RP:Frozen Solid
Amazing View
The view here is outstanding, and as you gaze out over the edge you can see various familiar places in the distance, such as the sage forest and the Xalious mountains below where you would believe the mines are nearly located close to Melbane. Keeping your footing you may travel along the cliff to the west, or head north.
Satoshi is not enjoying any amazing view, unless one considers the feathery backside of a bird-shaped snowflake imp at all enjoyable. The petite magus is not one of those people, and vehemently wishes the her familiar would stop shaking his gyrfalcon rear at her in a taunt as she lies sprawled upon the snow. This is the fourth time she's attempted to catch the beast and failed from compromised balance, every time ending up flat on her back or face. It's not the icy ground that's causing the repeated falls though, but rather a third, vulpine tail she's acquired the night prior. Unwanted, the added appendage serves as a disrupter to her movements, grace, and overall dignity. Kulu just finds it funny as all hell and carries on his playful teasing.
Valaran trudges through the snow from the north, stopping every few seconds to have a look around. Wrapped tightly in his arms and held protectively against his chest is a large and ancient tome, frozen completely solid, that the scholar seems to hold in high value. It becomes quickly apparent that the mage is seeking something-- perhaps something to do with the book he so treasures. Valaran’s wrapped from head to toe in thick wolfs fur and, though feeling quite awkward in such attire, he’s certainly not shivering and has his newly acquired clothing to thank for this. He pauses just north of the snow white feline tussling about with her familiar, slightly cautious and unwilling to take any chances this close to the cliff’s edge.
Satoshi and Kulu notice the stranger in the same instance, the former, scenting wolf-fur and human flesh, sits up straight in a flash as the latter wings back to a waiting upheld wrist. The imp settles upon the offered perch with firm grip of talons and turns the wide golden eyes of a snowy owl upon Valaran as Satoshi regards the scholar with her own amber-specked blue ones. A querying hoot comes from the familiar, the tone mirrored in the magus' tone as she calls out, " 'ello, monsieur. What brings your kind into the land of giants et predators~?" A clacking beak from the bird-formed imp can only be assumed as some sort of laugh, while Satoshi's expression remains carefully curious, devoid of any other emotion.
Valaran takes a few steps forward so as not to have to shout in order to be heard. Each step, however, is careful and calculated; the mage wants neither to misstep upon the cliff’s edge nor upset the feline and her familiar. A few seconds pause is given before the scholar speaks, however, though when lips finally part, his response to the feline’s question is as calculated as his steps. “This book,” he says, arms now outstretched with the ancient tome in tow, “I hope to unlock it’s secrets.” He pulls it back to him now, tugging at the cover to show that it is, indeed, frozen shut. “Flame nor magicks seem to be able to open it.”
Satoshi 's vulpine ears prick forward with her first true display of interest at the tome's presentation and in a single, slightly less-than-fluid, motion she's on her feet and taking a step nearer the stranger. The imp gives a hoot of annoyance at being jostled in the feline's movements and shifts hurriedly to nestled at the ruff of Satoshi's jacket, taking the shape of a chickadee and tucking himself in securely where he can go unmoved while watching Valaran with beady black eyes. The mage pays her familiar no mind however, her focus on the frosty book. "How very interesting~..." Whatever interest she might have had in making the human a meal has passed with the rise of her book-collecting nature. "Haven't seen any like it in some time. Mine opened, however. Et was somewhat different in size. Where'd you find it?"
Valaran brings the book back to his chest, tucking it protectively behind his arms. “A duergar gave it to me… Seems he had no use for it.” He pulls the volume away from his chest once more, though grips it protectively with both hands, and tries to open it again to no avail. “I have high hopes that it might unlock some questions I have about the school of Cryomancy… Though at this point, I’d simply be happy to read it whether it answers any questions or not.”
Satoshi scoffs despite herself, briefly eyeing the book with a haughty expression. "You don't learn ice magicks from a book. You learn it out here." A wide sweep of her arm--a gesture that makes the imp grateful he moved--takes in the surrounding snow-laden trees, frosted cliffs, ice-coated boulders, and her own frigid self. "This es the place where you find all of ice's forms and this is where you're tested by it, to be given the chance to work with it, or to be given a cold death. No book," a sharp jerk of her chin at the tome comes before, "can teach you what the mountains can. It can try, though."
Valaran considers all that the ice magus says, though most simply goes in one ear and out the other. “It surely can’t teach me if I can’t read it, aye?” he retorts, still tugging at the book’s cover. After a few more wasted seconds, the scholar ceases and turns to the feline once more. “My apologies… I didn’t catch your name? I’m Valaran.”
Satoshi senses her words are disregarded in the same way she so often does to others, and yet it doesn't seem to bother her. In fact, she seems rather pleased by the fact, although the reasoning behind it is kept secret as she nods in acceptance of the name given. "A pleasure or somesuch, Valaran. As for moi... If you ask the frost giants, I'm the Snow Maiden. If you ask in Vailkrin, I'm Ashen's Ghost. But ask anywhere else, et I am Satoshi." Reluctantly she offers out her hand, careful to keep the frigid limb enveloped and buffered by the sleeve of her coat. "Satoshi Azakhaer, the Snowfall Magus."
Valaran eyes the feline’s hand with obvious discomfort, offering the magus an apologetic glance. “You’ll forgive me if I don’t take your hand, yes? I have… a thing…” His voice trails off as his eyes fall to his tome once more. “So you’re a cryomancer, eh? Don’t suppose you could have a look at this?”
Satoshi merely shrugs, allowing her hand to drop untouched back to her side. "Spares you the risk of frostbite anyway," she explains before flecked eyes shift to the book once more, scrutinizing it. "Although clinging to a block of ice es hardly better than a handshake from me. But, yes, to your question. I've been called a cryomancer before. And," pausing, the mage flashes a fanged grin, "I've taken a few looks at the book already, non? Suppose you mean a -closer- look, though~?"
Valaran looks a bit confused, though he quickly recovers with a curt nod. “Yes, of course. A -closer- look.” With that, he hands the volume over, placing more trust in her than perhaps the feline realizes. “I’m sure if anyone can unlock it’s secrets, it would be a frost magus. I surely have had no luck.” He crosses his arms as Satoshi looks the book over, eagerly awaiting some sort of decision or revelation.
Satoshi accepts the book with more care than she shows to most living things, almost cradling it upon her open palm as her free hand traces its cover. "Hrm. How did a duergar come in possession of you, old one," the feline murmurs thoughtfully, one ear cocked as if she's listening to an inaudible voice. "This is not young ice. It's seen Winters even Frostmaw hasn't." Slowly fingers continue to drift upon the cover, a faint blue light trailing in their wake beginning to form an arcane rune. Once the rune is complete, Satoshi removes her hand and simply looks down at the volume with an absent expression, seemingly waiting. And after a long moment a sound of cracking ice finally resounds from the tome, the top flap opening as if of its own free will. None of the pages seem to have moved, however, and with a sigh Satoshi offers the book back to Valaran.
Satoshi said to Valaran, "It won't reveal more just yet. I told you, ice likes to test those seeking its power. I think you'll have to wait for more than a single page."
Valaran watches the snowfall magus with singular fascination. Each motion of her hands, every utterance issued from betwixt her lips, even the feline's very emotions are observed as she works with the old tome. Even still, upon the return of the book, nothing more than a look of genuine perplexity can be found upon the scholar's face. "What… Uh, I'm sorry. What do you mean?" The idea that an element might have a mind of its own is above the man's level of study and thusly incomprehensible to him at this time. "Whatever you just did… Can you do it again? Perhaps stronger this time?"
Satoshi turns her attention to stroking the neck-feathers of her familiar, seemingly lost in thought with the simple motions for a long moment. Nazkulutaliapherin is the one to bring Satoshi back out of her musings however, for once he deems the scholar has waited long enough for an answer not forthcoming he jabs lightly at Satoshi's fingers with a vireo's sharp beak, peeping once in explanation as he shuffles out of reach. "Hrm. Oh, right. Non," the magus murmurs hastily, shaking her head to clear it before going into further detail, "I can put more magic into it, but it will either be thrown back at me, or the book will break. Objects as old as that... are often willful, some even sentient. Like the elementals. They like to play games, to test you. But, I think, the page it has revealed... should prove enough to set you in the path needed to open the rest of them. Perhaps." The book didn't exactly tell her this, but it sounds convincing enough and she's dealt with her fair share of thinking objects.
Valaran tucks the book against his chest once again, a look of silent contemplation shadowing his visage. "I see… Thank you, Miss Satoshi," he says, his voice dipped in reverence and lathered in sincerity, "You've been much help to me this day. If ever there is something you need, feel free to contact me…" His voice trails off; why would a creature of such raw and natural power need the help of one such as he? Nevertheless, "If you should ever need to find me, the Academy of Magics in Larket would be a good place to look."
Satoshi nods briskly in response. "I'll keep it in mind, mageling. Although," the vampire trails off a moment to look toward the forest, vulpine ears pricking up. After a pause, she resumes in a distracted tone, "you can help me best now by avoiding this area for a while. I mentioned this is the land of predators, no?" Looking back at the scholar, she flashes him a teasing grin of fangs. "I'm one of them. And I'm hungry. After lending you a hand now, I'd rather not mistaken you for a meal in the very near future, tu sais?"
Valaran nods in understanding and offers a short respectful bow. With that, the mage turns 'pon his heel and makes his way back the way he came-- away from the magus he feels may very well be one of the more dangerous predators around.
Satoshi watches the other mage depart before turning on her own heel, already whistling as she heads off. The familiar leaps off her shoulder with a shriek of delight, taking wing as a white harpy's eagle and soaring above the magic-users to keep an eye on hunter and wanderer alike, making certain a safe distance is maintained to prevent unneeded mishaps.