RP:Fiery Plots
Eastern Frostmaw Gates
Kuzial stands amidst the snow and ice stripped to his waist. His eye is shut and his head tilted towards the lazily falling snowflakes which delicately land on his heavily burned body; the final remnants of his battle with the priest Raulk. The dark elf warrior appears exactly as he is; his body is lean and hard, showing the years of sacrifice he has given to the dark art of war. There are many scars beneath the burns, some long and roughly stitched, others small and circlular from bolts and arrows. His entire body is marked thus, aside from his back... for in Trist'Oth, none survive daggers that come from behind. The dark elf doesn't seem too effected by the cold, but it is clear that is a result of his focus rather than any immunity to the horrible element. He seems content enough to wait, though; he either trusts Satoshi's word of a truce, or he is arrogant enough to believe it simply does not matter...
Satoshi eventually comes striding into view, moving with an unnatural grace atop the freshly fallen snow, a grace that clashes badly with the expression of studious frustration on her normally smooth face. When she spots the drow patron standing half-dressed outside the gate, her steps only falter once out of surprise, before Satoshi alters her path to bring herself his way. "Any clue where to find a tree that's survived a lightning blast?" the magus asks by way of greeting. That, or her internal musings have overridden the original intent of just saying 'hello'. Shaking her head, Satoshi adds quickly, "Curious about my message, then?"
Kuzial lets a flicker of irritation flash across his face as his focus is broken by the snow queen's strange greeting. But it is quickly swallowed as the rush of cold swarms his body; his focus no longer protecting him from the vicious temperatures. He offers the queen an ambiguous nod, before striding further off the road, to a small hollow which now has a tent erected in its centre. The drow reaches down and picks up his mithril vest as well as the warming garments that go beneath it, and as he shrugs the clothes on he speaks for the first time. "Lightning?.." He pauses just briefly before carrying on. "Curious, yes. You know of our enemy, so as such we will hunt him."
Satoshi glances toward the nearby guards, then the falling snow, scrutinizing each closely before she half-sings a string of words. In response, the snowflakes burst into blue flame and are stilled from their descent, gathering above and around the ruling duo in a rapidly building shroud until they've been encased in what appears to be an upturned bowl of azure fire. A moment more is taken to examine the barrier, transform the ice beneath them into similar faux-fire, and embed a hastily manifested Asorial in the center, before Satoshi seems satisfied. The snow-heavy winds have been cut off, as Kuzial will likely notice, but the chill seems to have deepened rather than abated. "There. This is the purest form of Ice, something not even the Gods can conjure without being of Elemental relations. It should suffice as a ward against... pests." The meaningful look she gives Kuzial is explanation enough. She'd rather be safe than sorry, having been eavesdropped upon enough in war times, and as a conjurer of the Azure Flames, she's fairly certain she can block such things for a limited time--or if she can't, Asorial's strange tendencies should. "Now then. What we're hunting is a former... colleague of mine. I cannot be completely certain he's sided with the nuisance, but knowing that weasel's greedy nature and obsession with deal-making, it's a safe bet. I don't take kindly to being betrayed in favor of the worm." Not when she's shown Firewing mercy thrice, only to have it shrugged off for the promise of power.
Kuzial remains motionless as Satoshi weaves into the air her unique blend of elemental magic. Never once does his eye leave her face, and though he is now covered against the cold by his clothes and armour, it is clear the drow is tensed beneath them, ready to strike at the first sign of betrayal. But when the barrier is complete and the frozen queen speaks again, the patron dark elf relaxes as much as he can; which frankly isn't very much, especially around a foe as mighty as Satoshi, truce or no. "You have been betrayed by someone... to serve the parasite?" The drow snarls then, and for just a moment the air seems charged with menace, before he shakes his head and carries on; the layers of anger in his voice are apparent, but it still remains strangely lyrical. "I do not know if that says more about you or about our prey, but regardless, if he serves he whose name we do not speak, then he will die." The drow nods to the queen, but before she can speak his voice again resounds within Satoshi's igloo. "You understand this will mean we require a certain deal of trust... for I would be a fool not to think of this as a trap... a former ally of yours is now an enemy... It seems... convenient."
Satoshi greets Kuzial's words with a smirk. "A drow is asking -me- for a guarantee against treachery? That's a new one, I'll give you that. I have not met you as an enemy yet, despite your desire to kill my husband, but very well, if you want some form of assurance..." Lifting her right arm, the kit calls down a handful of the blue flames. These she murmurs over quietly a moment, as if speaking directly to the fires, before she looks up at Kuzial to address him, "As blood binds you, Patron Stavret, to our truce, Ice shall bind me. I swear upon the snows of Frostmaw herself, that which holds my heart and soul, that I will not attempt to deceive you so long as we remain upon the same side." With the words spoken, Satoshi buries her fangs into the palm of her left hand, rends the flesh in a jagged line, and brings it bleeding over the flame, the droplets of darkly hued blood turning the fire a deeper blue as it's absorbed. Hissing, the flames leap upward a moment as if to grab Satoshi's hand before they suddenly withdrawn, sinking into the ice of her right and leaving behind a single sigil engraved into the palm. Satoshi turns her palm to show it to Kuzial, "This is the arcane symbol for Promise. So long as it remains, you will know our truce stands." In much the same manner as the saber the drow intends to collect one day.
Nemisis shouted, "*A bright array of crimson red light can be seen painting the sky near the cliffs*"
Satoshi shouted, "*A dragon's roar, coming from the borders of Frostmaw, challenges the red lights should they stray too near Cryothain's territory*"
Kuzial lets no expression show on his face as the queen speaks, but as she binds herself to her word, just as Kuzial did, he does allow himself a small smile. It is far from pleasant, and faintly ambiguous to its meaning, but the rare expression nevertheless remains. "I am content, Satoshi." He offers her a very short bow, there is not a lot of room in here anyway, before he once again casts his malevolent gaze on her face and speaks. "I hate many people in this land, but perhaps I hate you less than most." That was as close to anything friendly Kuzial would ever say. "Tell me of this former collegue of yours... who is he? What is he? And why... fire." He was referring to the brief letter she sent, one which makes him unconsciously wince as the burns on his body flair again with remembered pain.
Satoshi, once Cryothain is done roaring somewhere up above, says, "His name is Firewing, he is a Red Dragon, and something of a mage. Or perhaps an illusionist. All of which should be answer enough why I recommended fire wards be brought. .He has a tendency toward the flashy and gaudy, a self-proclaimed king of the Nameless Desert. Myself or my own have bested him a number of times, so I do not expect him to be a great deal of trouble, but at the same time, I prefer to proceed with caution. If he's made deals with our devil, Aramoth only knows what sort of new tricks he's acquired. He may very well have been made a wraith. ...Especially if we'll be facing him in the actual desert. While I won't be helpless there, I'll have a limited supply of liquid to draw upon, which requires a great deal more finesse and planning. Unless... you can make him bleed, Patron." The predatory gleam in Satoshi's eyes at these words suggests that's exactly what she needs Kuzial to do: make Firewing bleed, so that she can hijack his blood.
Kuzial swears in the lyrical language of the drow. "First it is ice, then the desert." The drow shakes his head, "I despise this surface." With that said, he listens to the rest of Satoshi's words, and as they are spoken the dark, sadistic grin on his face begins to widen. "Firewing... I know his name, and my weapons know the name of his spirit... he will learn the folly of siding with a bug." Kuzial begins to pace, then, within the small enclosure, letting his mind play over what he knows and letting it form contingincies against any coming problems. After a long moment he stops and looks again at the Frostmawian queen. "There is not a creature which walks on the surface of this world who I cannot make bleed. But a dragon mage will not be easy." Locked as they are within the room, and sure of the queen's loyalty for now, the drow drops his usual veils of arrogance and instead speaks the simple truth. "I am sure I can manage it, but it would be far easier were you to provide an adequate... distraction. I do not think you will be powerless; you are not foolish enough to travel any road with a dark elf without being sure of your strength... but can you, in the heat and dryness of the desert, cast enough magic to ensure his attention is elsewhere... Speak truthfully, Satoshi, for if you doubt it we will walk a different path on the way to this traitor's death."
Satoshi deliberates over Kuzial's words, refraining from answering immediately out of respect for the warrior and his willing to speak truthfully with her. Satoshi's hand, no longer bleeding as the wound has frozen over, goes to rest upon the front of her coat where, beneath the layers, rests a simple, snowflake-shaped pendant. After a time, the foxkin answers, "I can, yes. The last time I fought him, it was in the very heart of his desert home, and it was without the means of magic I now possess. I left with his hand and part of his hoard in my possession. So yes, I will ensure he is thoroughly distracted so that your blades might have a taste of saurian flesh." It's tempting nonetheless to call upon Dami, as having the destructive terramancer present would be an infinite help in this hunt--and might just scare the proverbial pants off Firewing, after the earth-rending vampire had collapsed a castle on the dragon's head last time.
Kuzial nods, "Good." That is all the patron dark elf says for a long moment as he again lets plans dance through his agile mind, forming and disregarding many before he would again speak. "Though I am sure you have means of... quick travel. It would not be wise for us to utilize too much magic on our way there. If he has been changed by the bug, then who knows what secrets he now has? Were I hunting him alone, I would send someone in first to trigger these traps..." There is something entirely inhuman about the way Kuzial speaks those words; a distinct lack of passion or feeling towards sending someone to their death to ensure he himself is not in danger. "... but with you and I, such things may serve as only a warning... So I would request, Satoshi, that you and I travel to this desert together. I will ensure you are safe through our normal passage, so you can save your strength for squishing the bug's pets... But even that will probably not be needed. Who in this cursed world would be foolish enough to stand in the way of Kuzial and Satoshi?" The drow grins again, then, "I doubt anyone would... This is the best way. If you wish to suggest another, speak now."
Kuzial thinks there is something unsettling about the thought of Satoshi and Kuzial travelling together on a mission...
Satoshi nods as well, agreeing with the drow. "We can travel together there. I need only a few days to prepare." And call upon Dami, if she can locate the damnable vampire. "If you do not mind travel by air, we will use that method to save our strength completely and drastically shorten the time it takes to get there." Satoshi has no doubts Emiur would be happy to carry them over a desert, the couatl loving hot climates and the chance to stretch his wings in long-distance flight. Satoshi looks pointedly at the azure walls surrounding them before lofting a brow at Kuzial. "If that's everything..?" If it is, the barrier will dissolve, Asorial will be gathered, and all will be decided for their hunt.
Kuzial nods his head to the words, "While you prepare, I will remain here... outside of your city. Do try and ensure none of your citizens are too curious... And yes, we can travel through the air. The shorter we spend in each others' company, the better." The drow speaks those words frankly, and without fear of offending the queen. He is sure he understands her now; she is a lot more like him than she would admit. Though she appears regal and polite, the same barbaric, almost primal hunger stalks beneath her icy surface... she would be a fine companion to hunt with, indeed. As the barrier around them dissolves, Kuzial takes a short step back, into the snow that again falls down upon them both. "I will collect an insignia for you. It will grant us very limited communication in battle, should we require it. Beyond that, prepare what you need and return here when you're ready... I will be waiting." The drow, for all his confidence, is sure when he speeks those last words the tone of his voice is far from authoritive. He ensures they sound like a request, and not an order... he is not foolish enough to test the patience of the queen that far... not here, in the centre of her power...
Satoshi said to Kuzial, "I will find you when we're ready, then." With that, the magus withdraws, no outward reactions shown to the drow's honest slights or tones, either because she's patient as to avoid needless quarrels, or because she's actually growing fond of the brutally forward Patron. It's so rare to find honesty from someone when you're a queen. Passing the guards, Satoshi makes sure to deliver them a simple order, "Patron Stavret is to be left in peace by citizens of Frostmaw until further notice. Unless he starts the fight first, of course.~"
Kuzial 's sensitive hearing picks up Satoshi's final words to the guard, and he can't help but grin... a fine hunting companion, indeed...