Council Chamber
[The Keep] Walking to Skye
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Drysi could hear footsteps above her on the stairs, but the slight teen couldn't quite close the distance. Up and up she spun to the point where she could wonder if she had climbed Sgùrr Alasdair itself. At long last her vanguard opened a door and exited the stairwell. As Drysi followed suit, she would find she had lost sight of her master, but at least she appeared to be in the right area for a meeting with a Circle Chief. The handful of druids she could see, including a slight man right near the stairs, looked quite proper with formal looking attire worn under ornate robes. The corridor was a wide space reminiscent of an office lobby. The walls bore tapestries but the furs were replaced by marvelous looking pieces of art, and the floor was covered by a massive burgundy area rug. A small number of doors lined the wall to either side of her, and even on the perpendicular walls; but the primary focus of this chamber appeared to be a short vaulted hallway directly across from her with an intricately carved door depicting what appeared to be some manner of ceremony. A placard at the mouth of the hall read:
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
“I’ve climbed the stairs quite literally out of my paygrade,” Drysi thought aloud in a harsh, muted whisper. She realized that she may have lost Ruarc somewhere in the hallway, he didn’t seem to be with the c-suite looking druids. Gideon slithered over onto her shoulders, looking about as well.
”Do you think he went into that room over there?”
“The chamber?”
”Yes, maybe that’s where the meeting is at?”
“I don’t like it,” muttered the young initiate as she walked over, taking in the lovingly carven scene on the surface for only a moment. “Mr. Flynn knows I don’t like getting surprises, I only like giving them.”
”Maybe it’s a good surprise.”
Drysi pressed her palm to the chiseled door, and opened it to poke her head inside. She paused, and pulled back her hood for a moment so that she could poke her top-eye just past the edge.
”Do you think he went into that room over there?”
“The chamber?”
”Yes, maybe that’s where the meeting is at?”
“I don’t like it,” muttered the young initiate as she walked over, taking in the lovingly carven scene on the surface for only a moment. “Mr. Flynn knows I don’t like getting surprises, I only like giving them.”
”Maybe it’s a good surprise.”
Drysi pressed her palm to the chiseled door, and opened it to poke her head inside. She paused, and pulled back her hood for a moment so that she could poke her top-eye just past the edge.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Beyond the door lay a positively grand looking room. Octagonal in shape, it extended into the mountain to accommodate its size of a hundred feet from wall to wall. Seating circled the room looking inward, while the floor stepped downward every fifteen feet save for the final twenty-five which consisted of a semi-circular table with nine seats looking at a speaking platform. The room was currently unoccupied and dimly lit, so the details the Welsh girl could see were limited. More importantly she could see no sign of Ruarc, or Mastrogiacomo.
“What might we be looking for?” whispered a voice in a posh Londoner accent from above her. There had been no sound of approach, but more alarming was the source of the voice. A tall man near Ruarc’s height, a sharp face, neatly groomed and waxed mustache, combed and coiffed black hair that was more silver at this point, and his clothing was exquisitely tailored to blend the fashion of a contemporary bespoke suit and the traditional druid robes. When last she had been near the man he was strong arming Ruarc onto a leash, and revealing Alexei’s continued ties to the Order while placing the dark mage and Ruarc on the same shelf. Now the man appeared rather playful, like an uncle who spotted his niece in the middle of a game. A coy grin sat beneath his groomed mustache, and his eyes seemed to almost glimmer with youthful exuberance as he leaned across the opposite door to peek inside the Council Chamber alongside the new initiate. Drysi was standing side by side with the Ard Rhys, Silas Clarke.
“What might we be looking for?” whispered a voice in a posh Londoner accent from above her. There had been no sound of approach, but more alarming was the source of the voice. A tall man near Ruarc’s height, a sharp face, neatly groomed and waxed mustache, combed and coiffed black hair that was more silver at this point, and his clothing was exquisitely tailored to blend the fashion of a contemporary bespoke suit and the traditional druid robes. When last she had been near the man he was strong arming Ruarc onto a leash, and revealing Alexei’s continued ties to the Order while placing the dark mage and Ruarc on the same shelf. Now the man appeared rather playful, like an uncle who spotted his niece in the middle of a game. A coy grin sat beneath his groomed mustache, and his eyes seemed to almost glimmer with youthful exuberance as he leaned across the opposite door to peek inside the Council Chamber alongside the new initiate. Drysi was standing side by side with the Ard Rhys, Silas Clarke.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
The Ard Rhys could have sworn there was hand snatching Drysi back by the way she jumped. Three, brilliant sapphire eyes stared back up at the man, fanged mouth agape. Her heart thumped in her chest, and the man's voice summoned a small sludge of emotions drudged from the muck of unpleasant memories. A rosiness flushed in her cheeks that could of been mistaken for embarassment, but was the precipating storm of youthful, intoxicating hatred.
Drysi was going to tell this posh son of a bitch off, with more than her fair share of foul verbiage.
"I–..." an emotional crack rose in her throat as she took a breath to release the heat and reveal her burdgeoning feelings.
Then, there came the feeling of cool scales caressing her neck. Gideon slithered gently, coiling loosely over her shoulders. The top of his head pressed softly on the edge of her jaw. It was a enough to bring her back down.
"I… I'm Drysi M-Maelgwyn," Drysi tripped over her introduction, pulling her shawl up over her mouth to hide her teeth. "In-initiate of the Thi-third Circle, and apprentice of Rurk… Ruarc Flynn. I am here to k-keep an appointment… with Mister Giacomo… M- M- M-Miss M-Mastrogiacomo…"
She found her voice tapering off more weakly as her buried anger settled into embarassment. "I was looking to m-meet her, bu… but I lost track of my Master and thought… that… – thought that…"
"-- that I would take the chance to meet you, Archdruid Clarke," whispered Gideon in her ear.
"-- that I would take the chance to meet you, Archdruid Clarke," repeated Drysi, in self-same confidence, the redness in her face faded for paleness.
Drysi was going to tell this posh son of a bitch off, with more than her fair share of foul verbiage.
"I–..." an emotional crack rose in her throat as she took a breath to release the heat and reveal her burdgeoning feelings.
Then, there came the feeling of cool scales caressing her neck. Gideon slithered gently, coiling loosely over her shoulders. The top of his head pressed softly on the edge of her jaw. It was a enough to bring her back down.
"I… I'm Drysi M-Maelgwyn," Drysi tripped over her introduction, pulling her shawl up over her mouth to hide her teeth. "In-initiate of the Thi-third Circle, and apprentice of Rurk… Ruarc Flynn. I am here to k-keep an appointment… with Mister Giacomo… M- M- M-Miss M-Mastrogiacomo…"
She found her voice tapering off more weakly as her buried anger settled into embarassment. "I was looking to m-meet her, bu… but I lost track of my Master and thought… that… – thought that…"
"-- that I would take the chance to meet you, Archdruid Clarke," whispered Gideon in her ear.
"-- that I would take the chance to meet you, Archdruid Clarke," repeated Drysi, in self-same confidence, the redness in her face faded for paleness.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
As Drysi spoke Silas pulled away from the door and stood opposite her in the stout hallway with his hands clasped patiently behind his back. He listened to her stammer and stumble, but allowed her plenty of time to say what she wanted or needed to say. The only change she seemed to illicit was a slight rise from his left eyebrow. When she said her piece and made her deception the older man appeared to briefly consider what had been said. A mere beat or two from Drysi's adrenaline strained heart passed when the man she had only seen with a harsh look with a severe tone positively lit up.
"Ah! So you are Master Flynn's apprentice!" Silas' eyes were closed and flanked by wrinkles as he grin broadly. "I had been wondering when I would have the opportunity to meet you. When last I visited Safeholme I had unfortunately missed you. I had heard from Chief Brennan that your ceremony was a good one. Every master presents it differently, and I am pleased to hear Ruarc found such a promising protégé. Shame Miss Fairburn elected a different path, but I am gladdened to hear the both of you are flourishing!"
Gideon would perhaps be best suited for seeing the almost imperceptible glint of a steely gaze barely peeking from under the man's grin. As quick as it appeared however it was gone again as the Ard Rhys was once more no different than a friendly distant uncle.
"Now! You have a meeting to make, but I cannot abide by you simply sneaking a look at the Council Chamber," Silas pushed the heavy wooden doors open and ushered the initiate inside.
Twisting slightly as he walked so he could speak and gesticulate more directly to the young druid, Drysi could spot what was perhaps Silas' familiar. It blended in remarkably well with the man's light brown suit, but from the new angle she could clearly see a bearded dragon clinging to the more durable cloak around his shoulders. The small reptile regarded Drysi and Gideon unblinkingly.
"Ahem, this is the probably the most important room in the entire Keep, this is our Moot. This is where druids from all corners of the world, from all walks of life, all heritages, creeds, and ranks can come together and speak before the Council; who sit at the lowest point in the chamber, surrounded by the druids we serve. Small matters; large; all are heard and discussed. It could be as serious as a Beast Master requesting aid, or as common place as an initiate requesting we procure a new text for the library."
He spoke in depth about the room until they had arrived at the base of the room, all the while motioning towards hidden details within the storied space. When finally they were at the center Silas urged Drysi up onto the speaking platform. Here she could see the entirety of the chamber around her, and noticed through clever use of slopes the platform placed her at eye level with the standing Silas; but were he, or the rest of the Council, seated at their table the speaker would be the focus of the room, and be raised above the Council itself.
"Ah! So you are Master Flynn's apprentice!" Silas' eyes were closed and flanked by wrinkles as he grin broadly. "I had been wondering when I would have the opportunity to meet you. When last I visited Safeholme I had unfortunately missed you. I had heard from Chief Brennan that your ceremony was a good one. Every master presents it differently, and I am pleased to hear Ruarc found such a promising protégé. Shame Miss Fairburn elected a different path, but I am gladdened to hear the both of you are flourishing!"
Gideon would perhaps be best suited for seeing the almost imperceptible glint of a steely gaze barely peeking from under the man's grin. As quick as it appeared however it was gone again as the Ard Rhys was once more no different than a friendly distant uncle.
"Now! You have a meeting to make, but I cannot abide by you simply sneaking a look at the Council Chamber," Silas pushed the heavy wooden doors open and ushered the initiate inside.
Twisting slightly as he walked so he could speak and gesticulate more directly to the young druid, Drysi could spot what was perhaps Silas' familiar. It blended in remarkably well with the man's light brown suit, but from the new angle she could clearly see a bearded dragon clinging to the more durable cloak around his shoulders. The small reptile regarded Drysi and Gideon unblinkingly.
"Ahem, this is the probably the most important room in the entire Keep, this is our Moot. This is where druids from all corners of the world, from all walks of life, all heritages, creeds, and ranks can come together and speak before the Council; who sit at the lowest point in the chamber, surrounded by the druids we serve. Small matters; large; all are heard and discussed. It could be as serious as a Beast Master requesting aid, or as common place as an initiate requesting we procure a new text for the library."
He spoke in depth about the room until they had arrived at the base of the room, all the while motioning towards hidden details within the storied space. When finally they were at the center Silas urged Drysi up onto the speaking platform. Here she could see the entirety of the chamber around her, and noticed through clever use of slopes the platform placed her at eye level with the standing Silas; but were he, or the rest of the Council, seated at their table the speaker would be the focus of the room, and be raised above the Council itself.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Drysi bounced up the stairs to the podium, and felt the enormity of it as she looked around. This was the beating heart of an organization that spanned the world. She had the distinct feeling that she would be back in this place in the future, more than once. In her mind, she relished the idea of pushing herself forward and making waves through the community, becoming a cornerstone of knowledge as she bandied for resources to further a cause. Then, imagining all of those eyes on her at one time, she began to shrink, and quickly scuttled down the stairs with a hand over her chest.
After hearing all Silas had to say of the place, Drysi had begun to forget why she had been so angry with the man. In fact, he seemed perfectly pleasant, almost like her own Master. More questions seemed to sprout up in her mind, but she felt like it was a prime time to fit in two or three questions before the man had to be back at his meeting. If she could wow the man with her intellect and awareness, he would more than remember her as Ruarc's apprentice.
"Archdruid Clark, thank you for showing me this place. I was only going to come find you, since you hadn't the opportunity after traveling so far to come visit Safeholme..." said Drysi more at ease, letting her voice settle in the posh tone she used to hide her low-birth, "... but I was wondering--..."
"--... if I could be excused now, as I have an appointment with Miss Mastrogiacomo."
"--... if I could be excused now, as I have an appointment with Miss Mastrogiacomo," Drysi repeated the words, shaken a bit at the sudden turn. Gideon's words shook her off balance, and she was unable to carry the thought. "I--... I-- dont' want to be rude, but... Master Engleby was very kind to fit us in to her schedule. I hope... er..."
"--... I hope that I have represented my Master well, but I must go."
"--... I hope that I have represented my Master well, but I must go."
After hearing all Silas had to say of the place, Drysi had begun to forget why she had been so angry with the man. In fact, he seemed perfectly pleasant, almost like her own Master. More questions seemed to sprout up in her mind, but she felt like it was a prime time to fit in two or three questions before the man had to be back at his meeting. If she could wow the man with her intellect and awareness, he would more than remember her as Ruarc's apprentice.
"Archdruid Clark, thank you for showing me this place. I was only going to come find you, since you hadn't the opportunity after traveling so far to come visit Safeholme..." said Drysi more at ease, letting her voice settle in the posh tone she used to hide her low-birth, "... but I was wondering--..."
"--... if I could be excused now, as I have an appointment with Miss Mastrogiacomo."
"--... if I could be excused now, as I have an appointment with Miss Mastrogiacomo," Drysi repeated the words, shaken a bit at the sudden turn. Gideon's words shook her off balance, and she was unable to carry the thought. "I--... I-- dont' want to be rude, but... Master Engleby was very kind to fit us in to her schedule. I hope... er..."
"--... I hope that I have represented my Master well, but I must go."
"--... I hope that I have represented my Master well, but I must go."
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Ard Rhys Clarke smiled a knowing smile, seeming to recognize the range of emotions on Drysi's face as she stood on the platform. It was a simple thing, but he had always found showing initiates the podium was as good as any fortune telling to predict their future. It was all in the eyes; a gleam of inspiration and determination of those who would rise, and a shaded resignation in those who would remain in obscurity. He had no time for those who didn't have that gleam.
"Of course, Druid Maelgwyn, do be sure to explain..." Silas began to say before the Chamber doors opened hurriedly.
"There you are, Sir Clarke, we've been trying to find you," called a man from back by the chamber door. He was stood beside a woman, and both looked far more like businessmen than druids. Silas gave them a sharp look, the face of the encouraging mentor slipping slightly. "We really must get going."
"Silence, Mycah," Silas' command seemed to fill the entire chamber before the air around him softened once more and lost its frigid edge. "I'm not needed in London for another hour."
"That's when the meeting starts, but the Board wont be happy to hear you were late to the social because you got distracted."
"Building up the new generation is never a distraction," Silas' voice was stern, but he appeared to be the same smiling nobleman he had been when he turned back to Drysi before lowering his voice to a whisper. "Want to trade meetings? I'll let you go to London and order around those pugs, and I'll go down to Sublevel Three, Lab One and have tea with Valentina and Ruarc."
"Of course, Druid Maelgwyn, do be sure to explain..." Silas began to say before the Chamber doors opened hurriedly.
"There you are, Sir Clarke, we've been trying to find you," called a man from back by the chamber door. He was stood beside a woman, and both looked far more like businessmen than druids. Silas gave them a sharp look, the face of the encouraging mentor slipping slightly. "We really must get going."
"Silence, Mycah," Silas' command seemed to fill the entire chamber before the air around him softened once more and lost its frigid edge. "I'm not needed in London for another hour."
"That's when the meeting starts, but the Board wont be happy to hear you were late to the social because you got distracted."
"Building up the new generation is never a distraction," Silas' voice was stern, but he appeared to be the same smiling nobleman he had been when he turned back to Drysi before lowering his voice to a whisper. "Want to trade meetings? I'll let you go to London and order around those pugs, and I'll go down to Sublevel Three, Lab One and have tea with Valentina and Ruarc."
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Sublevel 3? Of course! Master Flynn went down, not up!
The realization checked her memory of what she thought was her Master going up the stairs. When she made her choice, she followed the more urgent sound of feet. Ruarc Flynn never hurried unless it was important, and he was even dallying for her sake. Drysi's face would have reddened a bit more at the thought of being so careless, but the Ard Rhys knew her name. When her next great achievement came along, he'd know her again.
"Thank you, Archdruid Clarke," Drysi apologized, trying to ride on the sincerity of her snake, "but I might end up worrying my Master. He's quite laden with responsibility, and I'd rather not abuse his kindness, in his setting that responsibility aside, to take care of me here."
Drysi's flowing curls flopped as she bowed to Silas and then to the other two druids. Then, she withdrew, taking to the door and making her exit. Once she cleared the threshold, she popped her head back in.
"And, thank you for the directions!"
She departed, carrying with her a new respect for Silas' severity. There was a flash to how he seemed to command respect. Drysi wished she could swing herself around like that, and not get a bunch of nipping back. For that matter…
"Gideon! What were you doin' back there!? I was rubbin' elbows with one of the most powerful evokers alive!"
The snake coiled a bit tighter, and leaned out to watch aft of Drysi as she went to the stairs.
"His are eyes burdened with great purpose, and that purpose is not you."
"What are you goin' on about? He said as much, he took time to build up a new generation. He might be a rude ol' bugger to Master Flynn, but he's alright overall."
The triclops was itching for a fight now, fully energized, but Gideon simply resigned to silence. He had said his piece, and was not one to argue.
"Gid? Are you mad? I didn't mean to upset you."
When their was no answer, Drysi started to grumble a mish-mash of Welsh mutterings of curses and votes of self-defense.
The realization checked her memory of what she thought was her Master going up the stairs. When she made her choice, she followed the more urgent sound of feet. Ruarc Flynn never hurried unless it was important, and he was even dallying for her sake. Drysi's face would have reddened a bit more at the thought of being so careless, but the Ard Rhys knew her name. When her next great achievement came along, he'd know her again.
"Thank you, Archdruid Clarke," Drysi apologized, trying to ride on the sincerity of her snake, "but I might end up worrying my Master. He's quite laden with responsibility, and I'd rather not abuse his kindness, in his setting that responsibility aside, to take care of me here."
Drysi's flowing curls flopped as she bowed to Silas and then to the other two druids. Then, she withdrew, taking to the door and making her exit. Once she cleared the threshold, she popped her head back in.
"And, thank you for the directions!"
She departed, carrying with her a new respect for Silas' severity. There was a flash to how he seemed to command respect. Drysi wished she could swing herself around like that, and not get a bunch of nipping back. For that matter…
"Gideon! What were you doin' back there!? I was rubbin' elbows with one of the most powerful evokers alive!"
The snake coiled a bit tighter, and leaned out to watch aft of Drysi as she went to the stairs.
"His are eyes burdened with great purpose, and that purpose is not you."
"What are you goin' on about? He said as much, he took time to build up a new generation. He might be a rude ol' bugger to Master Flynn, but he's alright overall."
The triclops was itching for a fight now, fully energized, but Gideon simply resigned to silence. He had said his piece, and was not one to argue.
"Gid? Are you mad? I didn't mean to upset you."
When their was no answer, Drysi started to grumble a mish-mash of Welsh mutterings of curses and votes of self-defense.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Silas watched Drysi leave with that same wide smile, but the teen couldn’t see it drop the moment she passed beyond the doors; nor see him adjust the tie around his neck revealing an ornate clasp studded by a simple brown stone. Once more on the stairs and hurrying downward, the scope of the Druid community once again shrank. Down and down she went, passing the entry floor before too long, and then descending further to the sublevels. Sublevel One came after several rotations, Sublevel Two shortly after, but as she continued down into the hewn stone spiral nearly a minute passed before she finally came to Sublevel Three; the stairs continued further down, but even now Drysi could guess she was well below the surface of the mountainside. It was a curious thing. She could feel the gravity of the stone above her, the air felt heavy but not stifling as a gentle current of air could still be felt, and through her feet it felt almost as though there was a heartbeat in the stone floor.
“There you are!” a familiar voice sounded. As Drysi took in the area of this new floor she saw Ruarc jogging over from down a long hallway that stretched off into some cardinal direction that had become hard to track after so many spirals. Dominating the immediate area was a large heavy set of doors that read:
“There you are!” a familiar voice sounded. As Drysi took in the area of this new floor she saw Ruarc jogging over from down a long hallway that stretched off into some cardinal direction that had become hard to track after so many spirals. Dominating the immediate area was a large heavy set of doors that read:
“I’m sorry, Drysi. I was just one my way back to start checking other sublevels. I should have said where we were going at the start. Are you alright?”Lab One - Mastrogiocomo
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Drysi brought her fists into her chest as Ruarc approached, feeling some sense of apprehension at having done something wrong. Instead of going to look for her master, she had been playing around, and that only exacerbated the sense of frustration she was feeling at being undermined by her familiar. She cast her gaze aside to look at the wall, trying to find an excuse in the smooth texture of the stone.
Snapping, she opened her mouth to speak, her face tensing up in anger, and stopped.
Then, she inhaled to breathe a word, but her thoughts got in the way of it.
This continued for some time, as she tried to work out the words, but found that the energy wasn’t there. Instead, she slumped her shoulders and plopped her forehead on her master’s chest, grumbling.
“I rubbed shoulders with the Ard Rhys,” confessed the blonde mop of curly hair, “but Gideon said it was a bad idea.”
Sharply, she brought her head up, three big, tired eyes looking at him, and carried on in discontent, “How could it be a bad idea? He’s our boss. Your’s n’mine! Isn’t it good for important people t’notice you, Master Flynn? Can’t I tell Gideon he’s bein’ too protective?”
Snapping, she opened her mouth to speak, her face tensing up in anger, and stopped.
Then, she inhaled to breathe a word, but her thoughts got in the way of it.
This continued for some time, as she tried to work out the words, but found that the energy wasn’t there. Instead, she slumped her shoulders and plopped her forehead on her master’s chest, grumbling.
“I rubbed shoulders with the Ard Rhys,” confessed the blonde mop of curly hair, “but Gideon said it was a bad idea.”
Sharply, she brought her head up, three big, tired eyes looking at him, and carried on in discontent, “How could it be a bad idea? He’s our boss. Your’s n’mine! Isn’t it good for important people t’notice you, Master Flynn? Can’t I tell Gideon he’s bein’ too protective?”