal to lower, if not completely erase, the tension that had sprung up in her bearing. Her ears remain alert, as does her gaze, but she doesn’t look like she’s on the verge of a ‘fight or flight’ response anymore. “We have that in common.” She agrees. “Arcane magic is much different from what I practice myself. You are a mage then? You are correct on an elf of your color… most drow I have encountered have tried to kill me, you’re the first to give a civil greeting.” Her opinion of the drow is evident in her tone the way she says the race’s name though given recent occurrences in Sage perhaps it’s understandable. The air begins to get cooler and now she does turn to look more fully at Rilling, at least believing that Lanlan isn’t about to try and shiv her unceremoniously in the back (even if an ear remains quirked in his direction). “I think it’ll be alright, Rilling. Lanlan, Rilling, Rilling, Lanlan.” Well, the dragoness would have just heard him give his name, but still… “I’m sorry Rilling, I couldn’t quite make out what you were saying.”
Lanlan took a wary step back and drew his cloak around him, to brace from the sudden drop in temperature probably. "Hmm. I seem to be inducing a curious reaction. Well! I knew you were special the moment I saw you didn't I? But please, don't be so aroused by me, I swear I'm only dangerous when I'm playing the role!" Luckily Ember started to speak on his behalf, he wasn't sure that he would be able to fight back against a child, even if she was powerful and dangerous. "I'm sorry I said that about your hair Rilling! I was just trying to relate, but I guess I said something very unusual didn't I?" He caught a snowflake on his hand just to see if it was real, it was. "Actually Ember," he started to say almost nervously, "I usually prefer not to be called a drow, I'm only half and I was raised (at least for a few years) in Sage." He bows again in thanks to his request. "You know, I remember now, I did come back here for a purpose, but I'd rather ask both of you then open a book." He took a breath, to steel himself for sudden and strange inquiry: "Have either of you ever seen a ghost? Do you even believe in ghosts?" His eyes darted from them both wide and expectantly.
Rilling didn't know if she felt comforted over the insecurities this newcomer is causing. He seems a little odd to say the least. Jumping back up to her feet she walks up to him however. She felt uneasy, but wouldn't let that get her down. Clenching her fist some she averts her eyes directly to his starring up at him almost in a trance of sorts. Quickly she stammers quickly "Hi, who can ya be... Wait who are you? What's wrong with you?" After her series of questioning she shakes her head a few times before abruptly diving straight at the half dark elf, attempting to throw herself straight into him causing collision, why? Eh, I dunno.
Ember blinks, hearing Lanlan’s words about being half-drow, before giving a nod. “My apologies if I caused offense; I’m not long out of training and have yet to see much of the world as yet. I assumed in error.” Half-drow… the wheels turned behind the paladin’s green eyes, wondering if it’s possible there was a love match, or if it was the more likely result of a forced union. The paladins train of thought is interrupted as Rilling launches herself at Lanlan like a miniature meteor.
Lanlan felt his anxiety quickly manifest at the start of her assault, and only compound with every second. "Well Rilling my name's Lanlan and I guess there might be a lot wrong with me that I just don't know about yet...hehe..." And then the youngster just runs into him! Who can say why? He's sort of awkward when it comes to kids, so he just dangles the leg she's tackled away, meaning to sacrifice it for the greater good of himself. "Say, you've sure gotten to like me eh? Or hate me maybe?" He shrugs and looks to Ember for advice or help. Girls know what to do with children. "No need to apologize Ember, unfortunately it happens quite often. See, I realize what a sharp stigma those elves have and I do my best to distance myself from them. Unfortunately I can only manage a few shades!" An awkward laugh. "I'm sure you must be wondering how I came to be. Well I can tell you that I used to wonder that too; my parents were both regular old elves like you, and so were my siblings! I've decided at length, that thinking about it could do me more harm than good, and so might knowing."
Rilling realized she was being handled, a past occurrence so frequent at this point that little effort is needed to realize its happening. Disgruntled she lets go of the strange elf and takes a few steps back feeling all sorts of odd she attempts to avoid eye contact averting her gaze to the ground and back. "Uhh.. yeah.." she then starts up again "Er, see then I'm a knight!" with that she runs back over to Ember and stares up to her lightly whispering. "Beat and we win and boss?" As she says this she points to the gray elf reputably whilst making explosion sounds, the last time even pointing to the woman's sword. "Best knight, magic splosions!" She really wasn't quite whispering at this point due to her inability to contain her excitement. With that she retreated behind the elder elf, awaiting her response and choice of action. "Ghosts!" she exclaims while starring off into space.
Ember can’t help but laugh at his ‘shades’ comment, relaxing the rest of the way, even as Rilling moves. She sees the look asking for help and decides to oblige while answering his previous question. If she believes him about his heritage or not, either way, she drops the line of thought. “I can’t say for sure that I have seen a ghost but I also see no reason why one could not exist. I’ve met dragons, vampires, lycans, and a host of other beings. The dead can sometimes walk as well, why not as spirits?” She tilts her head. “Has a spectre been troubling you?” The paladin walks closer to where Rilling and he are. Ember rests a hand on Rilling’s back lightly and smiles to the young dragon. “Often times, drow can be dangerous, but as you heard him say he doesn’t identify as such and he’s posing no threat to us. So proper knights can’t just attack him, it would be unchivalrous.” She gives a quiet laugh. “Though I do have a training sword I picked up for you. It’s at the inn with the rest of my equipment.”
Lanlan raises a hand to his mouth and takes a step back, clearly and dramatically aghast. "My word! Attack me when I'm so gentle? A knight would never do such a thing, your friend Ember is right! I beg you young Rilling, I have so much to live for...please...spare me? If you did then I could even help you train! The least I could do for allowing me to redeem my cursed offenses!" The drama is indeed his strong suit, luckily in this case it's harmless, maybe. "And though there is no ghost bothering me, I've heard tales of a pirate's ghost haunting the shores of Rynvale, and I've half a mind to investigate it...! Depending on how real ghosts are of course..."
Rilling shrugs it seems no one else wants to ever wanna fight how boring. "Okay.." she mumbles, replying correctly at least in her head. Upon hearing of getting her own sword though she perks up some nodding happily. "I don't get it..." Is all sher can say, odd she'd never quite wanted to understand her surroundings to this extent until a short while ago. Mumbling quietly to herself she utters "I just want things dead..." While motioning and tugging at Ember she whines "I wanna kill a ghost too! Let's gooo!" Attempting to urge her friend forward. She could see no possible downside to this course of action nope, she was excited and curious a fun combination, one that had the potential for great... well great something or another.
Ember smiles at Lanlan’s reaction to Rilling’s playfulness, going along with it and giving a sage nod, and finding that the half-drow isn’t nearly what she’d expected at first glance. It’s a pleasant surprise, truly, and one she’s glad she waited around to see. “Indeed, spare him for now, he may yet return to the light.” She jokes. “Besides, a mage makes for a potent ally. A pirate haunting in Rynvale, hmm? I’ve never been there but if you desired an adventuring companion I’d be willing to accompany you. I’m good with a spear and can mend the wounds of others should they suffer any.” And, as she’d already learned, channeling holy power into dead things burnt them, which could be a useful talent if needed or if a shade proved hostile. She gives Rilling a smile. “You have to learn when and why to make things dead though, not just that they should be. Too much death just increases the misery of the world; just as important as a knight is knowing when to show mercy or compassion.”
Lanlan finds it hard to resist smiling at the little half-dragon, even if what she says is quite morbid for something so young. She was young right? He didn't know exactly what she was so he couldn't judge. The curious side of him wanted to goad her on further, to test what power she really had, but he wasn't prepared for it unfortunately this day. "Ember if you would help me I'm sure we could succeed in finding out just what is going on there! And it's an experience I simply must have. You have such wisdom and strength, I can see it! It's no wonder the youngster was drawn to you as a role model. I feel nobler just by your presence!" He sighed, "Alas, I'm afraid I must be reduced, this is my time for leaving. Adieu! It was good to meet you, Ember. And Rilling? Good luck on your making things dead, but listen to Ember too!" Then he saunters to the Mage's dormitory, the one for students. A while away he offers one last wave to his new acquaintances.
Rilling finds it odd that the gray elf left so quickly rubbing her eyes she turns back to ember looking up at her baffled and slightly disgrunted "I and I I uh and..." as a frown spreads across her face she sits down on the elf's feat finding them an interesting enough sitting location. Rocking from side to side for a bit she utters again "Kill the poor and give da rest... Wait, why you not... where's your armor?!" As she says this she pokes at the elf's body a couple of times finding it amusing that she is no longer covered in the darkened metal. "I have it then?"
Ember bids the mage farewell, watching him depart, before turning to Rilling. “He was definitely not what I expected in a drow, though in a pleasant sense… of course, he says he doesn’t consider himself a drow either. And you, my friend, are just a bubble of energy, aren’t you?” She laughs. “My armor and spear are in the inn. Tell you what, run and grab my weapon, pack, and my armor sleeve and I’ll give you your training weapon, then we can practice.”
Rilling blinks a multitude of times and looks very confused and uncomfortable why talking about the elf "I think dark elves are bad." she explains, before shifting back and forth not able to stay still even for the shortest amount of time. She nods while listening to Ember's request, but doesn't seem to set off. Instead she just returns to sitting on her friend's feats and wrapping around her legs while mumbling something about life being unfair and not being allowed places she thinks. All of it sounds very whiny and sentimental, oddly still in an excitable tone though. "A'eyn ayun' no where is an' then places an' ah mean and.." Forgetting this display of emotion as quickly as it starts she finds herself reaching out to try desperately to get Ember's sword. She was a little fireball, well erm iceball. Eh this is what happens when you're 4, just smart enough to get into all kinds of crazed trouble, not smart enough though to realize how bad an idea most things are though, eh being without any steady authority probably contributed though.
Ember nods. “In most cases, they are. And perhaps Lanlan was lying to us to make himself look better but I didn’t get a sense of deception from him. It’s not unknown for dark elves to force themselves upon their captives, either.” She shakes her head, reaching down and brushing Rilling’s hair, even as the girls hand goes to her belt to take the paladin’s knife. It’s not a large weapon, more a tool, the blade perhaps four inches long. “You’re young, my friend, you still have a lot to learn. That’s a part of life. If you want my belt knife, I suppose you can have it, though I have an actual training sword for you like I mentioned. Hard to be a knight with my witling blade.”
Rilling is quick to take the knife as soon as she is allowed, as she looks it over pointing it at herself and Ember, this makes her laugh, still not moving from her seat however she continues looking the blade over. Subtly, but surly her body begins giving off a glow of some sort, faded and hard to notice at fist, but it gradually grows more powerful soon the blade with a simple swish in the air expels what appears to be an icicle straight forward from the tip of the blade. This fills the dragoness with euphoria as she jumps to her feet and continues the act over and over again, the glow now a strong aura and the surrounding area turning into a blizzard regulated or I should say unregulated by the arcane unbalance of her emotions related to her magic, she was excited which probably didn't help. "I'm a knight!, magic like you!" Pointing the knife at Ember she laughs wanting ever so badly to practice her new talent on her friend, she had no idea she could do anything like this.
Rilling truly today is experiencing an epic ride of an emotional roller coaster, approaching Ember again whilst pointing her knife at everything around her she starts to sob seemlessly out of nowhere she doesn't say anything, its almost as something Ember said to her made her upset. Sadly she throws the knife to the ground as hard as she can which seems to trigger it to get frozen to the ground in an oddly shaped block of ice. "Hueahh!" she exclaims throwing her arms out in the air out towards Ember, she looks like she wants to be off the floor, why I'm not sure she just likes being grumpy about things, walking is for squares she's a knight now, maybe that's why she's upset? Not being allowed to be a full knight yet. "Ueah..." Her face looks visibly upset and saddned a mixture of pouting and anger, kinda cute, kinda annoying.
Ember watches the dragon fall on the ground, carrying on, and crosses her arms over her chest to watch her. The young she-elf would definitely not be playing into that game; she’d had younger siblings who’d thrown similar behavior her way and it didn’t work for them either. Dragon or not, the paladin was resolved. “Rilling, I told you the first time we met and I’m sure Hildegarde would tell you the same, being a knight takes time. If it’s something you want, then you have to work hard and earn it, no one can just give it to you. And if it’s not something you want to work hard for then maybe it’s not something you’re meant to be. But crying about it won’t change things.”
Rilling is actually quite surprised how unfazed Ember was by her behavior. In an instinct as if a switch she turns off the water works and composes herself. In a dull tone light voice she starts "Okay, then.. I just hafta do what it takes, I promise and will work hard." Nodding she avoids eye contact again actually feeling shameful still although she moves in closer to Ember and stands close behind her. "I do whatever you say do better. Please... I stay." With a quick last sniffle she then stares up towards Ember and tries to show the best display of composure she can manage, she wanted this and badly, and wanted nothing more than to prove that is was for her.
Ember gives a nod. “Good, I’m happy to hear that.” The paladin reaches down and brushes her fingers through the top of Rilling’s hair again. “I know, it’s hard sometimes, anything worth having is. There were times when I was training to be a paladin that I would’ve given anything to just give it up and go home. Trying to break me was a part of the training. But in the end, I was glad I stuck with it, and my life’s been enriched ever since. So! A knight has to know how to use a sword, right? Do you want me to get the practice one I bought for you?”