RP: Skill Training in the Mountains
It's Gilday, Hattanani 25 12:16:07 1018. The full moon isn't up. The tide is low and rising. Fair weather clouds sail across the blue sky, propelled by light breezes from the west. It's warm in the sun, cool in the shade, and the air is clear and dry.
H05: Redridge Mountains
Ga'Elian Faravanilas, a Sylvanori male, is seated upon the back of a griffon. The large beast with aquiline head, wings, and talons and the torso and hindquarters of a lion, is standing, wings outstretched, at the edge of a rocky precipice overlooking a serene mountain lake. The griffon screeches, then launches off the edge, gliding gracefully to the lake's shore.
It is about that time, that out of the lake climbs a large monitor lizard. The rider and griffon can easily see the lizard, though it looks stronger than most. It is easily the size of the griffon maybe a little bigger, its tail swishes back and forth. Its scales are mostly greyish but with blue hints here and there, except on its front torso, there the hide is dark almost like a swirling stormcloud and it does look almost like the scales move. Lightning crackles across the skin there. A pair of wings are folded up against the lizard's back, making it look almost dragonesque. A smaller lizard, about the size of a wolf follows out of the lake. The pair then curl up to sun themselves. The larger one does flex out its wings before folding them back up. The screech does draw its eyes up as it watches the griffon.
Ga'Elian dismounts from his steed, and pats the feathers on its neck. He takes a moment to look at the two lizards, then casts his gaze back up to the cliff where he had been moments before. High overhead, a commercial airship can be seen wending its way through the clouds.
Tiasa stretches out and then turns her large head towards the rider, "Good day, warm is." comes a bit of a rumblings from the larger lizard.
Upon the utterance of intelligible speech from the larger lizard, the elf responds, "Yea, 'tis warm indeed. May peace reign within thy nest. I am Ga'Elian Faravanilas, a ranger of lands far and near, who followeth the Huntress and the Hunter." Indicating the griffon, he says, "This is Erithamiel."
Tiasa stretches out again and her wings unfurl a moment before folding back up, "A pleasssure to meet. Peace on nesst, Hunter guide your bow." she rumbles, it is slow and thought out. "I am Tiasa Wildclaw, Hunter and Lizard walker." she shakes her head and then starts to stand up. It is as if she rises up on her rear legs. Her tail and body start to shrink, the wings absorb into her body. There are sounds that it might be an uncomfortable shift, but maybe not. After there is a good sized Sith'makar standing there, with a breastplate that seems to be made of a stormcloud. She gestures to her companion lizard who is still sunning, "That is Naca my friend."
Erithamiel, the griffon, bends down to drink from the lake. Ga'Elian says, "Well met. We came hither for to practice gliding together, and as well that I might grow more accustomed to the mountainous terrain. The weather today seemeth perfect for our purposes, and methinks it agreeth as well with thee." He smiles.
Tiasa nods her head, "Aye, I have to work more on my flying." she shakes her head, "I still need work with my landings." she talks easier in this form, than that of the lizard. She does smile, "It is good to get to learn to work well with partner."
Un'eth ascends the narrow, rising trail along the Redridge from the Tornmawr valley below. The clear air allows the sunlight to readily warm her scales despite the minor chill of the wind.
Ga'Elian says, "The difference in thy speech is quite profound. I marvel that thou art so well able to converse in this human tongue when in thy beast form." Seeing the approach of Un'eth, he calls out, "Hail, Un'eth."
Un'eth thumps her tail against the rock in a return of the greeting, also offering, "Peace on your nests. What draws you upon the Redridge, this day?"
Ga'Elian responds, "And on thine, I was only now telling Tiasa here, that Erithamiel and I had come hither this day for to practice gliding together. The surrounding cliffs and the zephyrs of wind provide excellent opportunities. Also, I would augment my familiarity with this moutainous terrain, including the texture of the earth, and the native flora and fauna."
Across the lake, a humanoid seems to be leading a herd of sheep to water.
Un'eth lifts her snout at the sky. "Ea's Breath flows freely here. Many who would ride the currents do well to do so here."
Ga'Elian's griffon shakes his head and momentarily flutters his wings. As he does so, the elf looks up and observes a distant airship passing high above the ridge. He says, "I suppose thou art right. The flight of yonder machines doth, however disturb what otherwise would be fair and wild." He glances at the griffon, then say, "Methinks that Erithamiel be eager to return aloft. 'Twould not surprise me if next time he deliberately splasheth in the midst of this lake, just to give me a playful drubbing."
Un'eth exhales a light snort. "Erithamiel is a creature of the skies. it is his nature to soar and dive, just as a fish in the sea. His wishes are no surprise."
Ga'Elian smiles and mounts the griffon. With a wave, he says, "True, indeed. Well if thou wilt excuse us, we have a mountain to climb." They turn and head up the mountains.