RP:Recruiting a Ranger
Frostmaw Tavern
Svilfon is resting lazily in the tavern, sitting on his favourite chair which still only has one arm, the other long ago eaten by his confounded goat. Curled around his feet is a young couatl, seemingly asleep, while in his hands rests a plate piled to almost unnatural heights with various meats, most of which look like they've never seen the inside of an oven. The wizard rather messily devours them while every so often flicking his gaze to the barkeep and flashing a gap-toothed, crooked smile. It had been a while since he'd come to this place... he had forgotten how good the meat in Frostmaw tastes. Too much of his attention of late had been with the Xalious Village, or the problems in Venturil. It was about time he took a break.
Ardhel enters the tavern with a flurry of snow, the elf is wrapped in her cloak to stay warm. Moving to stand in front of the fire she pulls back her hood revealing the pointed ears of her race and long ebon hair pulled back in a white hair tie. The woman stays in front of the flames, trying to warm herself.
Sviilfon turns his pale gaze to the woman as she enters into the tavern. The wizard watches her carefully, having not seen her in Frostmaw before, though the moment she pulls back her hood and stands by the fire, he assumes she is of the elves who came here for sanctuary. He keeps an eye on her, though, and even goes as far to whisper in a voice which easily carries across the room, "Aodhan... warm the lady." The Frost Wyrm in the fireplace adheres to the wizard's wish, and soon the heat would rise in front of the elf; never dangerously so, but enough to shake away the shackles of Frostmaw's eternal frost.
Ardhel basks in the heat before turning to face the wizard, her keen elven hearing having heard the man's words, "Thank you kind wizard." she at least assumes that he is a wizard...going by the hat. Her face breaks out into a dazzling smile, "Would you be Svilfon by chance?" she asks, after studying the wizard, "I've heard of you from some of the residents here." yet again it was the hat.
Svilfon responds to her initial words by lifting his hand. He's about to tip his hat, before he realises it's bloodied by his meal, so instead he simply waves, before wiping it on his robes. Strangely, though the hand is cleaned, no sanguine stains mark his clothes - their enchantments strong enough to remove it. That done, and with her next words spoken, he does indeed tip his hat to her, before laying his plate on a small table beside the chair and speaking again. "I am indeed Svilfon, Magister Templi of the Mage's Guild, wizard-knight of Frostmaw, Wingleader of The Eyrie... and I hope those residents spoke kind words." He flashes a somewhat ambiguous smile at the elf, before carrying on. "And who might you be? One of Sophie's lot?" He seems entirely at ease, except his eyes - they watch the woman carefully... with the world as it is, it's always best to be a little weary.
Ardhel nods "I am, my name is Ardhel." she replies, "I recently finished my training as a ranger and wished to offer my services to the country that took in my people." The woman eyes the lack of blood on the wizards robes, magic she figures, always surprising. Her gaze drifts to the couatl, "He's beautiful."
Svilfon offers the woman another brief smile, flashing gaps and fangs in equal measure. "Ardhel. A pleasure." With that, he stands and taps the sleeping couatl with his foot. "Alahir... she said you're beautiful." The couatl, sleepy, pulses with a pscionic sensation of joy at the compliment, even going as far to flicker out his small wings in a gesture of greeting to the elf, before he shifts himself to be laying more comfortably on the ground and resumes his nap. The wizard offers his companion a warm smile, before stepping over him and moving closer to the elf. "Offer your services to the country which took them in... and what, pray, are your services? Did you finish your training here, or in Sage? The forests beneath Frostmaw are far different from our plains... this is a land of savagery and violence... though, I fear your home has become such since your cousins moved in."
Ardhel can't help but to laugh at the couatl's actions, "I began my training in Sage," she answers, "Then finished it here in the wilds of Frostmaw. I would have offered my services sooner but my master forbade me from entering civilization while training." she shrugs, "I have tracking skills and scouting skills plus I'm more than fairly decent with a bow." Her smile slips a bit, "Do you think I could be useful?"
Svilfon remains silent for a moment, before speaking. "All those who are loyal to Frostmaw are useful." A frown almost forms upon his lips, before he smiles in a strangely ambiguous fashion, his eyes glittering with an almost feral light as he speaks. "Come then, ranger apparent. Let us test your skills. Not too far away there is a herd of mammoths. I require their ivory to complete a spell. You can help me slay one, and show me your skills... but worry not: They are plentiful around Frostmaw, and often used by the giants for their coats, meat and bones. What we leave will be used by others." He motions then towards the door. "If your training has been good, lady elf, then if you like you can join the Eyrie - the fighting force of Frostmaw. Scouts are always needed, if they have the talent."
Ardhel bows her head some what sobered by the look in the man's eyes, "As you wish." with that the ranger moves to the door which she opens for the wizard, "After you my lord." She waits patiently for the wizard to exit before following him out.
Outside Frostmaw's Gates
Svilfon amends her words quickly, "Though, I suppose by definition I am a lord of Frostmaw, it is not a title I use. You may call me Svilfon, or simply wizard." He smiles briefly, before exiting the room and leading them through the streets of Frostmaw. He offers many of the giants a wave, and occasionally a brief word of greeting as they travel - it is clear almost everyone in this frozen city knows the man - before finally they make their way to its edges and face out into the frozen tundras. There, Svil pauses and speaks to the elf. "The mammoths are not far away... but you can track, you can find them. When you're in a good position, signal me with an animal's cry, and I'll startle the mammoths towards you. If you're good, and they don't know where you are, they will come close... then you can show me your other skills." With that said, and another small smile, the wizard vanishes in a cloud of smoke, leaving the ranger alone...
Ardhel follows the wizard through the town, a bright smile illuminating her features. Upon reaching the tundra she listens closely to the wizards instructions and with a nod vanishes into the surrounding snow after the wizards departure her white clothing acting as the perfect camouflage. Moving through the snow the ranger easily spots the signs of the mammoths passing and follows them closely. When she is within sight the ranger climbs atop a large stone and hunkers down. Blending smoothly with the snow covered stone. A deep steadying breath is taken before the call of a predatory bird echoes out from the ranger to alert the wizard.
Svilfon appears again on the other side of the mammoths, quietly and without fuss. Immediately he drops down, and despite the fact he has a pointy hat atop his head, and he wears dark clothes, he becomes almost invisible to them. It requires little concentration for the powerful wizard to disguise himself from such beasts, though doing so against more intelligent creatures is an altogether different kettle of fish. Nevertheless, he waits in silence, watching the mammoth's keenly to see if the pick up on the ranger's movements. But they do not, and when the cry echoes through the mountains, Svilfon acts. He stands and draws in his fiery magic, before lifting his gaze to the skies above and speaking a series of complex words. Steam erupts from the snow below him, forming up around his body, woven by his magic into the image of a rather large hunting tiger. From its mouth comes a roar given life by Svilfon, and the mixture of the sound and sight is enough to cause the herd of mammoths to begin running blindly in panic, heading as they are towards where the ranger waits. Svilfon, satisfied, steps out from the cloud and watches keenly... it matters nothing to him which one is taken down, he's more keen to see the skills the elf has at her disposal.
Ardhel waits for the mammoths to charge her way. The beasts race past her bellowing loudly, rising from her concealment she leaps onto the back of one of the animals. Her natural dexterity combined with her training allows her to stand of the beast's back long enough for her to draw a dagger and plunge it into the beast's back, giving her an anchor to hold on to. Waiting for the right time the woman throws herself forward, running lightly up the thing's back she jumps and deftly grabs onto the mammoth's tusk. The unexpected weight causes the animal to veer to the side, stumble, and fall. Moving quickly while the creature is down the elf whips out her sword and darts forward to stab up through the jaw, shoving her blade upwards with all of her strength causing it to pierce the brain. Throwing herself backwards in a roll she attempts to avoid the death thrashing of the beast, one of the tusks however does catch the woman on the leg and leaves a shallow gash.
Svilfon feels a savage wave of joy wash over him as the ranger leaps atop the beast's back. Yes... she would fit The Eyrie rather well. Immediately, the wizard teleports himself across the space, ending up atop the same ice-covered boulder she once used as a perch to make her call. He watches keenly as she rides the mammoth, and almost cheers as she grips its tusks and uses her weight to pull the panicking beast down. The death stroke is quick and sure, and despite the minor wound suffered, it was an altogether neat kill. Svilfon is impressed. He doesn't bother to hide it, either, as he walks the distance between himself and the ranger. He claps her on the shoulder just briefly, "A fine kill. Your master taught you well." Before he moves to the beast and lays a hand upon it. He whispers a few quiet words to the corpse, that even the fine hearing of the elf wouldn't catch, before he moves towards its mighty tusks. Shifting his speech to an archaic tongue, a spell is soon spoken. It lingers on the frozen air for a moment, even as the wizard pulls free the ivory he needs - it comes out cleanly and easily - before he turns and speaks again to the ranger. "If you so wish it, Ardhel, a place within the Eyrie is yours." He tips his hat to her. "I am impressed."
Ardhel listens to the wizards praise, "Nothing would please me more, Svilfon." she says excitedly, "Does this mean that I get a mount and everything?" she can't help but to ask, her smile once more beaming forth.
Svilfon laughs with genuine good humour at the woman's excitement, even as he nods his head. "Aye, you will get a mount. The other members will help you in that regard, as I will if you require it. We in Frostmaw, in the clan, we are family... there is nothing you can ask for that we will not aid you in, lady elf. As long as you do not bring war to our doorstep, or cause trouble within the ranks," he grins at that, "bad trouble, anyway." A wink. "You will get all the aid you need. Welcome, Ardhel, to the ranks of the Eyrie. I will let you tell the giants there is a mammoth corpse here, too. It was your kill. They will be equally thankful and impressed you took it down." An important thing, that - giants are not overly fond of strangers... at least until their prowess is proven.
Ardhel throws her arms around the mage in a hug, "Thank you so much!" With that she twirls away, "I'll go inform them immediately and whenever you are free to help with the obtaining of a mount I would be much appreciated, unless of course there is someone that would enjoy helping a bit more." the ranger's eyes are sparkling with hidden laughter.
Svilfon is enveloped in an elf-hug before he has time to react, and he grins at the woman as she spins away and speaks. "Yes, go tell them, lady ranger, member of The Eyrie. Let them know who you are." To her final words, he cannot help but laugh again, the sound rich with good humour. "Aiding in acquiring mounts... the entire Eyrie enjoys doing that! You'll have no trouble finding willing companions, Ardhel. Myself included." With that said, he tips his hat again. "Go, speak to the giants of your kill. I'll spend a moment longer here, before I return to the tavern. If I leave Alahir there, he'll sleep all day." The wizard ends his words with another quick wink.
Ardhel nods with a laugh, "As you wish, sir." Striking a bow she spins away and disappears into the snow.