RP:How To Offend A Dragon

From HollowWiki

Part of the Do You Believe In Magic? Arc


Summary: The investigation of the missing mages situation continues!


Frostmaw Tavern

Aiden is wrung from his own internal thoughts by a voice, a pleasant one, but one that has hints of a Grancevalian accent that he hasn't heard in quite some time. This draws the sorcerer's gaze from the board to the lithe woman in blue, to whom he responds with a respectful dip of his head and says in her own native tongue. "Greetings!" Switching back to common, he says. "I am, m'lady. My superiors in the Guild have taken interest in the sudden disappearance of its students, and those whom simply practice the arcane arts. So, they've task me with looking into the matter." His legalese, now far more voluminous than before, as to adapt to the cold, rustles a bit before a small creature pops out to examine what a going on. The sprite, a creature rescued by the magus months back in his travels, has made a home in the many magical pockets within the robe of the magician. It seems Pilar's accent has drawn it out from its slumber, as it now stares at the woman too. This must be a common occurrence, for Aiden is undisturbed by the sprite, who climbs up his sleeve to sit on his shoulder. It's language sounds like a mix of squeaks and whistles, at a incredibly fast pace. Either way, Aiden continues to say to Pilar. "The word so far is they've gone missing along the Xalious mountain range, always when alone. A Khitti, was last seen here, in Frostmaw, so that is why I have come."

Aerondur frowned when he heard what Aiden had said. Thinking about how he himself was one who practiced magic for his profession was a bit startled to hear that they were being kidnapped and who knows what after that. Images of his past flickered through his mind of other mages being beheaded or even tortured just for what they did and it cause a knot to form in his stomach. The elf wanted so bad to insert himself but considering he was new around here and he knew absolutely nothing about anybody or anything here he decided to keep his mouth shut. Instead he pulled his arms down to his side and proceeded to the bar to order some type of drink to warm himself while he had taken rest here, when he sat down upon a stool there was a soft clank from his armor. Aerondur considered pulling his hood but considering the fact that he felt like a wanted man now he decided to leave it up and just think about what he might drink or eat.

Hildegarde pressed upon the door until it swung open and allowed a gust of frosty air to enter the tavern; snow skittering inside onto the floor only to melt a few moments after the door swung shut once again. The knight-turned-Queen offered all within the tavern a small and apologetic smile for the abrupt gust, but it was simply a fact of life here in Frostmaw! Being cold was just being in Frostmaw; it’s practically in the name. The Silver has entered the tavern just on time to hear ‘last seen’ and the subsequent words that followed it, immediately finding her sole eye settling upon the unfamiliar figure of Aiden. He was talking to Pilar. There was another unfamiliar stranger, elf by the looks of him and wrapped in armour. Armour wasn’t a strange sight in Frostmaw, but it did make her flex her fingers around the shaft of her halberd as if she was ready for the first hint of trouble! The Silver looks between Pilar and Aiden, taking a step towards the board but making sure she was slow enough that Pilar could call her over if she needed some assistance.

Pilar blinked. She wasn't used to hearing her native tongue in this land. That thought was brushed aside when he mentioned that he was there on behalf of the Guild. Well, she'd been told they were looking into it. She was hoping he wasn't the only one they'd sent. She looked down at the sprite and blinked again. Well then. That was odd. He brought up Khitti again and she frowned. "Kelay, too... Khitti was investigating, too, but... then she was taken." This tidbit seemed to pain her. It's at that moment that she noticed Hildegarde. "Excuse me..." she murmured to Aiden, and waved to the Queen, welcoming her into the conversation.

Aiden allows a ghost of a smile to play on his lips as he sees the woman's reaction to hearing her native tongue. He was not a master of it, but in his travels he had to learn enough, due to the Guild needing him investigating matters in their behalf. Either way, that smile fades as he sees the pain in her eyes at the mention of Khitti. She was sent to investigate too? Or did she take it upon herself? It seems the guild, as usual, was leaving key information out. Exhaling questions deep breath, the magus is about to say something when Pilar turns to address another person. The name is what gives the sorcerer the heads up he needs, as there is naught a corner in the realm that hasn't at least heard of Hildegarde the Silver. Taking a moment to allow the Queen to answer the woman's call, Aiden's gaze flows over the hooded figure who just passed. He seems like a man he came across before, in his many travels, but right now it is hard to place. And, of course, his attention is drawn in by the arrival of the Queen of the North.

Aerondur welcomed his drink happily as the bartender sat it on the bar with a soft 'clink'. Picking up the glass and bringing it to his lips the warm fluid flowed down his throat warming his insides immediately. Feeling quite better with himself he sat down the glass where he picked it up along with a few coins to buy said drink. Deciding he wasn't very hungry at the moment Aerondur got back to his feet and walked back over to the fire loving its warmth in this cold place. The elf grabbed his cloak and pulled it around himself and listened to the conversation happening in the tavern not sure if he should reveal himself as a magic user to them or not.

Hildegarde smiled over at Pilar as she welcomed her into their conversation, making her way over to them. “Ah, Pilar, I trust you are well?” she asked with genuine care, evidently worried about her from their last conversation. A conversation which was, conveniently, linked to what Pilar and Aiden were talking about. “And who is your friend?” she asked Pilar, offering Aiden a polite smile in way of greeting. Either one would make introductions, Hildegarde would wait for them before leaping into conversation. Aerondur is largely ignored for the moment, but his presence is not forgotten by the warrior queen.

Pilar offered a half-smile to Hildegarde. "I'm as well as I can be, given what's been going on..." She looked over at Aiden. "He isn't really a 'friend,' we only just met... But he's looking into the disappearances of the mages." His place in the Guild is carefully avoided, given Hildegarde's distaste for them. Not that she disliked mages, but the Guild's leadership was, shall we say... lacking. "... I suppose I should give my name. I'm Pilar, and this is Queen Hildegarde... Sorry, I don't remember all the titles..." She said to Hildegarde, knowing full well Hilde couldn't give less of a damn about being introduced so formally.

Aiden may have been out of the land for a few years, but upon his return he has taken careful measure of the happenings within the realm before setting off within it. Pilar, having offered her name, is given another small bow and a warm smile, before the sorcerer turns to Hildegarde and says. "A pleasure to meet you, Queen Silver..?" A pause, as formalities get hard, when one seems not to have an actual surname. But he tries to recover from a possible slip by saying. "Yes. As the young lady says, I here, in your kingdom, to ask permission to look into the disappearance of several mages, both from the guild itself, and simple practitioners of the art." A slight pause to let that settle, before he says. " I've garnered the fact magic seems... an unfavorable thing here to some, so you've my word I shall do my up most to avoid its use out of respect, unless of course it is needed for the investigation, if allowed." In his travels, Aiden has come across many whom despise magic, so he has learned some ways to deal with such views. He hopes this suffices.

Aerondur couldn't help but start feeling a tad bit sad that he decided to get off the boat here. He could have kept traveling the seas like he had for some time but something told him to get off, now upon hearing what was said he realized he came to the same place he left from. Unseen from the others a deep frown formed upon his face he was glad he purchased the hood that hid his features and noone could see him, still they were just being introduced and he decided it was best to keep warming himself by the fire.

Hildegarde, having not yet received Aiden’s name, is left with nothing to call him but some pleasantry. “Hildegarde will do just fine,” she tells him with a polite smile. Respect was earned, after all. She need not wear her title extravagantly in order to wear it full stop. “Your guild is not the only one who searches for the mages. Though, I must say, that if this is the guild officially looking into things only now they are a tad late.” The Silver had already begun the hunt for the missing mages, invoking the use of Daermon to hunt down Khitti. But that was before Dominic had gone missing, before the stakes had been upped a little higher. “In any case, it is as they say: better late than never!” she says it with a friendly smile, aiming to end any tension that might have been accidentally created by her words. “But your guild will not find the mages here in my kingdom,” she tells him with confidence, silently praying to Aramoth she is not later proven wrong! “We have a suspect and a rough location,” she wouldn’t withhold her information. Sharing was the logical thing to do, of course! Finally, the Silver gestures to Aerondur, “And is he with you, m’lord?” she asks Aiden, but walks away before receiving any answer to affirm or deny their presumed companionship. “You are cold?” she asked Aerondur with what appeared to be genuine concern. “Feeding Aodhan is the best way to stoke the flames,” she tells the stranger, grasping an unfinished leg of boar from the nearest and most recent empty table to lower it into the flames for the fire wyvern to devour happily. Pilar nodded along as Hildegarde shared what little information they had. She hoped it didn't turn out to be a dead end... Her eyes moved over to the other mage, wondering herself if he, too, was of the guild as Hildegarde had guessed. She smiled as young Aodhan gobbled up that boar. He was such a cute little thing.

Aiden catches his err, and after the knight-risen-queen walks over the the other stranger, does he say. "Aiden, is my name. And you've a suspect and possible location? That is excellent news! Would you mind sharing such? " he pauses, watching as the firewyrm devours the leg of boar and almost instantly let's off a stronger flame that warms a broader radius with its brilliance. Back to business."Carry out whatever justice you'd like, I seek not to impede upon your own investigation, I seek only to see the mages safe, and to find out why, and how, this occurred so I may help prevent it from happening again." It seems the magus cares deeply about the fact innocents were taken, which is true. But what moves him most is the fact -only- mages were targeted. If someone is out to get spellcasters, then apprentices and novice practitioners were at the highest risk. Aiden knew the guild's current leadership was lethargic, to say the least, but taking so long to act when young mages were being abducted, well, that doesn't sit well with Aiden at all. "So far I've only one name, Khitti. If you know anything else, I humbly ask if you may share it."

Aerondur was very surprised to think the Queen of this land would bestow such kindness to a stranger, most monarchs he knew would never go up to a person that could be a threat like she did. He knew she must be quite powerful to do something like that and instantly he had an immense amount of respect for her. Watching as the wyrm he somehow missed devoured the leg of boar he grimaced, though she was right the fire did start to get even hotter which was great, the elf turned to look at her his emerald green eyes had the fire flickering in them which looked quite extravagent coming from the blackness of his hood that shrouded his features. In his known formal greeting to one of higher rank he lifted his left hand his index and middle finger pointed and brought them to his lips. Returning his hand to his side the elf spoke to her, "Thank you, your kindness is much appreciated, I didn't even realized he was under there let alone feeding him would change the warmth that much." He decided to fall silent again as the mage continued his conversation with her.

Hildegarde accepted Aerondur’s thanks with a champion smile, her gaze intent upon that odd salute. It was unfamiliar to her, but noted for future use. “Aodhan is always hungry, but he’s quite fat now,” she tells him, briefly gesturing towards the flames were the fire wyvern could be seen chomping contentedly upon the bone in an effort to snap it and get at the delicious marrow inside. Rather than abandon Aerondur’s side, the Silver remains by him but turns on her heel to speak to Aiden. Hildegarde almost wanted to say that the guild had been entirely lax in its duties, but she just about managed to refrain. “I will exchange my information, in return for your word that I will be involved in whatever action or further investigation you or the guild take,” Hildegarde had paid handsomely to become Sykule’s patron within the Guild. She had a hand in the guild, though not a massive or controlling one.

Pilar had been about to give Aiden the information he wanted when Hildegarde made her terms known. So, she kept mum. She simply looked between the three of them. "Hildegarde's resources will help... and she is powerful even without them. She'll be an asset," she said, in case Aiden was reluctant to agree.

Aiden is no fool, nor arrogant enough to insult a Queen when she offers aid. So, he replies honestly. "You'll be informed of pertinent information within a timely manner every step of my investigation." He turns to Pilar, and says. "If you'd like, maybe you'd care to join me in this endeavor, as more keen minds upon the matter can only boost the chances of us finding those lost in a quicker timeframe."

Aerondur had decided since the Queen stayed next to him that he would be rude to keep his back to the other two he turned around and looked upon both of them, he raised both his arms and crossed them. Something inside of him told him he shouldn't get involved but he decided that maybe with his skills he could not only help those who practiced magic that were left but perhaps others around, but that would have to be mentioned another time, for now he just simply said, "I think it should be known that I'm a magic user and perhaps at risk to be kidnapped as well right?"

Hildegarde made a small noise of acknowledgement in regards to Aiden’s words. An investigation the guild hadn’t even bothered with until now, it would seem. Alas, Hildegarde is aware of the greater good and the importance of working together to save the lives of those in need. “I asked Daermon, Khitti’s sire, to locate her through their bond. He claimed he could sense her in the Xalious or Frostmaw area,” she begins to explain. Before Aiden or anyone else could suggest searching in Frostmaw, the Silver is quick to interject and explain: “Khitti suspected a dragon by the name of Raiez as being the kidnapper. She said she felt targeted by this individual, too. I admit, the looks exchanged between the two were not friendly. But the key point is that Raiez is a dragon, as am I. I would know if another dragon claimed territory here and so arrogantly held people hostage in my lands,” she told all who had gathered here. “Anyone with magic is at risk, that’s true. But we must question why mages are being taken; what is the end goal in taking them?”

Pilar nodded to Aiden. "Of course. Some of the missing mages are my friends. And... well... I'm in the Guild, too..." She looked at Hildegarde and gave a shrug. Hopefully that wouldn't lower the queen's opinion of her. She looked to Aerondur next, then to Hildegarde. "Maybe... She needs something big done, and a lot of mages to do it? Maybe she wants power and thinks magic is the way to get it?" It was all she could think of.

Aiden ponders now. A Dragon? That would explain why they've all disappeared so easily. Now the magus has two names, and something real to go on. But, to clear the air he says to all, but mainly Hildegarde. "I've been absent for some years, three to be exact. The guild's real leadership has gone one, from Rheven, to Tiphareth, even the Magisters, Satoshi, Tenebrae and Svilfon have all gone." A sigh escapes him, as the current heads are very... well. "Those in charge now take far too Damn long to decide on anything, for they fear upon the return of those previously mentioned, yet do not have the power they had, so are too nervous to make a decision about the simplest of matters. I am here under no real authority of the Guild. I am here because I'm doing what's right.while old men bicker, I aim to prevent deaths of those under their guidance." His aim by speaking not only the truth, but his mind, was to show all present that his ties to the guild do not hold sway over -his- actions. "We shall find them, and the reason behind this will be revealed as well. I fear, if it is a Dragon, your aid may be needed more than I'd like to admit, as even my considerable skills in the arcane... well.. it's a damn dragon." Here, he'd smirk to lighten the mood. It was another honest comment. Dragons are by far one of the most powerful creatures in the realm, facing one is something a lone mage has rarely done. To Pilar, he says."If you are of the guild, then good. That will come in handy."

Aerondur smiled he was utterly surprised that this person standing next to him was a dragon, he figured she was powerful but a dragon he never expected. It seems in this land he needed to be very cautious with everything he did, dragons around every corner, those who practice magic being kidnapped for some unknown reason. He decided perhaps not jumping into a wild hunt was the best idea,"Does why they were kidnapped really matter? Maybe it should matter after you get them back but wondering why and finding that out doesn't bring anyone closer to catching them does it? There must be clues where they were taken, or if all those who were taken are somehow connected or something." He turned and looked at the Queen, "You say perhaps this Raiez took them, would he do it for someone else perhaps, what's his gain really?"

Hildegarde grunted at the mention of old men bickering. “That is all that old men seem to do: bicker and try to impose outdated rules upon people,” Hildegarde will probably take down the patriarchy all by herself. “I once had great respect for the Guild, though I knew not its arts and mysteries. I knew many members and loved them dearly, but I cannot find it in myself to love or protect an institution that has grown lax and cannot adequately maintain its duty of care,” she tells Aiden with a truly sympathetic tone and a face that seemed to be in mourning. She mourned the fall of the guild. “I cannot help but wonder if the guild does not rescue these magically inclined citizens due to their lack of guild association or if it is simply a case of bureaucracy gone wrong.” As Aerondur claims that the reason the mages have gone missing does not truly matter in comparison to actually finding him, the Silver nods her head in acceptance. “That is true, but it will do us no good to blindly walk into a situation. What if Raiez has set a trap? What if she has used the mages in such a way that they are compelled to do things they otherwise would not? We walk in there and we might… we might dissolve or simply feed more mages into her trap,” she reasons. She had seen enough traps to last her a lifetime. “So many mages and for what purpose? Who can say. But we ought not to waste much more time on debating the who, the what, the why and the how. They are in danger, that is what matters.” The Silver looks between all who are gathered and decides that they must act sooner rather than later. “You are welcome to stay here – I will pay your bed and board. I wish to work with you lot on finding our missing mages. Ah, quickly,” the Silver gestures at Pilar, “you have some illusion abilities, yes?” The knight then gestures at Aiden, “Arcane mage,” she cannot be sure, but she must guess. Aerondur now she looks to, “And you are…?” Pilar was disappointed to hear of the Guild's fall... But, by now, not wholly surprised. She hadn't even seen her teacher in weeks. He was always off doing 'important work' they said. Bah. She nodded as Hildegarde asked her abilities. "Yes, I... I'm still a novice, but I, I can make some illusions pretty well..."

Aiden could argue many points about the decline of the guild, but actions speak louder than words. And, more importantly, this matter wasn't about the guild, but innocent lives. "I have no particular focus, and study magic as a whole. I was tasked three years ago by my superiors to investigate curious matters in far away lands." He was sent off because he challenged an outdated system and made certain people in power look foolish on more than one occasion. " I thank you for your generous hospitality. I need to study upon things." Like Dragon lore, just his luck. " But, if needed, I am readily available." To the other in their company, the elf, he says. "For now, it is best you stay close. As well, the more we have the better chance we have of making sure all magic users remain safe, as well as rescuing those taken. Ok?"

Hildegarde didn’t expect that in depth an explanation, but she was happy to receive it none the less. “Satoshi and Kirien both told me that magic has a sort of signature. Something unique,” she said, obviously having no real idea of what the magely types meant! “If Pilar can conjure a map, could you not scry or search for these signatures? Find a clump of signatures to find our missing mages?” Aiden said to you, "That is a plan. But if the Dragon, or whoever else, have the location protected from such scrying, it won't work. If it doesn't, we may have to draw the Dragon out, I'll use myself as bait."

Pilar was so inexperienced with magic outside of illusion that she wasn't sure if her map would be any more use than a paper one, but she was willing to try anything.

Hildegarde said to Aiden, "We can discuss that, but I would not commit to such. Too many people have agreed to being bait without properly thinking about the consequences."

Aiden said to you, "Understandable. But, we've at least the knowledge of who could possibly be the culprit. I'd assume keeping this meeting as low key as possible is the wisest. If they are being held lose, be it in Frostmaw, or somewhere in the Xalious range, we will find them. But, I'd take measures, if you haven't already, to inform those who practice magic here, if any, to use caution in there travels. If it is a Dragon, do we know the type? And are you familiar with any forms it may like to take?"

Hildegarde said to Aiden, "I know they are not in Frostmaw. I would stake my life on this fact," she says with confidence. "I know we will find them. But I think agreeing to be bait is something that must be discussed first, rather than a simple 'I shall be the bait' when there is no actual plan. Frostmaw is not home to many mages, but I care for my people," meaning her people are already informed and she doesn't much like this implication that she has not taken measure or given advice to her people. "I believe it's a blue. I saw the one form she used, but that was all. But for now, I will bid you goodnight. I have business to conduct."

Aiden can see he erred slightly, and as such simply offers a humble bow and a " Goodnight." And says nothing more. He truly meant no offense.