RP:Dragonic
Summary: Quintessa drops by Kailani’s, hoping to figure out the mystery of those rumored frog eggs. By the end, the two agree that the druid will learn dragonic from Quintessa.
Fengoth Falls
Kailani :: Visitors were few and far between in Kailani’s world. Even those who actually have an idea of where the druid is currently residing are rarely seen, probably out of a combination of the druid’s preference for privacy and the extremely remote location. It didn’t bother Kai in the slightest, but it did mean that she wasn’t exactly expecting company on this day...or any other day for that matter. At present Kailani and her young dragon companion are both in the river, and both are a considerable distance away from the falls itself. Far enough that the pull of the currents were manageable, especially for a druid who could easily influence the current if the pull proved to be too rough. From a distance, it would be hard to see exactly what Kai was doing. It would be easy to tell that the young Aspen was astutely supervising whatever it was Kailani was doing but his form masked much of what she was doing. A lot of splashing could be heard. Maybe she was laying eggs! Maybe Quintessa’s timing was most opportune! Alas. Once Quintessa draws near enough, she’s going to come to the realization that Kai’s current task is much more mundane. Laundry. She’s using the river to help clean her clothes, probably Orion’s too maybe. The young blue dragon would likely notice Quintessa before Kailani’s did, as the blue-haired woman was a bit distracted with her current chore. His response is of course to be cautious and protective of this stranger, but Aspen is not nearly large enough to be a threat to someone like Quintessa. He’s got quite a bit of growing to do yet, even with neck fully extended the young dragon is probably about hip height when compared to the half-elf. Just a baby still.
Quintessa moves along the Fengoth river mounted atop her golden cockatrice, Bloodbeak, his dull, bronze armor reflecting the midday sun as his rider surveys the area. She wears tinted goggles upon her pale face to protect her sensitive eyes from the sun’s harsh rays as she halts her mount’s progress, scribbling down some notes of the wilderness as she passes them. The changeling adored the hidden beauty of places like this, the rough edges of the landscape concealing the Dead Forest from the rest of Venturil behind rocky ridges. Quintessa didn’t mind, however, with Bloodbeak with her she could trespass on any terrain no matter how intimidating. She knew all too well the rewards offered to those who looked for places where others would not. Quintessa’s goal today? Seeking out the strange creature known as Kailani and investigating where she kept her eggs. It was springtime now and all the little amphibians would be building their nests, so when Quintessa hears splashing in the river up ahead her mood spikes with excitement. Maybe her timing was perfect! As her three meter tall bird brings his mistress closer to the sounds he takes in a deep breath of the scents in the area, feathers ruffling as the smell of the small dragon. “Easy, Bloodbeak,” Quintessa coos down to her cockatrice, delicate fingers moving down to gently brush his long neck as he takes an aggressive posture, making sure the special visor that kept his eyes hidden was firmly in place. “Hello there!” The changeling shouts down to Kailani, long legs swinging over her mount’s back so she could hop from his back to the ground, reins still held in her fist. “I haven’t come at a bad time, have I?” She slowly lifts the goggles from her mismatched eyes, squinting to scan the area for giant frog eggs.
Kailani :: Poor Aspen is considerably smaller than Bloodbeak and while he was at first cautiously protective, his demeanor shifts as he observes the aggressive stance of the other creature. The young dragon ends up shrinking behind Kailani, as if the druid will be able to protect him if need be. This response is what alerts Kailani to Quintessa’s approach, only moments before the changeling speaks to her. The blue haired woman is surprised, but in a good way, based on the smile that creeps across her lips. “This is our friend Quintessa,” she says to Aspen in a calm voice, taking herself and her unfinished laundry out of the river and onto the banks. Aspen follows, but he keeps close to the half elf. The wet laundry is temporarily abandoned in a reed woven basket, probably made by the druid herself at some point. Kai herself is dressed as though she was planning on spending a bulk of the day doing boring housework like laundry. She’s not adorned in her black armor, as she is usually seen in. Today she’s just wearing a rather oversized tunic, long enough that she’s really got no shame in trying to approach Quintessa. The druid is also barefoot and unarmed. Muddy feet are not cause for concern with this woman. “Oh no. I was just trying to be mildly productive with my day. Clean clothes are nice. Putting off having to wash them is even better.” Clothes Quintessa can see. What Quintessa can not see is frog eggs. Not even the hints that Kailani was making some form of a nest. And she’d have to do something, especially with the currents of this particular river. “It is good to see you though. I am glad you’ve come all the way out here for a visit. Who is your friend here?” Kai is excited, she’d love to step up to the cockatrice and say hello, but she conducts herself accordingly and with respect.
Quintessa grins down to the young dragon, flashing her sharp teeth at him before giving Bloodbeak the command to stand still as she releases his reins. “Hello, little one.” Quintessa moves a step forward to greet Aspen, the tall woman stooping down to appear less intimidating. “Si mi ti gethrisjir ekess ouith wux.” The changeling spoke to the wyrmling, putting her studies of the Dragonic language to good use to ensure she was not a threat to him. Not spotting any eggs wouldn’t put a damper on her mood, however, as she stands back up to shift her smile in Kailani’s direction. “This is my dear friend Bloodbeak,” Quintessa says as she looks up at him, patting his chest as a low hiss forms in his throat. “Don’t mind his attitude; he hates everyone at first.” The giant bird sniffs at the air again, his head tilting in the half-elf’s direction quizzically, confused by what he was smelling. He had never encountered someone like her before and wasn’t sure how to handle it. Meanwhile Quintessa gazes over the collected laundry and is transported back to a far off memory, a fuzzy image of a girl washing clothes in the Black Pond. “Y’know,” she begins, blue and hazel eyes flickering over to her from under black lashes. “There is an easier way to do the washing… I could build you a runic washboard and tub that keeps the water warm if you want. It makes getting stains out easier- you have any idea how hard it is getting blood stains out of cloth?” She giggles at her rhetorical question. “So, you live around here? It’s a nice spot. Quiet. Lots of things I want to draw here. You have good taste.”
Kailani could not understand what Quintessa had said to Aspen, at least not fully, but she could take clues from the way Quintessa made herself appear smaller and less intimidating. It was less clear on if Aspen understood the words or the body language, it prompted him to approach. Both Kailani and Aspen are intrigued with this use of language, but Kai is the one who is able to vocalize it for the two of them. “He has been with me ever since he was an egg. His name is Aspen. I was told that poachers killed his parents. Aspen has really only heard me speak to him in common. Sometimes elven, but I don’t often have cause. I think we’d be both curious to learn the language though. Where did you gain this knowledge?” While Kailani speaks, she tests the waters with Bloodbeak, trying to move closer and stretching a cautious hand out depending on how receptive the cockatrice was being. The druid was not looking to push her luck and risk losing a hand, so any signs of agitation and she’d very calmly distance herself again. She’d keep conversing with Tessa during this attempt, “I suppose a large bucket and washboard would make considerably more sense. I am not one to refuse a gift from a friend, if you would like to. Blood stains are not fun to deal with, and I have to do so often, as we hunt.” A smirk crosses Kai’s lips, “But I am also content. I do enjoy the river.” As for what Aspen is up to, well since he has decided to approach Quintessa...he’s just going to go right ahead and stop behaving in that semi-shy manner. Plus the woman that was more or less a mother to him seemed very at ease, which was encouraging for the youngin’. So…! He’s just going to start shamelessly investigating Quintessa, sniffing her boots and her ankles. His forked tongue will definitely make contact with her hand during this investigation. “I do live around here. It’s not much really, indoors at least. But. We do have a nice outdoor sitting area, I could offer you tea, if you would like?”
Quintessa frowns a little when she learns that Aspen was orphaned by poachers, a pang of sympathy diving through her like a nail. “Poor youngling…” Mismatched eyes flicker back and forth between the dragon and half-elf, the story of her own wyrmling still fresh in her mind. “The tale is all too similar I’m afraid. My partner and I rescued a little red dragon called Berrentam from poachers, but we were too late to save his parents. He’s a bit older than your friend here, but still a child. It’s been nearly two years now…” Quintessa chuckles, surprised that so much time had passed since then. “Anyway, I was still a student at the Xalious Tower at the time so I began to study dragons. I’ve collected all sorts of knowledge on them in an attempt to better care for little Berry-Terry, dozens of books and theorems, etcetera. If you ever want some pointers on how to train your dragon I’d love to help out.” Her earlier ideas of coming here to collect Kailani eggs had been all but forgotten.
Kailani gives a slight wrinkle of her nose when Quintessa mentions the Xalious Tower being the source of this knowledge. Kai has no real issue with any mage, but she knows that the location of this knowledge meant she would probably not be afforded the same level of access as Quintessa was. “We both would love to learn the language.” Kai does not even have to look as Aspen to figure out this is something the young dragon would be interested in, the two have a deep enough connection that she just knows. This meant that Kai could continue to try and convince Bloodbeak that -maybe- she was alright, Kai was pretty determined to get a hand on the cockatrice so that she could attempt to run her fingers down its body. Who knows when she’d have the chance to encounter one up close again? Leave it to the druid to be more preoccupied with making friends with the beast over the person, at least she has not fallen into one of her completely silent stupors. Quintessa has witnessed those first hand. Kai could be very good at not talking when she wanted to be. Effort was definitely being made in this moment. “And whatever other pointers that you could give us. I’ve been leaning on Orion and his experience with Grimclaw, but a griffon is not a dragon.” Another smile is on Kailani’s lips. “Maybe Berry and Aspen can meet sometime. And in exchange? Well if there is ever anything I could assist you with, I would be more than happy.” Lava. Eggs. Anything was pretty broad.
Quintessa ‘s spirits brighten back up when Kai expresses wanting to learn Dragonic, and the strange woman claps her hands together in excitement. Bloodbeak ruffles his feathers at the sudden noise, and nips at his master’s elbow to express his discomfort. Pushing his head away, Quintessa shifts to search through the saddlebags on his side, turning her back to the pair before her. “If you are seriously interested then I have the perfect book for you- Aha!” The changeling drew forth a modest sized manual from her bags, the leather cover worn and faded with age and use. “This is from one of my favorite mages, Rosalie St. Carson. She is most famous when it comes to aquatic and marine biology, but she also studied saurians and amphibious creatures…” Quintessa turned around with the book that was simply titled ‘Carson’s Book of Beasts’ and hesitantly held it out for the woman to see. “In the third chapter she talks about cold dragons- silvers and whites, but she does a brief overview of basic saurian biology and I think it would be valuable information to you. She discusses diets and lifespans, and she provides the basic runic alphabet for Dragon Tongue. Learning how to actually speak the language will take time though, but I’m more than happy to act as a tutor in the meantime. It’ll help me perfect my own use of the language in all honesty…” Quintessa didn’t realize she was rambling at this moment, casually filling the space in the conversation where Kailani didn’t wish to speak herself. “I’m sure I could think of something to ask you for in exchange…” She taps her lip thoughtfully, eyes tilting to look at the sky as she pondered this. “I’d probably need to get to know you better- I have no idea what you’re even good at besides fighting those weird things in the Shadow Realm.”
Kailani :: Some might take the statement of ‘I’d probably need to get to know you better’ as an invitation to start bragging about their skills, but Kai meets these sentiments with a soft smile. “Well if you tutor us, then I suppose you will have ample chance to ask me questions and you will get to know both of us in the process.” This is said as Kailani begins to flip through the pages of the book that Quintessa just offered her. If only Kailani could bring herself to visit the city more often, she probably could increase her access to books. As it stands, she does not come across them often. Or at least, the ones that she does encounter do not hold the same level of intrigue as the one that Quintessa has passed off to her. The changeling is about to learn two details about the half elf: Kailani can at least read and judging by the look in her blue eyes as she slowly flips through the pages of the book that she is offered, she probably has a secret soft spot for books. It’s not an obsession, not like with a certain Maharan, but it is clear Kai has an appreciation. The only thing that causes Kai to look up from the book that she was just offered is the mention of her actions in the Shadow Planes. Intrigue is replaced briefly with disappointment, but in herself. “I can fight, but I do not normally condone such destruction. Khitti insisted there was no other course of action, I trusted her knowledge in the situation. I still have my doubts...but in the end we at least manage to set the Shadow Planes back on a course of healing. I hope. I have not been back…” Fortunately or unfortunately, Kai could not decide, her feelings toward the Shadow Planes were mixed at best. On to more positive and exciting things, “Where and when shall we conduct these tutoring sessions then?”
Quintessa remains silent for a moment as her eyes cascade over Kailani as she speaks, tugging her bottom lip as she considers how to respond. “I think we had little choice. If you would have asked me back then I probably would have been just as overzealous as Khitti, but now…? “ She shrugs solemnly, “At least we set things back to normal. We couldn’t let those two continue what they were doing, and the chances that they could see the error of their ways was pretty low. Killing them was impossible to avoid.” Quintessa sighs and closes the flap of her satchel, already feeling like she was getting to know the other woman better. “If you don’t mind I’d like to do the lessons here. My homeland is far too hostile for me to ask you to come to my fortress, you understand.” Her mouth twists up into a sheepish smile before she looks back down at the book she had given her. “Read that book first and I’ll work on a plan. Well start with common phrases first and then move on to introductions. Oh! I’ll definitely bring Berrentam, he can help with my lessons. He’s such a good little student.”
Kailani :: Not everyone manages to get through Kailani’s wall and soften the druid up, the list is still a pretty exclusive one at this moment. If you don’t count all the critters she meets. It seems that Quintessa has managed to put herself on the ranks, for the reclusive woman’s aloof and icy exterior is pretty much gone. She’s beaming a bright smile still and seems to be beyond excited at the prospect of learning something new. “I will read, I will study,” she offers Quintessa as assurances. Depending on when the changeling opts to return, Kai might even finish the book. Of course, she’d still have to put emphasis in the chapters Quintessa mentioned. “Common phrases and then on to introductions.” Would Kai even return to her laundry now that she had this book to study? A thought the druid was struggling with, her blue eyes shifting toward the basket of soaked clothes. Well then. “Our home is not much but the doors are always open to you, so if you would prefer to come out here...then by all means. Whenever you are ready.” The book Kailani was loaned is lifted up. “In the meantime, we will both practice.” Both, in this case, meaning Aspen. “And I think Aspen should be excited to meet another like him that is close to him in age.” Again Kai was looking from book to laundry, but this time the glance is punctuated with a sigh. “I suppose I should get back to it if I want to get any reading in before I lose the sun.”
Quintessa caught herself being distracted for a moment, mismatched eyes of blue and hazel gazing across the waters surface and at the dragonflies and damselflies that danced in circles along the shore. She often got caught up in imagining the future and her various preoccupations. It wasn’t until Bloodbeak gripped her cloak in his beak and tugged to get her attention did she look up. “Oh, right, I’m probably a terrible distraction.” The warlock laughs in spite of herself and turns to climb atop of her cockatrice once more. “He’s getting hungry anyway and he always gets soooo dramatic when he misses a meal.” Bloodbeak shook his head and trilled as if he could understand her, causing Quintessa to tighten her grip on his riens. “So, I’ll return in about a fortnight, assuming nothing big happens from now until then. Take care of yourself- Oh! And tell Orion I said hello.” She gives the woman a cheeky wink before turning her mount back the way they came. “It was lovely to see you. Take care of my book!”
Kailani :: “Terrible is not the word that I would use. Exciting, I think it is much more suitable.” It’s been a bit since the druid has been sincerely intrigued by the prospect of learning something new. “Both Grim and Aspen do as well.” Like cats, they had their schedule. How dare their owners miss it. “And I will of course tell Orion you stopped by. He’ll be disappointed he missed you...but he’s off hunting. We’ve got a lot of mouths to feed. Until next time, Quintessa.” The book will actually be taken back to Kai’s home prior to the druid returning to the laundry, lest she get water on it. She might have considerable skill with the element, but she’s not sure she could reverse damage done to soaked pages. Back to the laundry she would go shortly after, trying her best to make quick work of it rather than getting caught up with daydreaming while she scrubs.