RP:Matching Mithril
Part of the Thy Kingdom Come Arc
Summary: Hildegarde encounters Linn while wandering through Vailkrin and they briefly catch up. He promises his aid in the struggles later on, but he talks about his own quest. Worrying for her friend, the knight escorts him safely to House Dragana.
Vailkrin City Street
Hildegarde had decided it was about time that she stretched her legs and escaped the confines of the castle. She didn’t like being cooped up within the luxurious building, but she was grateful for its grand space and the stability it afforded her. The knight strolled along Vailkrin’s dark streets without fear, she was confident enough in her own abilities to defend herself that she felt she needn’t fear the townsfolk or the creatures that lurk in the dark city. Of course, no denizen of Vailkrin would dare to drink her saurian blood unless they wished an untimely demise upon themselves. The Silver’s halberd tapped against the earth with each step until it only stood tall in the ground and the knight had come to a halt. She looked upon the tavern with fondness. This was where she had first met Kirien, now that she thought about it.
Linn probably couldn’t have looked more out of place than in Vailkrin wearing the bright mithril that he always did. Then again, the ambient darkness also found its way into his appearance as the various lamps fluttered through the reflections off of his plates. It wasn’t a place he went often, usually only for very specific reasons. And he had one now. Currently, he was traversing the town to get situated, expecting to have to return here a few more times in the near future. It didn’t take long before he found one of the first people he was hoping to catch up with, a smile cracking his expression as he found the former steward. Approaching he called out with a wave, “Hildegarde! I heard you were up here, from Orikahn no less.” He gave a halfhearted chuckle, “We haven’t tried killing each other again… yet. Supposedly we’re working together once again.” The irony of the coincidence was still thoroughly amusing to him, how quickly two could go between allies and mortal enemies.
Hildegarde and Linn were matching, then, in their bright mithril armour. As Linn called her name and waved in her direction, the knight turned slightly to get a better look at him and offer him a polite smile in return. “Linn, how good it is to see you!” she said fondly. “Ah, yes, Orikahn. I found him in Gualon and we tussled a little. Ended up having a good chat and he has sworn to assist me, what with his… Savage Queen being dead,” she explained. “But he is a good hunter and a good man to have on hand, when his loyalty is not in question,” she reasoned. “But it is good to see you again, Linn! Pilar is safe in Vailkrin once again, just to keep you updated. She is assisting me in finding those who might help us in our quest to liberate our home.”
Linn chuckled and nodded as the topic of Orikahn continued. “We’ll play nice for now. Hopefully that goes for a while.” As Pilar came back up his brows raised. “I saw her a couple times after she got out of Frostmaw. Didn’t hear about her working with all of us though. Still, that’s good to hear. I wish I could have some better news from my end.” Blowing out a sigh he scratched at his forehead briefly as his mood fell. “You haven’t heard about what happened out in Xalious have you? That’s actually the main reason I’ve come here, though if there’s anything else you want to catch me up on I’d like to hear too.”
Hildegarde nodded as Linn mentioned his lack of awareness pertaining Pilar’s assistance, “Yes, she’s said she’d like to help us liberate Frostmaw. I believe that her fear for the people and witnessing it first hand is what has motivated her, but her help is valuable and appreciated. A kind soul, that one,” she murmured. But then there was news of Xalious and whenever someone mentioned Xalious, the knight always thought of Josleen. She hadn’t seen her since Gualon. “What’s happened in Xalious?” there is worry in her voice, that much is clear.
Linn blew out a sigh as he had to explain what went on in Xalious. It wasn’t –where- to start. That was obvious. It was –how- to start. “I remember you speaking to Josleen about the necromancers who were trying their summoning that was bringing about all the storms. Well, they summoned it not too long ago. They actually crashed the election by doing it. The only reason I’m still alive and walking… they pissed off some of the wrong people.” While he looked nervous, even worried at the implications of such news, he lacked the sadness that came with anything too personal of a loss. “The creature they brought in was driven off to somewhere, though I have no clue where it is.” Suddenly he looked past Hildegarde before turning his head to look the other way, taking care not to speak so loud to be overheard when he began again. “I spoke with Josleen about potentially finding a way to deal with it, and right now the best thing I can think of is finding one of the artifacts related to it to maybe track the thing back to wherever it went. She directed me to Larewen, who if I remember right is around here in Vailkrin.”
Hildegarde listened carefully to all that Linn had to say. A creature? Driven off? “Are the people of Xalious all right? Is Josleen all right?” she asked, trying not to let her worry overtake her rational thinking. This was what she had been explaining to Pilar before: love was blinding, even the love of friends. “Yes. Larewen is here in Vailkrin, her home isn’t too far from here, actually. But the forest is a dangerous path, my friend. I can escort you there, if you so wish, or we can wait in the tavern for Larewen to find you.”
Linn nodded. “As far as I know, everyone’s fine. The creature didn’t do all that much before it went for…” He blinked slowly with a shake of his head as if to clear his mind, trying to dispel the image of just what happened that day. “Went for someone who it shouldn’t have. He called himself ‘X’. Whoever he is, he doesn’t want that thing running free either, and I think it’s best we stay on good terms with him.” Somehow, almost getting turned into an undead paled in comparison to just watching what happened to the Shade Nightmare to the point of being forgotten. “I think Pilar actually showed me the way to her home once. So I at least know the path myself, but if we could go see her that would be good. She supposedly knows some of the things that could help me get started on looking for something to help with all of this.”
Hildegarde recognised the name ‘X’. She knew him and his wife well. “I know him,” she said softly, “and if he does not want such a creature running free, then it is something to be afraid of.” The knight hadn’t seen X in some time. Had he heard of her death? Or her resurrection? Did he still want his sons to squire to her when they came of age? Questions for another time. “I will walk you there, but I cannot stay. I have made Lady Larewen a proposal of sorts, so it would be unseemly of me to wait around her home for her answer. I’m still searching for allies.”
Linn cocked a brow for a split second before dispelling whatever surprise he may have had. That figure seemed to be the kind who knows who he wishes to. It wasn’t out of the question that Hildegarde would be one of those people. To the rest about that strange old man, he merely nodded, finding little more to say. “That sounds fine. Hopefully we can figure out what we need to together.” Another nod as she explained that she was still searching for allies. “I wish I could do more to help, but now… it looks like I might be on a bit of a hunt of my own for a while. But if or when you need me… you shouldn’t have a problem finding me. I expect to possibly travel back here a few times if there’s anything more I need to know.”
Hildegarde gestured to the path, “Then let us walk,” she said and even began to stroll down the pathway. “It’s all right. I’m not exactly rushing off into war right now,” she said gently, “for now, I am only looking for political allies and those who might lend me some strength before I march upon Frostmaw. So for now, I am tangled up in the web of politics. Once we wade into fighting and the real battle for Frostmaw… I have no doubt that I will need you.”
Linn began his walk alongside Hildegarde to House Dragana, nodding with a weak smile on his face. “I understand. We need to know who and what we will have before we do anything else. At least that gives me some time to work out my own search for a way to deal with these necromancers and their summoning. We’ll figure it out in time.” At least he hoped so, given that the consequences for being unable to would be quite dire.
Hildegarde kept a sense of wariness about her as they traversed the dark forest in search of House Dragana, always cautious for some kind of attack. She had fought here before, as part of a tournament. She knew that the spiders of the forest were a danger unto themselves. Here be monsters, indeed. “I have confidence that you will figure it out. I wish I knew more and could be of greater assistance.”
Linn remained aware as well, frequently throwing glances off to the sides of the path into the woods, though once the manor began to loom over the he looked up at it with a nod. “Well, there’s only one way to figure it out and that’s to get working on it. I’ve been here once before so the servants should at least recognize me here. You work on getting your allies together. I don’t want you failing in your attempt to take Frostmaw back either.” Should they decide to part ways there he’d offer the steward a wave and a “Good luck, see you soon!”
Hildegarde smiled as Linn cheerily bade her well in her attempt to reclaim Frostmaw, “I wish you luck in your quest, friend,” she offered in reply. “If you have need of me, I’m stationed at the castle back in the city centre. I hope you find what you’re looking for, here with Larewen,” she said kindly; waiting for him to be at the door of the manor before finally turning and departing from the house.