RP:Renewing the Frozen Flame

From HollowWiki

Frostmaw Fort Main Room

Reingae trekked through the snow in her usual child like appearance, white tresses trailing behind her against the snow, far too long for her small frame. The guards watched her carefully, but were quick to answer her questions when she asked for Satoshi or the person in charge. Satoshi’s name was met with carefully exchanged glances before they directed her to the courtyard, where she had hoped to find the kit immersed in some war meeting or another, as was her custom. Crisp blue optics took in the scene, giving each moving creature careful consideration that came into view. But the Frost Maiden was absent. So, the naga took her stumpy, childish human legs and addressed the most authoritative looking figure in the immediate area, who just so happened to be Hildegarde. “Excuse me,” she said, in a very articulated dialect. “I’m looking for Satoshi…or whoever might be in charge at the moment.”


Hildegarde turned on her heel as she was spoken to, expecting to see someone of an adult height and being quite surprised. It appeared to be a child before her. The Silver knelt on one knee as to better speak to the child-disguised-naga, “Well, I’m afraid that Satoshi has not been around for some time. But you’ve done well in finding the next person in charge!” she assured the girl, not quite realising yet that she was indeed a well-to-do naga. The Silver offered her a smile before asking curiously, “Why would such a young girl be seeking out the ruler of Frostmaw? I cannot help but wonder what has brought you here, Miss…?”


Reginae looked at Hildegarde, a little confused before remembering that she’d only shown herself to Satoshi, and no one here would recognize her as anything but a child. So the child figure blinks before the realization crosses her expression and she smiles. “I apologize for the trouble, but I’m here on a liason mission from Alithrya. Pardon the appearance, but it’s not safe to travel as a Naga in the lands just yet…” Looking around, Regi is cautious, not wanting anyone to overhear. “I can prove this truth if you have somewhere we can speak privately, but I’m Reginae Naginis. I had a working alliance with Lady Satoshi. I’m a bit vexed to find both her and one of Vailkrin’s Lords missing as well.” The child bit her lip and looked Hildegarde carefully in the eyes. Her features and tone were clearly too old for her form. “Did she speak with you about this before she left…?”


Laezila was garbed with the attire that was swiftly becoming her favorite; a sleek, form-fitting and snow-white dress that was trimmed with artic fur along an asymmetrical hem that complimented her paled ebony and diminutive figure. Slender shoulders were skirted and courted by the wisps of shimmering white hair, accented by crystalline-blue eyes as the young drow, no older than the elven equivalent to a human twenty, stepped out into the proper of the main fort. There was Hildegarde, and the vampire's bottom lip was sucked into her mouth and between two fine rows of white teeth in hesitation. That gaze flickered toward the apparent child, in both confusion and scrutiny.


Hildegarde ’s eyebrows rose up as Reginae spoke of being here on a liaison mission from Alithrya. “I understand,” she said as Reginae spoke of how unsafe it was to travel freely as a Naga. “I promise you, m’lady, that no harm shall come to you in mine own fort. You are welcome to assume a form more comfortable or more natural to you, if you wish. But Satoshi has not spoken to me of any such business. She was a rather private woman at the best of times,” though Hildegarde sincerely wished she hadn’t been quite so closed off these days. “This Vailkrin Lord you speak of, do you mean Kasyr?” The Silver glances briefly to Laezila, but would not be so rude as to pull her attention away from this diplomatic visitor.


Reginae followed Hildegarde’s gaze to Laezila and offered the distant stranger. “ I thank you for your kindness, but it is still best for me to remain thus for now.” The naga in the form of a child turns back to Hildegarde, regarding her seriously. This might be a problem. “Yes, Kasyr as well. I was working with both of them on alliances to rebuild Alithrya but…they are gone and no one claims their titles. A vampriss in Vailkrin says she can speak with their political house and re-evaluate Kasyr’s previous decision to accept our working terms.” The child sighed, looking vexed. “Larewen, was her name. I am not up to date on the current affairs of this realm but at the time war waged, and I offered Lady Satoshi and Kasyr my services to prove Alithrya’s willingness to attempt rebuilding with aid as opposed to inviting the Parasite’s Return.”


Laezila 's attention slid back toward the apparent child as she spoke of Larewen, and small steps brought quietly the dress-clad young drow toward the Silver while her focus remained trained on the diplomatic visitor. "Larewen, my sire," came the ex-matron's soft murmur toward the Steward, as both hands came to lightly hook at the elbow and bicep of the stronger, larger, and scarred woman in a manner that was both apologetic and seeking some sort of comfort.


Hildegarde nodded, “As you wish,” she would not press for Reginae to assume her truest of forms. She understood what it was like to have a far more natural form that was rarely shown. “Kasyr has since abdicated his throne, meaning Vailkrin may well be in turmoil soon. I suppose the power of Redhale is keeping a balance, particularly amongst the undead, but the vampire Houses may well be up in arms soon enough. You would do well to review which House seems to be the most powerful and likely to withstand the test of time before throwing your lot in with them,” she cautioned softly. “But Larewen is, as I am aware, an elder vampire. She sired Laezila here,” she gestures briefly to the drowess he lightly hooked onto her arm. “As for Frostmaw… well, Satoshi has been absent for quite some time. I rule in her stead and the decision of alliances remain in my hands. You will forgive me for not instantly leaping into bed with your people, but… I would rather have a better understanding of terms and the like before agreeing to any sort of alliance.”


Reginae's childish form nodded. “I understand your caution, and respect your right to make decisions independent of Satoshi. I’m sure we can have length discussions about political direction and the ambitions of our respective realms. For the moment, I do want to extend the offer anyway. Just to give you some time to think about what you would like to know about me and mine, while I revisit these contracts with Frostmaw and Vailkrin. Lady Larewen said the House of Alnwick was the most prominent in regards to politics, at the time and she’d confer with them in due time even though she is from House Dragana. She was your sire?” The Naga turns her sharp, calculated gaze to the newcomer with a faint smile. “ Are you a part of this fold? The Frostmaw line of defense? Have you an opinion on the vampire home land and it’s uneasy state?” Then, to Hildegarde, “Do you require assistance of any sort, as an attempt to demonstrate my good will and intention of being a bit of a different voice for the Naga’s than Jaize was before me. I hope you did not have the pleasure of her company.” A cold chuckle escapes her lips.


Laezila stiffened as the 'child', whom the drow interpreted to not actually be a child of any sort and apparently was a sort of diplomant, turned her attention and questioning line toward the young ex-matron. "I am, um..." She shifted, and her gaze flipped up toward Hildegarde with uncertainty; what was she considered? And, vampire homeland? The drow knew so little -it was just such a foreign and unfamiliar place, she was hardly even used to just Frostmaw.


Hildegarde seemed surprise that a vampire House would recommend another. Surely they weren’t all on such good terms? But as Laezila hesitates and falters when it comes to answering Reginae, the knight clears her throat gently and speaks up: “Yes, the Lady Laezila was sired by Lady Larewen; though her ties to House Dragana remain unknown for the time being. Laezila is, however, a part of Frostmaw and a beloved friend to it. She is a citizen here, whose hard work helps keep my kingdom ticking over. She is newly sired, however, so her opinion on Vailkrin are no doubt equally new and thus not well informed enough to have a grounded opinion. But I am sure you can ask your question again in future,” the knight said it all quite easily and calmly; as if politics had come as naturally to her as combat did. “I thank you for your offer of assistance, but for the mean time there is little I can think of that would require your help, m’lady. Perhaps you might tell me more of Alithrya sometime. We might discuss some trade benefits.”


Reginae nodded, scanning both women as they spoke. “I am grateful for your consideration.” White tresses fell forward as she dipped forward; a polite bow before departing. To the new vampires, “ I see. I wish you well in your life. Maybe in time we will get to know each other better, if things go well with this alliance. Even if not,” the child smiles carefully, “I am sure all will be well for you, with such a powerful ally.” In terms of friendship or relationships, nagas valued strength in battle above all. Reginae was basically saying they might be friends at some point, to the best of her ability. Common was not her strong suit just yet. “Thank you both.” She’ll pause long enough to hear any answer to what she’s said but otherwise, the crunch of snow is the only sound she’ll issue in her leaving.


Laezila lifted her blue-sighted stare toward the Steward in a grateful, still apologetic manner for the larger woman's conversational rescue and accented with a quick, small smile just as hesitational as previous, mouthed with a quick 'thank you'. Then her attention returned to Reginae in the concluding words offered forth by the naga-in-human-disguise -a term of race still unknown to the paled ebony woman and thus marked for memory to research in the future. Without entirely leaving her contact with Hildegarde, the ex-matron slowly descended a cordial bow-curtsy mix that signaled her acknowledgement and polite farewell. "Be well." Both hands came back to hook around the Silver's elbow and bicep then, to look back up at the woman, "Who was that?" She whispered.


Hildegarde offered Reginae a polite bow in farewell, her body bending at the waist to deliver the respectful bow a potential Queen would warrant. “May Aramoth keep your blades and armour strong,” she bade Reginae, a more religious and Frostmawian form of well-wishing. “I look forward to hearing from you again, Reginae,” she said, watching as the naga left. Once the naga in child disguise had departed, the Silver released a sigh she didn’t know she had been holding. “Reginae of Alithrya. Potential Queen of that kingdom. Supposed friend to Satoshi, but the alliance was never finalized; thus it never existed and continues to not exist… She wishes to finalize it.”