A roleplay transcript by Silmariel Quel'silith and Skolvor Vikaris
:: Skolvor Vikaris slithered along the cliff wall watching the sunset and making his way to the spot opposite the skull of the great dragon's skeleton. His tail ached where Lyrena had sliced him. His magic had healed it, but imperfectly. Such a delicate limb with so many bones and nerves would probably never be quite right again. He hissed in annoyance and ran his fingers over the hilt of the Blade of Ryzzar at his side. At length, he came over the rise to see Silmariel in the appointed place. He brought his hulking frame to a halt and hissed a greeting. "Ssssssilmariel. We meet again.
:: Lady Silmariel Quel'silith had not been waiting long. And truthfully, she didn't mind; it was a pleasant spot, with the waterfalls and the view of the sea; whatever had killed the vast dragon resting here, it had chosen a fine place to die. She'd chosen it carefully; it was isolated, and a decent distance from the city, and to her knowledge there were no fae here whose lands Skolvor could corrupt. "Indeed we do," she said, pleased that Skolvor had come on time, and apparently alone as promised. "I trust the trip was not difficult."
:: Skolvor Vikaris flicked his tail and smiled to mask the pain. "Nothing issssss difficult for me, Lady Quel'ssssssilith," he said. "I pressssssume you heard about the messsssss I made of your dear king?" He chuckled - a sort of hissing, coughing baritone rumbling up from his chest. "And you? Have your recent activitiessss challenged you at all? Did you retrieve the Ssssssword from that blood elf bitch?"
:: Lady Silmariel Quel'silith smirked, reaching into the satchel at her side. "A trivial task," she answered, as she drew out a wooden box, of a size to contain the hilt, and held it up in one hand. In truth her statement was entirely accurate. "Yes, I did hear about this. And I did warn him this would happen," she answered, seeming to shrug a little, and give a slight frown. "He didn't listen; so there it is."
:: Skolvor Vikaris "You and I have both lived long enough to know that Kingssssss don't lisssssten." He eyed the box as Silmariel withdrew it from her satchel. Though he tried to control himself, his tongue betrayed his excitement, flicking in an out of his razor-filled mouth, tasting the air. For his part, he detached the sword in its scabbard at his waist and held it out in front of him. "And here isssss the Blade of Ryzzar." He looked at the ornate weapon resting on his huge palm, caressing it fondly with his thumb. "You underssssstand itsssss power?"
:: Lady Silmariel Quel'silith nodded. "Not nearly as often as they should." A smile crossed her face as he drew out the Blade of Ryzzar. Transferring the hilt box to her right hand, her left returned to the satchel, drawing out a pair of glasses, which she put on. She seemed to examine the weapon in his hand for a moment, peering through the lenses, at which point she reached to take the Blade of Ryzzar by the scabbard. "I do," she answered. She let her staff slip into the crook of her elbow, as she offered out the box. "The Sword of Askamran, as promised."
Through the wooden case the song could be heard, at least for Skolvor. "Here we go, here we go…" It seemed, perhaps, even more excited than usual.
:: Skolvor Vikaris allowed Silmariel to take the blade and took from her the box, which he held in hands that he forced not to tremble. He could hear the sword's song clearly in his mind as soon as his fingers touched the wood. His face split in a wide smile as he lifted the lid of the box and peeked inside. There it lay, the Sword of Askamran, as promised. "Thank you," he said in an unusual gesture of respect. "I wasssssn't sssssure you'd keep your word." He closed the lid and looked across at her examining the Blade. "My resssearch ssssssuggessssstsssss that the blade allowsssss you to travel ssssidewayssss in time," he said. "At leasssssst, I have only ever been able to move between possssssibilitiessss…. never forward or back. Perhapssssss you will have more luck than me. Though I doubt it." His generosity in explaining was somewhat ruined by his arrogance.
:: Lady Silmariel Quel'silith returned the gesture. "We've both lived far too long for you to be surprised by that," she answered. "But you're welcome." Then after hearing out his explanation, she nodded. "I have heard this," she added. "We'll see. I appreciate you keeping your word, as well." It occurred to her that the interactions of great wizards was an… interesting thing at times. Clashes of egos and pride, greed for power, and yet, often, an odd sort of mutual respect as well.
:: Skolvor Vikaris made a short bow. "I have no wish to match my power againsssssst yourssssss," he said, aware that though he was being honest now, he had felt very differently before his recent battle with Malekith and Lyrena. "But I mussssst tell you, Lady Ssssssilmariel, I cannot keep my word to sssssstay out of Ansssssa`fel. One day I will come for Lyrena Auberan to take my vengeance. I apologissssse in advance if it causessssss problemssssss for you."
:: Lady Silmariel Quel'silith smirked a little. "To be honest I expected you probably wouldn't," she mused. She slipped the sword, scabbard and all, into the satchel, whose interior was clearly much larger than it had any reasonable right to be, and followed it up by removing her glasses and placing them inside as well. "I won't stand in the way of that - Lyrena has displeased me recently as well - as long as you avoid any collateral damage, and we understand that if I have business of my own to see to in Gethspar then I will do so." She then added, "The warning is appreciated, of course."
:: Skolvor Vikaris smiled. "Thank you," he said. "I had wondered how you would resssspond. I appreciate your pragmatisssssm. And of coursssssse Gethsssspar is open to you. They ssssssstill talk of the 'pale mage' in the Dancing Bear Tavern. I'm ssssure they'd appreciate a vissssit." He tucked the box under his arm and looked over Silmariel's shoulder at the dragon. "Her name, they ssssssay, wassssss Asssssstralia," he said, gesturing at the skeleton. "She died many centuriesssss before I was born. It isssss sssssaid sssshe died of sssssorrow after the lossssss of her mate. But I do not believe that to be true. When one hasssss the power of a dragon…. or a mage…. one doessssss not throw one'sssss life away for mere emotion."
:: Lady Silmariel Quel'silith turned to glance at the vast skeleton, stepping to one side; despite their for-the-moment détente, of course, Skolvor was not entirely to be trusted, and she would not present him her back. "People - even dragons and mages - do strange things at the behest of their hearts," she answered. "Those like us define our existence around power, and its collection," she mused; truthfully she did not, such was merely means to ends, but for the moment she was content to speak language Skolvor would understand. "but others define their lives differently. A cause. Duty. Even love. And if you lose the thing that is the center of your existence, and have no means of recovering it…. I could see the tale being true."
:: Skolvor Vikaris hissed a dismissive laugh. "Then sssshe would have been a fool," he said with derision in his voice. "To wassssste ssssso much power…. ssssso much majessssty for love." He turned from looking at the dragon to return his gaze to Silmariel. "I ssssshal never undersssstand you creaturessss with warm blood running in your veinsssss," he said. But his tone was not one of curiosity or sadness. Rather it suggested he viewed such warmth as weakness. "And now, Sssssilmariel, I mussssst continue on to Gethssssspar. I have lingered toooooo long in thisssss curssssed kingdom of Sssssa'Viir-Arin. You will not think me rude if I wisssssh that we do not meet again soon, I hope. Once a millenia isssss sssufficient in my view."
:: Lady Silmariel Quel'silith barked a laugh. "She may well have been. And I suppose it will be quite a while then, barring any chance encounters while you pursue the Dame Commander. Safe journey, Skolvor Vikaris."
:: Skolvor Vikaris nodded and turned his huge bulk to head north along the cliffs. "And you, Sssssilmariel Quel'sssssilith."
:: Lady Silmariel Quel'silith nodded, watching him go. For the moment, she was content to remain and admire the view.