Snow Play
Tenebrae - Thursday, December 11, 2014, 5:42 AM
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A08: Banks of the Tornmawr *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
In the shadow of the great Highbridge, and beneath the guardhouses, a stretch of river has been laid out as a public park and fishing area. Here, the descending landscape of Alexandria folds into the river and crafts a comfortable view. On a typical day, a number of small boats and picnic blankets dot the landscape. To the side, a small shrine to Rada the River Serpent, as well as a dual shrine Althea and Daeus, in their guise as Mother and Father of the world.
It's actually a nice day for Khael. Wan winter skies are still a pale blue, the sun is out, a gentle breeze is blowing, and it's not as cold as it has been. The remnants of a couple of feet's worth of recent snowfall still linger everywhere, in drifts and ice-crusted patches here and there along the rocks and paths and cobblestones here by the banks of the Tornmawr. The river is still fast-flowing, though, and the ice sheets that had begun to encrust the edges have washed away for the moment; the rush of the river is a chilly sound.
The decent weather has brought people out and about this morning; there are a number of people strolling up and down, and a couple of kids are off to one side throwing slush at each other, much to the dismay of their parents. Up on the rocks overlooking the mighty river, there's another figure sitting, a shock of blonde hair unhooded and falling freely over his shoulders. He's looking upwards, his attention focused on a point in space above his head. He begins to whistle a melody, its notes complex and haunting, as he continues to focus on that point; the sound is curiously double-voiced, as if it has ghostly acompaniment.
Mikilos walks along at a busniess like pace. Not exactly hurrying, but by no means lingering. Someone with a place to be. And right now, that place would be shore, seeing as how the unusually tall elf is walking across the river's surface.
Amithil is in Alexandria for the first time. Decent weather, meaning she has no need for her cloak, but at the same time, this awful leather tunic is stuffy and uncomfortable. She shrugs in it pretty regularly as she walks, smelling a little bit of an artificer's lab, looking around, trying to decide where to go next.
As Aldean continues to focus on that point in space, the melody he's whistling begins to take physical for at that point, in the form of a round handhold about the size of a man's hand. Smooth, glossy, the color of a sand dune, it gradually takes on more and more solidity as he watches it. He doesn't seem to be paying anything or anyone else any mind -- that thing he's making in the air has his undivided attention.
Mikilos touches down just off shore, splashing into the icy water just shy of dry land. Enough to get his boots wet, walking those last few feet. Muttering to himself, the elf blinks, peering at the... whatever it is... Aldean seems to be conjuring.
Amithil stops at the bridge, and starts to look around. Seeing a person walking on water, a person casting magic, she peers intently at the Aldean, and starts really looking to try to figure out exactly what he's trying to do.
GAME: Autumn rolls Spellcraft: (13)+15: 28
GAME: Amithil rolls Spellcraft: (1)+10: 11 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Mikilos rolls spellcraft: (15)+23: 38
After a moment or two, the object in the air seems fully solid, and takes on gold tones beneath the sand color of it. Slowly, eyes still on it, the blonde man stands up, and jumps up to grab it. He grabs it with both hands, one atop the other, much like one would swing on play-ground equipment; after a moment, he lets out a triumphant baritone laugh and drops to the group, letting the object above his head fade.
Autumn is out for a stroll, holding out her left hand with the palm up and juggling three balls of light in complex patterns. Heading down to one of her regular spots to practice, she notices people are already down there practicing as well. She heads over to watch and learn.
Mikilos stands near the shoreline, watching Aldean's magicing. Murmuring absently, the wizard sends a bit of power to dry his boots. It might be warm out, but it's not, you know, Warm. "Interesting bit of conjuration. What do you call it?"
Amithil is apparently a little thrown off from her travels, and really has trouble placing what he's doing. So she just leans, and watches carefully. Laughing softly when it turns out it was just a little game, she wanders along the bank in the direction of the others, though not saying anything just now. The bottom hem of her tunic gets tugged, the dawn elf constantly uncomfortable in the leather armor.
Well. Aldean's got an audience. His grin broadens, and he leans against a nearby rock, crossing his arms. "It be a solid note," he explains, still clearly pleased with himself. The mellifluous baritone voice is marred by a sailor's accent. "Damned useful little thing, if it be solid enough. Can even hang off it. Fair morning t'ye," he adds, as a general greeting to his audience, then looks at Mikilos' boots, freshly dried. "How'd ye stay out o' th'snow?"
Mikilos grins, and waves vaugely towards the river. "Water walking. Though admit I took the senic route and cut it a bit close. Actually got a bit wet, but easy enough to dry off again with a minor cantrip." Turning his focus to Amithil, the wizard nods politely. "Good morning miss. Everything alright?"
Snow! When it's blowing in your face and really cold, it's not nice. When it just lays out there all fluffy to be run over, through, or into, it's fun! "Wheee!" The eight-limbed furry chimera'd creature(s) known as Rhar and Gurr leap from the bridge. Straight for a large wind-collected drift near the embankment. The rapid arrival of more than sixty stone in wolf and wolfling is immediately followed by a fountainous white explosion.
Autumn carefully makes her way down where Mikilos and Aldean are hanging out. She offers them a polite bow, since Witches and Wizards don't curtsey. She lets the balls of light hovering over her hand disappear and she tucks both hands into the opposite sleeve leaving only her face exposed.
Amithil looks around, and seeing the person talking to her, she nods to Mikilos. She speaks to him in the Sildanyari language, "Yes, I guess, thank you. This is my first day in this city, I just came here from Silvermoon. I am Amithil." The jumping of creatures distracts her, looking toward the activity.
Autumn says "Good evening to one and all." <sildanyari>
Autumn says "<something you don't understand in abyssal>"
Aldean raises a friendly enough hand to the newcomer, but before he can do anything about it, the wolf lands with a *thu-ploof!* in a pile of snowdrift, the melting top glistening on it, he whirls aroun, his arms uncrossing. Instead of pulling a weapon, though, he just laughs. "Crazy-arsed lucht," he mutters, attention torn from a conversation he can't follow to make sure the wolf makes it out of the snowdrift!
Mikilos grins to Amithil, but sticks to the trade tongue. Polite for the locals, you know. "Mikilostravia Abrioudelanarchie Mithralla, Lord of Estranillia, Magus of the Fifth, Builder Arcane. Or just 'Mikilos' if you want something can actaully remember. What brings you to Alexandria, miss Amithil?" He glances towards the snow-plosion, but doesn't seem too concerned.
Autumn quietly casts a spell while all the chaos is ensuing and introductions are going on.
GAME: Autumn casts Mage Hand. Caster Level: 6 DC: -84
Out of the remnants of the snowdrift pads an abominable snow wolf. Taur. Thing. That's laughing. Ok, it's Rhar that's laughing, but Gurr looks pretty amused, too. "Hi!" A snowy paw is waved to everyone. "Snow fun!" Then she and Gurr share that fun with anyone nearby as the shaking starts. Shaking to scatter snow out of fur. And there's alot of fur between them.
Amithil is happy to change languages when Mikilos changes languages. Even if the need for it has never been common in all her years. "I am becoming an adventurer," she nods. "And it's not paying,b ut my first adventure was to come here, to this city. I've read about it but I'd never left Silvermoon before. So I bought this armor, in case I ran into trouble during my trip. It's very uncomfortable, but I don't know what a few magic missiles would do in a real pinch anyway." Her words are then interrupted by a snort at the apparently amusing to her behavior of the furry creatures.
"Agh!" Aldean throws up a cloaked arm to shield himself from the snow-shower, with ... middling success. It still coats the midnight-blue cloak and blonde hair, but he lowers his arm and studies the pint-sized Rhar and her mount. "Watch that," he tells her, before turning back to Amithil. "Aye? Ye be in th'right place, then. Though I'd be after ditchin' that, if ye be a spellcaster." He nods to the armor, not seeming to have noticed Autumn's casting.
Stealthily a clump of snow about the size of a small loaf of bread drifts up off the ground behind Rhar and Gurr. The clump drifts up behind Rhar and drops right down the neck of her furs and on the back of her neck...
Autumn tries to focus on the conversation and nods to Amithil, doing her best to keep a straight face. She speaks up "I am Autumn, trained in the Arcane Arts as well. My skills don't match up to Master Mikilos's, but I am learning everything as quickly as I can. Even if Mikilos does occasionally gain bruises from his lack of focus..."
"Agh!" Rhar knows that word, too! She echoes Aldean when she gets more snow down her furs. She shakes more, trying to work it loose or warm it up. Then she shoves a hand down the neck of her furs to fish out... a half a rabbit. No, that's not it. It gets tossed aside, but Gurr's jaws courteously make sure it never hits the ground. Just his stomach. Rhar digs in again and yanks out a gauntlet this time. Followed by an apple. Then a glass lask of something green.
Mikilos grins at Autumn. "I prefer to call it 'a wide range of interest.'" Turning back to Amithil, he nods. "I do hope you didn't pay too much for your armor. It seems the size is off."
Amithil tugs on the bottom hem of her armor again, then sighs. "IT's not that it's the wrong size, it's that it's so itchy and sweaty all the time. I hate this so much." She then looks to Aldean and smiles weakly. "I have heard that very good artificers can make good armor that is much more comfortable, but only vaguely. Armor that is neither metal nor leather would be interesting to me." Then Autumn gets a nod. So many people all talking at once. "Hello. I've been studying these things for um, about 100 years. I've only barely started."
When Rhar reaches in again to get the snow out and keeps finding random things, another clump of snow drops right down the gap to add to the snow already down there...
After another glance at Rhar, Aldean studies the woman's armor critically, then shakes his head. "I say ye're best off without it, lass. Ain't no adventurer in their right mind goes out there alone. When ye work with th'Guild, ye'll most always go in teams, an' that keeps everyone alive. Usually, ye'll be workin' with them as keep th'ugly things off ye, and armor be damn hard t'live with if ye ain't used to it." He looks at the others, as if for confirmation.
Autumn says carefully to Amithil "Perhaps you should replace your armor and trust in your magic. When I am prepare properly, I can sheath myself in magic equal to a full suit of plate. Or at least as close as it doesn't matter." She glances over at Rhar and bites her lip for a moment, then adds "Plus when you have warriors with you, they can take the brunt of the battle, while you pick and choose your contributions."
Mikilos nods in agreement to Aldean. "Armor shouldn't be uncomfortable. Heavy, awkward, unweildly, perhaps. But a good fit shouldn't be any worse than heavy clothing. Though does take a bit of getting used to. As for armor that's neither metal nor leather, easy enough. Just takes a bit of magic behind it. Or enchantment, which is similar, but a heck of a lot more expensive. Regardless, if you've some time later, head up to my shop on the Mountain Road. Can alter some of the fittings for you, make sure they're adjusted properly. If that still doesn't help... well, I do craft protective rings and bracers, but that sort of magic can get expensive."
Rhar's eyes widen as more snow shows up. And she gets wise. Glaring upwards, she growls. "Snow play fair!" It's a challenge and a demand. It better behave. Or else. Rhar shakes more snow loose, brushes some from between Gurr's ears, and then starts stuffing parts of her treasure collection back into her furs.
Amithil nods to Aldean. "That's true, in general, I suppose, about being alone. Though I did have to come here in the first place. I didn't feel that, if I stayed home, I would be able to make a proper start at this. I was debating whether to join for 20 years, and if I stayed, I'd just keep reading and translating and researching my parents' books, instead of , um, doing new things." Looking around to everyone giving her suggestions. Also to the beast having trouble with the snow, whom she's looking toward as she goes on. "Trusting some magic seems like a good idea, either my own or uh, something I can acquire. Thank you all for the suggestions, even if I might not be able to afford them right away. I spent much of the money I had prepared, buying what I needed for this trip. And I still don't have everything I really want yet."
Aldean's expression lights up with understanding. "Aye, ye be a woman after me own heart. An' there be weird stuff in th'wild places o'th'world, aye." The grin fades, and his brows furrow. "Ye ever had a spell fizzle on ye cause the armor don't let ye make th'gestures aright?" He crosses his arms again; since the lucht seems inclined to her own business instead of weighing in on the armor predicament, he dismisses her for the moment.
Autumn smiles warmly at Amithil "There are many fine inns and boarding houses in town, plus there is an Adventurer's Guild that puts up postings for jobs. With the war with Dran against Rune, there is much work. Just be careful, it can be a bit dangerous."
Jenner has arrived.
Rhar catches up to the conversation. Mostly things like 'dangerous,' 'not alone,' and 'new things'. So all good things to Rhar. "Go with pack. Fight with pack. Stronger in pack." She nods. Three times. While Gurr pads chloser.
Mikilos nods in agreement with the others, turning his focus to Rhar and Gurr, as the new arrival seems well cared for. "What are you two about? Out fighting snow?"
Amithil nods to Autumn. "Thank you, I am still exploring the city. I've only just arrived today." Then to Aldean. "I have, it's very uncomfortable. I only bought this armor just before my trip. I'd never worn any such thing before. It's very distracting, not that I use magic often." And since we're still speaking of it, she shrugs in her armor again,a nd gives the tunic hem another tug.
Gurr snorts, as Mikilos clearly doesn't understand the complicated and delicate dynamic between fur and snow. Fool. Rhar just shakes her head and laughs. "Not fight. Play!" Which is nearly the same thing, but with a little less blood. Usually.
"That'll sink ye an' yer friends more surely'n ye think," Aldean warns. "Ye'll find that there be times when ye've but one chance, an' ye be headed fer the Harpist's halls if it don't go aright. Lemme spin ye a tale o' one such, an' I know this be true, I were there."
Mikilos hehs, and nods, pondering a few moments before he gestures, murmuring a moment... and sending a little scampering thing, not too unlike a rabbit, running though the slushy snow past Gurr.
GAME: Mikilos casts Silent Image. Caster Level: 9 DC: 19
GAME: Autumn rolls Spellcraft: (17)+15: 32
GAME: Amithil rolls spellcraft: (15)+10: 25
GAME: Aldean rolls spellcraft: (18)+8: 26
GAME: Rhar rolls perception: (10)+15: 25
GAME: Autumn rolls Perception: (10)+7: 17
Rhar's ears perk up and her head turns as she spots something moving in the slush. She quickly hops up to a crouch on Gurr's shoulders. Then dives after the like-a-rabbit thing.
The wet little bunny sort of shape dives and scampers, moving -though- the piles of slush... and picking up more color because of them. It's like a little ghost of a rabbit, forming a melting body from the snow. At least, that's what it -looks- like...
GAME: Aldean rolls perception: (6)+9: 15
Amithil nods to all the advice and suggestions, but at this point the focal point of her attention is the illusion, and the reactions to it.
Rhar can move through piles of slush, too! It's just more... slushy. "Snow rabbit!" She bounds after it, sometimes on all fours. Gurr just watches with a mix of amusement and exasperation. Ah, kids.
Seeing that the others have turned to watch the illusion and its play, Aldean does the same, leaning back against the rock and crossing his arms over his chest. The offer of a tale appears to have been ... if not precisely refused, then lost, and he seems content to watch along with the others, for now.
Mikilos blinks, mildly suprised at which one of the Fuzzy Duo took after the 'rabbit'. But the mage is game, sending his little illusion scampering here and there in a mad scramble. A little hard to keep the image looking right, as well as moving properly, all while staying just ahead to seem like might be caught at any moment, but not quite within reach at this particular second. That, and don't send the little lucht after it into anything dangerous. Running into puddles is one thing, running into a rock is something else, and running into a townsfolk is quite something yet again.
Mikilos lingers for a while, content to play with those willing, before eventually wandering off to... do whatever it is magi do. Magic stuff, most likely.