Hilda holds true to the ideals of the heroes she strives to emulate; a strong will and a noble heart, ready to step in and lend aid to those who require it. However, idealistic she may be, she is far from naive. A couple of years on the road and being taught beforehand are more than enough education on the ample dangers of the wide world. Besides aspiring to become such a renowned fighter, Hilda has also garnered quite the fondness for travel and study, eagerly recording her experiences in a leather bound journal.
Hilda's armour, while including metal plates in those vital areas round the shoulders, torso and limbs, is more designed around manoeuvrability than taking direct hits. Her weaponry of choice is a sword and round shield, a fairly modest affair etched with celestial runes that, when activated, can respectively be wreathed in lightning and project a wave of force to repel attackers. Along with the general supplies she carries when travelling, she also has a small toolkit filled with implements for engraving runes into steel, a book or two on matters of the arcane, and a fairly extensive journal of her travels.
Being the youngest child of three in the Vaulke family - a minor noble house situated in the North - Hilda was free from the pressures of being expected to inherit her family's title and lands. Thus, she was relatively free to choose which path in life she wanted. Growing up on tales of great adventurers told by a couple of the servants who took a shine to her, she was quick to express her desire to learn the way of the sword and study magical theory. Hilda's parents saw little reason to discourage their daughter who held so much passion, even if her motivation had sprung from a childish fantasy.
It is high noon on April 5th, 1000 OA (Overnan Age), the 1000th anniversary of the empire is upon you and travelers from all over the western region have made their way to the quiet town of Ashnel for a grand fair. A glorious celebration of ten centuries of peace and prosperity. Merchant stalls have crowded the streets selling goods from all over the empire. A melting pot of numerous different races, tribes, clans and professions who have come to entertain and to be entertained. In the center of town is the merchants square where dozens of different vendors sale their wares. Thousands of people big and small, young and old rush about going about their business and enjoying the festivities. In the center of the square, a small stage has been built where a group of magicians are preforming before a large audience. On the edge of the square, you find a large tavern called "Hallow's Inn". One by one the four of you find your way to Hallow's Inn for one reason or another. Within the tavern you find a large, heavy set human man behind the bar serving drinks to a couple dwarves shouting and laughing as they grab their drinks and make their way to a small table. The bar seems relatively empty as the fair outside seems to have drawn most potential customers outside. But you also notice what looks like a lone hooded high elf in the corner of the tavern, a gnome sitting at the opposite table with an elderly red skinned orc and a middle aged man on the table next to the two dwarves continuously downing one dwarven ale after another. A young human woman with golden blond hair can also be seen walking around the tavern, grabbing food from the bar and serving another elderly human woman who takes a seat at a small table next to the front door.
OOC - Skipping RTMX Until He Is Able To Post. ALSO, have been moving to new place past couple days, so forgive the absence BUT, I'm back, so lets do this shall we!
As you all make your way into the tavern and receive your drinks, the sun high in a cloudless sky. A few customers trickle in and out of the tavern as the celebration roars outside. As you settle in, you notice a young red bearded dwarf clothed in a deep maroon red cape and dark leather armor with gloved hands. Strapped to his back is a short handed iron mace, with finely etched runes on the hilt. On his forehead is an extremely detailed tattoo. Strapped to his waist what appears to be a metallic symbol hooked to a small chain. The silver glint of the symbol almost seems to faintly glow dark blue as he slowly makes his way towards the hooded elf in the corner of the room. The young barkeep starts heading his direction to seemingly serve him a drink, but the dwarf calmly clenches the symbol on his waist and glares at the girl. His eyes seem to change color to a bright red. Without a word, she takes a few steps back and nods. Bellemere and Hilda catch a brief glimpse at the dwarf as he walks past. He stops for a moment next to your table and glances at the two of you. Without a word, he continues on and takes a sit at the hooded elf's table. Bellemere, from her time as a silent sister, instantly recognizes the tattoo on his forehead as the symbol of the Inquisitors. A powerful and highly secretive dwarven organization that is known to hunt down runic artifacts and horde arcane knowledge within the vaults of Errondur. Their prowess with runic magic is feared by many. As the crowed in the tavern continues to grow, it seems many have arrived for lunch. In the corner, the high elf lowers her hood and begins whispering to the inquisitor, but you can't quite make out what she is saying over the growing noise.
Hilda was all too happy to take up a seat besides her new acquaintance, flashing the mute woman a friendly smile. She took a swig from her ale, noticing that the handwriting on the note was clearer and more eloquent than she had been expecting. Perhaps this mute was more than just a simple peasant girl who happened to be unlucky with her lot in life?
The Silent Sister leaned nearer, deftly using the remaining area on the note to scribble down a single name. “Bellemere.” Hilda nodded in acknowledgement. Quite a nice name.
Bellemere paused for a moment, contemplating the thought of grabbing another piece of paper (which she had been running out of as well), but opted instead to mime a quick question. A finger pointed from Hilda to herself, then to her lips. As if asking the swordswoman whether she knew any less tedious ways to talk.
Hilda took a moment to work out what Bellemere was asking of her, before giving a hesitant nod. “I did learn a few hand signals back when I served with the local garrison back home. But I doubt that would help us much here, unless we’re planning to storm some battlements any time soon.” She gave a half-hearted chuckle at her own joke, a tinge of disappointment in herself. But then she brightened up a little as an idea came to mind.
A bemused smile faded into a frown, and Bellemere had given a moment's pause to find a couple gestures that were a bit more obvious in practice. She had half a heart to shake her head, but after some digging the woman nodded to herself and took the previously written note. Being careful to make sure Hilda paid attention.
A finger pointed at ‘forgive’, while the other hand made the gestures as slowly as Bellemere could manage; hand squeezed to a fist and moving in a clockwise motion over her chest.
Next she flipped the note and, with a half-closed fist, waved thrice in quick succession before pointing at ‘urgent’.
Years of being taught the language hadn’t given way to explaining it to other people, but Bellemere figured giving a couple examples might at least sate the stranger’s curiosity if nothing else. And by mouthing the words while making the necessary motions, the sister was able to make another person wise in her own language.
While Hilda stumbled a little at first in picking up the basics, like the proper positioning of her hands, she was able to get the gestures consistently right after a couple of tries. It was not unlike the art of a spellcaster waving their hands as part of an incantation. For the warrior, there was a small thrill to be had in trying and learning new things. It was something interesting to jot down in her journal, for one thing.
…before carrying on after a simple glance in their direction. Hilda watched him go, towards a table where a hooded elf was seated at, before turning back to Bellemere.
Bellemere feigned ignorance by offering a shrug, she certainly wasn't expecting to meet anyone here. However, that symbol beaming from the dwarven forehead struck her like a blow to the head. It was unmistakably the symbol of the inquisitors.
Surprise turned to intrigue, and the sister felt the urge to eavesdrop. She'd noted the empty mugs of Hilda and herself, and by quick admission to the swordswoman that this chat was going to last a bit longer than the typical five minute pitch, Bellemere grabbed the mugs. And in a pretend-detour that took her deliberately within hearing range of the whispering elf and dwarf, ears pricked up to catch fragments of what their secrets entailed.
Bellemere did so again, taking the same deliberate route back from the bar to Hilda (This time happy to pay the expenses for two ales) and trying to decipher what it is that brought this elf and inquisitor together. Unfortunately, the growing crowd did little to help in this endeavour. But to inch closer was a risk the sister wasn't willing to take.
She slid a mug over towards her companion, urging her to resume their little lesson while keeping a tentative eye towards the dwarf. Hilda agreed to play along, while straining her ears to try and make out anything those two were saying, likely to little effect.
Alyania kept her eyes watching the people of the tavern as she sipped her drink. In and out they went. Alyania's eyes drifted over to the table where two human women spoke from time to time... well one of them spoke.. the other just made some unknown hand signs.
That is when the Dwarf walked in. Alyania couldn't help but watch the dwarf. How he stood out with his red outfit and strange gear that seemed to pulse with magic. She couldn't place the strange tattoo no matter now many times she looked over it's design. Alyania noted the brief glance to the two women before the dwarf went to join the hooded elf. Alyania glanced back to the women wondering if they knew him but they seemed as puzzled as she was.
Alyania decided to keep watch trying to see if she could make out anything the dwarf and elf said.