RP:Bring in the Cavalry
Part of the Surface Tension Arc
Synopsis: Skylei is sent to the Warrior's Guild on behalf of the Elven Council on a recruitment mission. Whilst looking for Hildegarde, she is met by a knight of the Guild, Beldur, who expresses his interest in the contract. Though he riles her, Skylei accepts him tentatively into her company for the upcoming battle.
Royal Academy of Aramoth
Skylei is on a mission; a mission to find Hildegarde. Unfortunately, Hildegarde isn’t here, and thus Skylei will have to make do with whatever warrior she happens to find within the newly appropriated guildhall. With snow settled on the half-elf’s hair, cloak and boots from the walk from the elves camp, Sky would at least have the decency to wipe her feet and shake herself down before she passed through the grand doors and into the Academy. The halls she find relatively empty and with no dragon in sight. From under her cloak, the half-elf pulls a missive from the elves council addressed to the Steward and Guildmaster. She debates leaving in on a table somewhere, but the likelihood is that the knight would not receive the letter if she does that. Should she be able to spy Beldur, she would approach him politely, “Excuse me? Sir? Do you happen to be a member of the Warrior’s Guild?”
Beldur nods as he smiles. "Aye. I'll be down to make my report later." He waved a random member away as he looks to Skylei. His armor seemed to be freshly polished, if not having looked like it seen better days. The broad frame and dark blue cloak rested about his shoulders as he looked on the half-elf. His blue eyes watching her with a gentleness that would almost seem paladin like. "I'm Beldur, a Knight errant and a member of the Guild. Can I help you?"
Skylei looks the knight up and down. Yes, this guy was definitely the kind of fellow who could be of use; he looked properly put together in that well-shined armour and that nicely flowing cloak. Though not a warrior, Skylei appreciates those who take good care of their gear and thus, she decided that he could be trusted with that singular look, “Oh, excellent. My name is Skylei Lucindio. I’m here on behalf of the Elven Council. We’re looking to recruit a number of warrior’s from within the guild’s numbers to work alongside our own fighters; though we have a number of excellent mages and rangers, we’re slightly shorter on the heavy cavalry side of things.” Skylei looks around the hall once more in the hope that Hildegarde would appear. She doesn’t. “Anyway, I’m hoping to place a posting within your Guildhall so that anyone who is interested will know who to contact. The money is good and the company not unpleasant, so I am hoping that we’ll have a good uptake.”
Beldur nods as he looks around. "Well, you'll find plenty of warriors here eager for a fight. Mind if I ask whom you are fighting?" He folds his arms as he spoke. Seeming to guadge the half elven woman. The cloak lazily falling over his shoulders, hiding many of the bandages he had under the mithril plates.
Skylei is hard pressed to force her face into a neutral expression. She comes into the guild on behalf of the elven council asking for warriors. For the council to need warriors there is only one possible answer to the question regarding who they are going to fight. “We intend to launch an assault on Sage in order to drive back the drow and reclaim the homeland. Undoubtedly you will have heard of the unrest of late.” Ideally, she hopes that there will be some within the guild who will share the elven distaste for drow. That said, if there are those within the guildhall of little morals, only interested in coin, she will be equally happy to pay them.
Beldur shrugs as he doesn't seem interested. The gentle smile and eyes obviously hiding a calculating mind. His hand motioning towards a bench. "I've heard of it. Who's the commander of your forces? Unlike most here, I prefer not to go in blindly." He rests his arm lazily on the longsword at his hip. The gem in the handle shining as if it had it's own light in it.
Skylei blinks once. She can only assume that Beldur is asking these questions because he is interested in what she has to say, but some of them confuse her. ”The commander of the forces? The elven people are governed by an oligarchy; we have no one set leader at any point. It is made up of a council, a group who are equally responsible. Why have one person making the decisions when you can have a group ensuring that the decisions are logical and well made.” Such has been the way of the elves since the exile and it has not lead them into trouble… yet. “As for on the battlefield, it depends on which legion you are assigned to. Some will follow member of the council, others will follow other trusted members of the community.” Skylei cannot resist a little boast, “For example, I, myself, lead a small contingency of rangers and mages.” She gestures to the envelope in her hand, “Anyway, all of the details of the assignment can be found here. I am hoping that Hildegarde will examine it and then encourage you, should you wish, to fight in our stead.”
Beldur takes the envelope as he raises a brow. "It's fine in words, but having a group make decisions can often lead to complications. You can lose openings, and time on the battlefield losing and opening, can mean you risk victory." He looks up at her as he smirks. Watching the half-elf boast as he shakes his head. "So I take it you'll be behind a line of infantry men or supported via calvery? Kaley is a forest so the latter will have a harder time menuvering." He watched the half-elf as he kept the warm and friendly smile. The calcuating eyes seeming to look for something."The reason for my question is because I am interested, I also wanted to know who I will be taking my orders from."
Skylei Lucindio is easily riled. It’s an unfortunate consequence of the Lucindio blood-boon; fire in the blood means heated words are nothing unusual, “You’re attempting to tell an elf how to negate elf territory? Boy, most of the soldiers were born in Sage and lived there for hundreds of years. We know that terrain like no other and we know how to fight there far better than any of human, drow or any other blood.” She is hard pressed not to roll her eyes, “Besides, I am unlikely to discuss tactics with someone who isn’t part of my party. As it happens, the Council have stated that a number of the warriors we are working with will be under my command. So you’d likely take your orders from me, should you decide to accept one of the contracts we are offering.” Skylei pauses and issues a challenge, “That is, if you think you’re good enough to fight alongside my men. We only take the best.”
Beldur laughs whole heartedly as he heard what he wanted to. Many of the other members looking at him as if he was mad before he calmed down. "Forgive me for laughing, but I heard elves were passionate. I was hoping to see that passion." He removes his gauntlet as he smiles mischeviously. "As for that challenge: I accept." He offers a hand to her as he smiles. "I'm in." Beldur says in elven, " I hope that I am in your company, Lady Skylei."
It has been some time since anyone referred to Skylei as ‘Lady’. Still, she would accept the shake of his hand. “I can only hope for your sake that your bite is as good as your bark. I shall inform the council of your intentions to fight alongside us.” The letter which she had intended to deliver was placed on the side, “Please inform the Steward that I have left a letter here for her immediate attention. You may inform her that it is from the council, should you see her.” That said, Skylei would walk towards the door again, rearranging the cloak she wore so that it covered her body. She pauses only briefly to look back, “Oh and Beldur? Ensure you keep training. I won’t have deadbeats in my company.”
Beldur nods as he smiles. "I wouldn't be here if I don't train, Milady. See too it that your company doesn't mind a human in their mists."
Skylei doesn’t dignify him with a verbal response, merely nodding once before leaving the Academy and making her way back to the Elven Camp.