RP:In Search of Guidance

Location: Necromancers Tower

Synopsis: Elga travels to the Necromancers tower in search of a person named Khitti so that she may continue her studies of The Black Tides. However, the one she has learned of, is not there. Instead, Elga meets Joan once more where she is offered a little guidance. Before Elga leaves, Joan is asked to let Khitti know she has come looking for her.

Characters: Joan and Elga.

In Search of Guidance

The home is more accurately described as a manse. It is massive in size, a vaulted ceiling with beams and buttraces capping a series of wide marble staircases that lead up to opulent corridors, every landing open to a mezzanine formed by arches and a wrought iron, filigree railing overlooking the entry hall. From a position upon the travertine tile floor, it seems that the house rises no less than four stories. The walls are a mottled, onyx stone, hewn to a smooth face and polished to a mirror like shine. A quartet of chandeliers, each one crafted from thin, wirelike strands of emerald to resemble a tangle of vines and leaves, hangs in cordoned quadrants from thick chains attached to the ceiling. The heady scent of pungent incense and rich, flavorful cigars wafts through the labyrinthine mansion. Etched into the tiles is a curious sight: a pristine, white circle that stretches in circumference from wall to wall, and door to door. Sigils and glyphs border the area, each one emblazoned with the same hand and subtle finesse. An oppressive magic emanates upward from the floor, inhibiting undead and abominable and other worldly entities from entering. Myriad doors and entries stretch out from the cavernous room, each one bedecked with archaic splendor and subdued style. One chamber seems to lead into another, and on and on through a maze of far-reaching rooms. A single canton in particular appears to be outfitted as a shrine. The walls are tiled in jagged obsidian, while the floor seems to be a solid sheet of semi-precious hematite stone. A constant, calm patter alerts visitors to the presence of a circular fountain with a low lip at the center of the room. Jets of water are propelled from the perimieter of the pool and into the middle, where three steel-wrought sculptures of a black widow spider, cloaked skeleton, and a multi-limbed, humanoid figure kneeling before a massive dragon stand sentry. Flickering censers dangle from every corner of the room, wafting violet-black smoke and the aroma of lilies while casting ominous puddles of light and shadow. A flight of stairs makes an appearance along the left wall through a sculpted archway, leading downward from the shrine.

Joan was near the massive fountain in the guild headquarters, the vampire sat on a cushioned chair pulled up close to the lip of the fountain, her legs crossed at the ankles as her heels rested on the lip of the fountain, a book laid open in her lap as she stared into the pool of jetting dark water. Just enjoying the soft calming sound of the water and the jet sprays. Further off down many of the corridors light sounds can be hear as classes and practices are in session. The quite hum and energy of action made the tower seem more lively then normal, hooded cloaked figures can be seen moving along to their personal destinations as Joan stay in her relaxed position near the entrance, it seems she was in charge of greeting those that seemed entrance into the tower for this shift.

Elga's march into the tower is at a languid pace, whilst a bemused grin touches the corner of her lips. Her eyes - an intense swirl of grey and blacks - drifts from the spit-shined onyx walls to the flickering censors hung up in the corners and then finally to the fountain which sits within the center of the room. The black smoke, while not entirely pulling her attention, is named the source of the scent of lilies that can be found within the air. Her pace slows once as she spots Joan upon a chair and lofts a brow - fighting with fickle memories and reasonings. Had they met? Elga comes to a stop nearby Joan and remembers; the boisterous one from the tavern. Joan could be found here as well? Interesting. "So we meet again." The spell blades' voice is still wrapped up in a sing-song tone. Like before, she is dressed in half-plate, left forearm strapped to a buckler, while her right-hand clings to a remarkable short spear. Elga hardly changed up her looks.

Joan looked up from her private musing as soon as she heard the footfalls on the paved stone walkway up to the massive front door to the tower, as it was opened Joan look give a to see a hand and offer a wave in greeting. “Elga, right?! Welcome to the necromancer’s tower and guild HQ. What can I help you with? And would you mind signing in at that big black tome near the door.” She points back towards the entrance where a massive black tome sat open, a quill and inkwell next to the tome sitting on a sturdy table. Above the tome on the wall hung was the guild’s banner flared out in proud display. Giving no doubt where one was. As the woman approached Joan would take her resting heels off of the lip of the fountain to sit up straight her hand lifted to her pale lips as she studies the other for a moment, eyes flickering to the spear and back to the other’s attire, Joan never saw the use for armor...it hid the body and Joan was a creature of comfort and luxury. If she couldn’t be in her normal fashionable ladies two piece, what was the point?! Clothes...clothes made a person stand out in a crowd. And Joan liked to look the part!

Elga turns her gaze to the massive tome pointed out by Joan. The spell blade had only heard of clinics which asked to sign in and wait it out, but right here at the Necromancers Guild, she needed to do the same? With a nod, both in response to signing in and the comment about her name, Elga drifts to the large tome and eyeballs the list of names who have come here before her - she is ever cautious about all things. When she is satisfied, her spear is set aside momentarily to sign her name, just as the others have done. Should Joan look, she would only find a first name; no last name to speak of. "Well, " she answers back finally, shattering that moment of silence between the two. "I'm actually here to search for someone named Khitti." Grey eyes shift back to Joan once Elga collects her spear. It's true that the Venturilite spell blade couldn't give a trolls backside to doll herself up like many of the other females of the world. She sought arms and armor, in the same way she had been raised too. Though beneath the metal exterior sits a woman of natural beauty - tucked somewhere beneath her grumpy exterior. "Is she perhaps in today?" What reason did she have to seek her out? "I'm told she's quite informed about something called the black tides."

Joan rubs the pad of her thumb along her full lower lip as she does a quick glance towards one to the many corridors, hidden staircases tucked into this tower lead to any number of rooms and Joan was not sure if Khitti was in, or away at one of her many other guilds the woman was involved with. “Hm...I don’t think so...and yes, she is our Umbracryaestor.” Joan would lightly tap at the center of her chest as she informs the other, “I’m of Sceleratus grade in the guild, and learning control of the Black Tides myself.”

Elga suddenly finds odd titles thrown at her and is totally unaware of what they mean. Umbracryaestor? Sceleratus grade? Were these a form of rankings within the guild? The humans brow wrinkles in thought, pondering over such things. Her gaze flicks over Joans form as she learns that she too is learning the black tides. Elga wasn't technically learning all of the black tides, but dabbled in dark fire and shadows. Though as a spell blade it is to a much lesser degree. "I see." Her gaze moves to the numerous corridors and back. Khitti was out. That's a shame. Regardless, perhaps she could talk to Joan about this subject, at least for a little while. "Well, I'm far from an expert, and only dabble in dark fire-" enough to enchant a weapon, nothing beyond it. "But I figured she might be the best to further instruct me." Though Elga looks the part of a warrior, she is a spell blade. "Maybe you could show me a couple of things before I seek out Khitti for further instruction?" Was there a room that they could go to? Was this question outside of the norm?

Joan chuckles as she moves to stand up out from her cushioned chair, lightly scooting it back as she makes room, “Sorry, yeah we got title grades, my grade is second in ranking, first is Novus Morior, that is entrance rank, within joining the guild once you are accepted you get a copy of our guild book, Minor Book of the Dead. It is also entrance level learning. Here at our tower you must learn all of the basics before testing to the next grade, which is Sceleratus. At my grade level you must master all of the lower ranked skills and focus on a area of study once you proven yourself. The rankings go higher above me, but for now that should give you a basic understanding, you can master in the Black Tides, we are not just all about zombies here!” With that Joan lightly stretches out her glove covered arms, her pale fingers and shiny clear polished nails flexing in the fingerless area where her gloves end. “The Black Tides use is different from everyone.” Explaining Joan focuses her gaze to her nails, a soft pale purple shadow appears to engulf her polished nails, flickering lightly as she sharpened her gaze to give the shadows more depth and shape, slowly the shadows elongated her nails, making them flaming purple sharpen shadow claws. It gives the vampire a few more inches on the end of each nail, lightly turning her palm upwards she cups her hand slightly as the shadow purple flames dance before the two. “Now...it’s just my inner focus for my magical energies and own aura that make these, you got to feel for the shadows, for the flame or ice.” She offers out her upturned hand towards the other as she speaks once more, “I blunted the ends, so you can reach out and touch them if you want, I’m running a low cool energy right now, so they should be slightly icy to the touch, and the flames won’t hurt you. I promise!” She grins fully flashing hints of her pearly white fangs as she waits for Elga.

Elga stood there silently, contemplating the discussions of guild rankings - a proverbial light bulb of understanding appearing within her grey gaze. Nearly smiling at the fact that her initial thoughts we're correct, she stifles her reaction down and continues to listen. Perhaps this minor book of the undead would actually be beneficial to her studies? One more reason to track down Khitti, Elga thinks to herself. As Joan explains the purple flames held at her fingertips, the spell blade wonders why hers are the color purple? Perhaps it was a connection issue that Elga had. "Interesting, " Elga removes a glove from her fingers and idly traces one of the flames; feeling its chill. "I have never tried to gather it in my hands, or at my fingertips. I was trained as a warrior and only recently found that I have access to magic." Her cold gaze drifts back to the Vampire. "You can imagine what followers of Aramoth said and thought about such things." However, instead of dwelling upon such thoughts, Elga equips that glove once more and looks to her spear. For moments there is naught but silence, until a few archaic words drift from her tongue - a call which she had learned. Her remarkable short spear, soon responds, it's ra, or sharp edge light up with green flame. Joan might find the coloration odd, thought it is dark fire. However, one who has had lots of practice, might find that Elga does not yet have a strong connection to it. Simply enchanting her spear, as such, is about as far as she can push it. Those flames which she has produced, are not safe to touch. "As you can see, I don't have the same level of control."

As the vampire merchant watched the other show what she could do so far with the Black Tides the amethyst colored hair bobs about her head as she nods, “Don’t worry about the color. It’s like attuned to your magical and mystical aura, whatever color shows is mostly your aura color. If it’s black, it’s black, if it’s purple, it’s purple, and in your case...if it’s green then by gods it’s green. Not everyone is the same, and we like aura colors!” Speaking of such she slowly calling in the purple flaming shadows from her nail ends, absorbing the icy cool shadow flames back into her being. Once they dissolve back into her she’d give each wrist a light flexing shape,her fingers flexing and curling inwards and out a couple times as she gets feeling back into them. “I’m okay at it, I have yet to have any lessons with Khitti myself on the matter. I’m mostly remote study.” She tells Elga with another smile.

Elga would finally smile, revealing her ivory teeth for the first time. So the color she produced wasn't a defect? That's good news. "Well then, thanks for your guidance, Joan. I've been messing around with it on my own and have been struggling." Her grey gaze drifts back to the doors in thought. "Would you mind letting Khitti know I stopped by to ask about the black tides? We have never met before, but perhaps she will meet with me. Regardless, I'm sure we will have time to discuss these things again. Until next time." Elga turns on heel and raises her shield hand to wave, the magics upon her spear die out as she marches back out of the tower and out of view.