RP:Recruiting A Witch

Part of the Home Sweet Home Arc

Location: Recaptured Fort

Synopsis: With the recruitment process underway, Gilwen conscripts the elven witch Lanara to her cause. Things go well, and one more magic caster is added to the roster!

Recaptured Fort

This small patch of land has witnessed the destruction and resurrection of major forces. Notably, the elves lived here first in a thriving, peaceful community before being decimated by the duergars. During their occupation of this land, the deep dwarves built a dark tower and spiked walls. What happened to the duergars is not known, but some time after the drow military occupied this fort and from here launched a war against the elves, driving them out of the forest and replacing it with darkness. The drow won the first war, but lost the fort in the second. The watchtower was destroyed by the elves, who must now build a future on these lands, whose very foundation is violence and war.

Lanara arrives at the fort in Sage Forest, her chocolate hues eyeing the exterior of the building, as she climbs the three steps, and raps lightly on the oak door. The elf often felt at home in Sage, more than any other area in the lands, as it was mostly similar to the place where she originally hailed from, Kelvar. The brisk chill from the shade of the trees, the foliage, walking amongst the treetops, being one with nature. She loved the outdoors and the witch inside of her loved to search for herbs and such for spell casting in the forests, as well. So she arrives in the middle of the afternoon, hoping to catch Lady Gilwen, so that they may consult over ridding Sage Forest of the curse that was placed upon it in the past. The two women have never crossed paths before, though Lana is pretty sure this is the same elf that had beat up Ansel as the Yule Ball. That brings a faint smile to her lips, as she waits outside the door, twirling the end of her long French-style braid, and tapping her knee-high boot against the porch floorboards.

Sage wasn't spared from the winter temperatures and the snow that had been brought down from the mountains with the cold front that blew in from the mountains; the small village that had sprouted up around the fort was blanketed in a think cover of white, and the stone and mortar chimney's billowed out peat smoke. Despite the chill, a few merchants from across Lithrydel had stopped to sell furs, harvested peat, and cords of wood; since the trees and foliage of the southern half of Sage had rotted under the curse, and were subsequently removed in the immediate vicinity to avoid the dangers of falling timber, there wasn't much fuel for a fire that was readily available. Despite the bite in the air, children, both elven and human, ran through the narrow streets of the enclave, bundled warmly against the weather, and throwing snowballs in an epic war, while other members of the community watched on with warm smiles, or did business with the few merchants who had step up shop for the day. Members of the Order were dressed in warm leathers and furs, and patrolled the boundaries of the settlement, or stood on guard at the main gate of the enceinte. The pair of sentinels who stood at the entrance nodded in welcome to Lanara's approach, and waved her through the muddied courtyard. Straw had been scattered to help prevent wagon wheels and horse hooves from sinking too deeply, and large puddles had been bridged with planks of wood. Inside the ramparts of the Fort, the Blacksmith's hammer against his anvil reverberated lightly, pinging through the knickers of stabled horses, and rowdy card game being held by soldiers on break; a bowyer and fletcher worked alongside the blacksmith to replenish ammunition and weaponry. It appeared as though the elves were readying themselves for battle.

While duergars hadn't built a large fort, it was still considerably sizeable judging by room within the ramparts; it was just large enough to hold the populace who had built their lives anew if the idea of comfort was overlooked. The tower that had once stood within the walls had been torn down amidst the war, but efforts were made to restore parts of it with freshly hewn stone to provide a centralized location and, once, temporary housing. The doors to the fort were manned with a pair of guards, and they, too, nodded in welcome to Lanara, and a tawny headed female pushed open the door for the witch, and would close it behind her upon her entrance to keep the meager warmth trapped within. Inside the fort, it was clear that the elves had taken care in the reconstruction of the fort, the dark stones that had made up the watchtower that once stood here had been reused, and fresh stone had been hewn to insure the integrity of the masonry held. The interior walls were hung with tapestries that told the history of Sage and the elven populace, some newly woven with depicting the retaking of Sage, and some ancient and retelling stories of the Gods. Off of the atrium, the council chamber where the Protector's could usually be found was available via an open door, and, with Lanara's presence having been announced by quick words in passing of a guard stationed within the Fort, Gilwen stood in the threshold. Dressed in a mixture of leathers and cotton, the small, fiery headed elf was armed and armored despite the relative safety that the Fort provided. "Hello. Can I help you with something?"

Lanara finds that she’s immediately ushered inside, as her fellow elves knew that she was not a threat, and perhaps a few recognized her from a few years back, when she had taken up residence in the woods with her sibling. The interior and exterior of the fort are admired, her dark hues noting that although they seemed short on provisions, they were prepping for an attack of some sort, and in the process of rebuilding that which was once lost. For a moment, she merely stands with her back to the door she had just entered, her gaze falling on the newly hung tapestries, the elf admiring the history of the land, as the guards announce her arrival to the lady in charge. As the fiery headed elf emerges, dressed in armor, and having a few weapons at the ready, Lana turns her head and approaches, slowly, though with a warm smile on her fair face. “Hello. Lady Gilwen, I presume? I received a response to my interest in helping out with Sage Forest. I am Lanara…” The words are spoken in common tongue, though it’s obvious that she speaks Sylvan, as well, with the tapered ears, and knowledge of the lands. The elf doesn’t curtsey or offer a hand to shake; she merely studies the red head, a nod of approval given, as she mentally decides that the forest was in capable hands. Standing up straight, Lana appears alert, and somewhat curious as to the happenings, though she remains quiet for the moment, allowing the elf in charge to lead the conversation.

Gilwen’s expression lightened from wary uncertainty, to welcoming recognition and she stepped back into the room behind her, waving for the woman to join. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” she said over her shoulder in way of greeting as she moved to the sideboard, “Would you like something to drink? We have wine, whiskey, rum…” She trailed off there and glanced back at the witch expectantly. If prompted with a drink choice, she’d pour out two glasses before moving toward the large table centered in the middle of the room. The long table was carved from the trunk of an ancient elm, and the top was covered in stacks of books, an enchanted topographical map of Sage, and surveyor’s reports. Chairs were situated around the table, cushioned and comfortable, for when the council convened to discuss important measures. “Thank you for responding to my posting in the tavern. We are in need of those who can help unravel the curse on Sage, so I’m currently looking for those skilled in the arcane, necromancy, or holy magics.” She paused to take a sip of her drink. “I’m assuming by your letter that you aren’t a necromancer, and you don’t have the necessary holy magic.”

Lanara declines a drink, though she does accept one of the comfortable chairs that are offered, and as she lowers herself onto the cushioned seat, she crosses her legs, and takes a gander at the map. Slowly, her gaze trails back to Gilwen, and she responds with a smile, shaking her head. “You are correct. I am not skilled in raising the dead, nor am I a druid. Though, perhaps I can be of some use… “ She pauses, considering her next words, carefully. How did one exactly describe her nature, a witch, to another? She was a tad druid, a tad arcane, and the rest was purely unexplainable magic. “I’m a witch. I can do quite a few things. Spells. Healing. Elemental Magic. Potions. And everything in between. I do have some history on working with curses and such, so perhaps I can be of assistance, in some way. I have performed an exorcism on my sister. I have returned from the dead. Twice. And I was privy to a hex placed on Queen Josleen, of Larket.” She leaves out the part about being the –cause- of the hex, as her and her sister were both rather unruly at that time. “What is it that you require, Lady Gilwen?”

Gilwen settled into a neighboring chair and nestled back into its support as Lanara attempted to explain her magic. “I’ve had a fair few run in’s with witches over the centuries,” she said, nodding in understanding. “A witch’s magic isn’t new to me.” She fell silent, mulling over the question posed while trying to fit Lanara into a working role. The brief stint of silence between them was filled with the low murmurs of civilians passing through the fort, and the distant sound of a blacksmith’s hammer on an anvil. After a few moments, Gilwen sighed and shook her head, her gaze swinging from the cup of wine in her hands to the witch beside her. “A few weeks ago, we worked with a mage in Xalious to unravel some of the curse. Essentially, the explanation was for members of the group to focus on the aspect of the curse they were familiar with, so necromancer to necromancy, paladin to unholy, mage to arcane. They unraveled each thread of the curse, and it broke. So now, we need to do it all over again, this time on a much larger scale, and for the entire forest. We’re trying to hire enough people to create small parties that can cleanse the forest, that way, no one is getting overly exhausted and overworked.” She paused, finished off her wine, and rested the empty cup on the table in front of her. “If you think you might be able to unravel the arcana thread of this curse, we’d like to hire you.”

Lanara listens intently, nodding at the correct moments, and narrowing her gaze upon others, though all the while her gaze doesn’t deviate from Gilwen’s fair face. She takes in the length of the woman, from the strands of her fiery-dyed locks, down to her elven boots, and she decides that perhaps this woman is trustworthy, after all. The witch had a hard time of placing her trust, or loaning her abilities to just anyone, though the plan she has is well thought out, and it merely needed those willing to help it thrive with execution. This woman was an elf, and she had hopes of dispelling a curse in Sage Forest, a place that Lanara and her sister had once considered their home. Those three reasons alone have her head bobbing eagerly up and down, and she drums her fingertips against the tabletop. “I actually think your plan will work beautifully. You are addressing each thread, the death, the unholy, and the magical aspects. There is so much at play in this forest… But I’m confident that the fate of Sage has been placed in the right hands. I also, agree that I would mostly be of help in the arcane department. Just let me know when you require my assistance, and I’ll come right away and meet with the rest of the group, to help lift the curse. I’d be honored to offer my assistance, Lady Gilwen.” Lana finishes her statement with a small smile, though her words are sincere, and her expression is genuine. She would do all she could to help and cleanse Sage Forest.

Gilwen nodded in the wake of Lanara’s agreement that the devised plan would work; they had already experienced success with it thus far, so her doubts sat with the skills of those she planned to assemble, and not the method of execution. “I’m glad we can count on your assistance. I-” A knock interrupted her in that next moment, and she glanced toward the doorway where a soldier stood. “Ma’am, Syelnar and Maegus have requested a brief audience. They said it was rather urgent.” Surprise touched her brows, and they arched inquisitively, but she sighed her acquiescence and pushed herself from her seat. “Thank you again for your assistance, Lanara. But if you’ll excuse me. Duty calls it seems.” She offered a small, rare smile slipped past the threshold and soldier, and disappeared deeper into the fort.