RP:Forging Onward

Part of the Larketian Fault Lines Arc

Summary: Alvina answers Odhranos' job posting and seeks him out in Larket. They discuss plans for the Eyrie's Outpost and Alvina decides to take charge of the designing of the outpost's forge.

Artia's Ranch

Odhranos was shaken from his thoughts by a small ball of vibrant red hair and boundless energy clambering up his robes and onto his lap. "Da!" Ava exclaimed, reaching up to pull at her father's lip as he shook his head and smiled down at her. "Oh I'm sorry honey, I was just looking over some plans. Want to take a look?" The mage lifted his little girl under her armpits and stood her up on his seated legs, so she could survey the table. Ava's small dichromatic eyes roved over the pretty lines and words, before getting quickly bored and bouncing up and down slightly in Odhranos' arms, universal for "I want down." The mage grinned and set her down on her feet on the floor beside him, before getting up and taking her small hand in his as she wobbled off to the door of the study and out into the front foyer. "Are we going on a walk then? Good, I could do with a break." The mage babbled to his daughter as she babbled back nonsensically.

Alvina found her way to Larket because of the job posting in the tavern requesting help. It was also stamped with an Eyrie seal, which peaked her interest further. Past the Larket stables, she comes upon a pair walking through the woods. She hadn't had the time to meet Ava yet, but she recognized something in her face that reminded her of Artia. "Good afternoon!" She calls, running up to the pair. "Sorry to interrupt but I was looking to answer an ad for assistance?" Alvina is wearing a blue cloak, her hair pinned back in a loose braid. Her smile is wide and her aura gentle.

Odhranos turned to spy Alvina as she approached. Sven dammit, her face was familiar, but Odhranos had seen so many new faces in the past few weeks that he couldn't place her, and given his "still recovering" state of mind, it was a wonder he could remember anyone's name at this point. "Ah! Yes, my advertisement! I trust then, that you are a craft worker, interested in helping with the construction of the Eyrie's Outpost?" The mage glanced down as Ava tugged his robes and he hefted her up into his arms. The mage settled the toddler on his hip and, canting his head to the side, gave Alvina a broad and amiable smile. "My name is Odhranos, I'm the Eyrie's coordinator in the construction. Might I ask your name?" The mage was briefly deafened by a shrill squeak from Ava, who was holding a hand out to the pretty lady and waving furiously. "Aha, this noisy little one is mine. She gets excitable around new people." The mage kissed the toddler's chubby cheek, eliciting a little giggle from Ava.

Alvina laughs easily, confirming her place in the Eyrie as well. "I am! I'm the Engineer for the Eyrie and Frostmaw Blacksmith officially." She leans down to wave her hand at Ava, opening her mouth to silently mouth words at her. "She's precious." Beaming, the bard watched Odhranos kiss Ava's face. "My daughters are the same way. What can I help you with?"

Odhranos 's face lit up. A fellow Eyrie member! And none other than Alvina herself! Now the mage could place her, he had seen her at her own wedding after all. "Ah! Miss Alvina! It's rare enough I meet another member of the Eyrie this far from Frostmaw, but your reputation as Frostmaw's Blacksmith is legendary even this far south. It's a pleasure to finally meet your acquaintance." The mage inclined his head in lieu of a bow. "Or rather, Mrs Alvina, I should think. I accompanied Artia to your wedding, it was a beautiful ceremony!" The mage commented as he settled Ava on his hip. "I have plans back at the ranch, I can show you what we have in the works and perhaps you can find a place where you can apply your talents?"

Alvina flushed and waved her golden hand in the mage's direction. "You're one to talk! It's always a pleasure to meet another member! Too few and far between, I say." He goes on to compliment her wedding and she's like a school girl now, excitably blushing at the thought of her husband and their newly announced marriage. "I thought I saw you there! Forgive me for not being able to say hello, it went by in a blur!" Now Alvina couldn't recall of Artia and Odhranos were indeed married and it felt odd to ask. "I'd very much love that! Can I also make a formal introduction to you Miss?" Alvina bends down to offer her hand to Ava with a broad smile, hoping to shake the young girl's hand. "Ah, she's just as beautiful as her mother...isn't she?" The bard sighed happily before standing to follow the mage back to the Ranch.

Odhranos grinned as Ava-Marie gurgled happily, grasping Alvina's index finger and studying it intently before tugging it side to side. "She's still learning how to do introductions, but what she lacks in technique, she makes up for with enthusiasm!" The mage joked, as the two of them fell into step beside Alvina. "And you shouldn't worry, it was an honor just to be there for it. Beside, you were to preoccupied by all the -ahem- wonderful dancing!" A sidelong grin was sent the Bard's way as they approached the ranch. Stopping by the front door, the mage waved for Alvina to enter before him, while Ava followed close behind, reaching up with one hand for Alvina's, excited to show her new friend around. "Just in here!" The mage called, striding across to the study.

Alvina kept her gait slow and steady, careful to match her guides. "Oh don't remind me." She laughs, good naturedly about the so called 'dancing' performed by the groomsmen during the wedding. "I can't believe it's a real thing." Clearly it was all Hudson's idea. Alvina stepped through the front door to take in the sights around her. Little Ava reaches for her hand and the bard is more than willing to accommodate her while also following Odhranos to his study. "Beautiful place," She remarks with a genuine grin. It's so airy and full of life and light. Her emerald eyes search the study for notes and nods to the mage's influences and tastes.

Odhranos glanced around the study and huffed for a moment. "I apologise for the mess, had I known we'd have a visitor, I'd have done something to tidy the place up." The study is strewn with all of the paraphernalia that a terramancer, architect or inexperienced dad might need, from piles of stacked scrolls and set squares, small crystals and piles of sand, to pacifiers, teddies and even a small cot in the corner. The mage strode across to the large drafting table set up against the far wall and plucked a few scrolls from the pile, unfurling them and weighing down the corners with whatever objects he laid his hands on first (Two lumps of quartz, an empty mug and a stuffed dragon by the name of Mr Smokey). Beckoning Alvina across, he lifted Ava up into his arms and pointed with his free hand at the plans. "You can see here we have the rough exterior plan fairly outlined, we just need to focus on the details of how we put it together and what goes inside it."

Alvina dismisses his concerns. "I know all about messes, please don't worry for a second." Ava releases Alvina's hand to be taken up in Odhranos' arms and it melts the bard's heart. If she wasn't missing her girls before, she certainly was now! When the scroll unfurls, she draws her gaze across the blueprints, her crimson braid bobbing slightly against her neck as she moves over the plans. He gestures to the rough exterior, "Ah yes..." she muses, following his indication towards the details on how and what goes inside? What was this plans for exactly? "What does it need to -do-?" She asked, blatantly, in a technical tone. The warmth of her laughter hadn't been drawn out entirely from her speech but it's clear her tone is now working more from her brain that her good natured heart.

Odhranos chewed his lip in thought for a moment before being interrupted by Ava leaning out of his arms towards the stuffed dragon teddy. It was her favorite after all. After a quick switch, and a fluffy dragon snout being chewed with much gusto, the mage returned to the previous question. "The outpost will need to host a full contingent of Eyrie mounts and riders, potentially the full complement in a pinch. Plus it will have to be equipped to handle any day to day needs the occupants might have, from catering and medical care, to access to services like a blacksmith or a leather worker. Which, now that I think of it, is certainly the a place, if only the first of many, that your expertise would come in great use." The mage bounced Ava on his hip and raised an eyebrow while grinning ruefully. "An all-expenses paid, fully kitted out forge, tailored to your specifications, along with the finest tools and equipment the Eyrie's coffers can buy, would you be tempted?" The mage chuckled softly.

Alvina chuckles, looking through the plans and nodding after a brief silence. Her mind worked to build a scale model, complete with the components the mage specified. "I dare say I'd accept even at the expense of the Eyrie's pocketbook. Where would my allegiance be otherwise? If there's one thing I am, it's ambitious." While proud and energetic, Alvina was rarely swayed by the promise of coin. It was the idea of a grand project. A physical construct to bestow her craft upon. Cerinii had taught her well. "I'm sure we can work out a price when things are further along. I must warn you though, there will be a short period in a few months when I'll have to put my projects on a temporary hold. Of course, that won't stall this...I'll train up a few blacksmiths within the Eyrie's employ to handle the minor details while I'm on leave." Her hand absentmindedly falls against her stomach, which has a slight swell to the navy fabric. She watches with delight as Ava chomps on the might dragon. "I'll draft up some additional plans for the interior and we can get to work acquiring the materials. Sound good?" She asked, bright with possibility.

Odhranos smiled broadly. He appreciated how Alvina felt, he had felt the same upon being given this posting by the Eyrie. Gold, riches and positions of power? Nah, not his cup of tea. A chance to build a grand monument to weather the ages and display his craft to the world? You certainly needn't ask twice. "That's perfectly understandable, the world goes on outside this house and this project, as much as I keep forgetting about it. Even if we have a design to work from and nothing else, at least the Eyrie's blacksmiths can work in a forge laid out by someone who knows the craft inside-out." Ava decides at this moment that she wants a cuddle and nuzzles her little head of curls against Odhranos' chest, mumbling a muffled "Dada" through a mouthful of teddy. The mage wrapped his arms around her and stroked her back gently, kissing the crown of her head. "So to answer your question, yes, that sounds perfect. If you have any other ideas on things you might add to the design, or even a passing thought on an obscure invention or feature that would fit right at home in the outpost, please do let me know. I'm all ears for any novel ideas."

Alvina looks at the ceiling, considering some thought before nodding again with that determined smile of hers. "I will send you nothing but the very best!" She promised, "And maybe something extra, for fun." It's likely that the bard would send something for Ava, as she's yet to do so. "Please do tell Artia hello for me. It's been so very long since last we spoke." She lifts her hand, showing the mage the flat of her palm that waved slightly. "I fear I must be taking my leave but I'm excited to get started! Thank you for your consideration. I love getting a chance to work with others to make dreams realities." The bard sighed, ah hadn't a similar situation completely altered her life some two years ago with a certain handsome alchemist? Speaking of - "I'll be sure to be in touch but if you need anything, please send word to Frostmaw. I live in Cenril now but it's still not a rough commute." She waved again, offering Ava a wide smile before making her way back to the front door and out into the woods of Larket once more.