"Here!" The words are uttered in a near-breathless tumble, the speaker stumbling to a halt in front of Professor Sharpbeak and the other students. She'd arrived at a near-run and appeared a bit flushed; at least what could be seen of the figure partially hidden behind the stack of books clutched against their torso. Her arms stretched to the maximum limit by the tomes clutched against her, Aithne beamed cheerily at the others, her glasses slipping hopelessly down her nose. With her hands occupied, there was no way to correct them and she found herself tipping her chin upward slightly to prevent them from falling off completely.
"I'm so sorry for my late arrival. I've been reading in the Biblioplex. It's wondrous." She offered the praise sincerely, her gaze lit with excitement. "I could spend my life there. I completely lost track of time." Her cheeks were flushed red from the exertion of running from her reading nook to the appointed meeting. Aithne adjusted her hold on the books, then tilted her head to the right to try and nudge her glasses back into position using her shoulder. Instead of improving the situation, she ended up looking more disheveled than before. Eventually giving up on the attempt entirely, she continued to smile, still alight with the pleasure of having experienced the Biblioplex for the first time.
She felt as though she could spend a lifetime exploring the books and scrolls lining the walls of the immense structure. And she'd come to Strixhaven to do exactly that. Her studies within Lorehold would let her read and research as much as she could possibly desire.
"I'm Aithne Dresar." She added abruptly, realizing only belatedly that she might be required to introduce herself. "I'm sorry. Again. I really didn't mean to lose track of things, but well, there was so much to see and before I knew it I was opening one book, then another... It was very difficult to stop. There's so much to learn and see. I'm from such a small town, its rather difficult to arrange for proper research materials. Especially not spell script or alternate language texts and I really..." She shut her mouth with a near-audible click, suddenly aware that she was rambling. She cleared her throat, self-consciously shifting her weight from one foot to the other. "Regardless, I really have no excuse. I apologize, Professor."
Arvol steps forward, "Good to meet you Aithne. I'm Arvol Flintwind. Why don't you let me hold a couple of those books so you can collect yourself?" He puts his hands out, waiting for her approval before helping. "You do know that they'll let you come back here again, you don't have to read all the books today!" he jokes. "Now, are you the Owlin or the Aasimar we were waiting for?"
"But... we're outside..." Ambre seems very confused, yawning again before turning her whole bottle over and seemingly chugging for a good five seconds. "Maybe I should stop doing stuff with only three hours of sleep."
"Oh! Yes, of course, thank you." Aithne surrendered the stack she carried to Arvol. The weight of the books was considerable, with a number of the tomes being as thick as several books combined. "And, I know I can return later, I just... There was so much to see and I really couldn't choose..."
With her hands finally free, she nudged her glasses fully back onto her nose, bringing the group around her into sharp focus. Where before they'd been little more than colorful smudges, now she was able to make out the finer details. She took a moment to study them, inquisitive gaze tracking over each one.
Aithne herself was a tall, slender figure in overlarge robes. Her sleeves fell past her fingertips, rolled up to free her hands and form cuffs at her wrists. Her hair, stark black with streaks of red throughout, fell in loose curls to her midback. Her eyes were nearly black, pupils virtually indistinguishable from her iris. A smudge of ink streaked the edge of her jaw, a blot of black against her tanned skin.
"Oh! My apologies. I'm the aasimar." Realizing she's been gawking, Aithne jolted into motion, retrieving her books from Arvol and clutching them back to her chest with reverent care. "Again, I'm sorry for my late arrival. Thank you for your help."
Arvol, not expecting the WHOLE stack, has to shift a bit to keep them from tumbling to the ground. "Um, not a problem?" he says. He does look a bit relieved when she takes the books back from him. As Aithne thanks him he gives her a smile, "Oh, no problem at all. Anytime."
With her glasses corrected and her books returned to her, Aithne turned her attention back to the topic at hand. "Was there another individual we are waiting for? The, um, owlin?"
"Miss Dresar! How in the Founders' name did you manage to slip past me...? Well, I am glad to see that you have already made yourself familiar with the Biblioplex, even though it has made you tardy. I have a feeling you'll be spending a lot of time there," Professor Sharpbeak says with a chuckle. "We are still waiting for one more: Hendrix Korebole. I certainly hope he did not come from a nocturnal flock and he's currently asleep..."
"I certainly hope he's not asleep. I'm ready to get this orientation going! I've still got to find books, supplies, and a place to live!" Avrol then looks over at the books that Aithne is now carrying again. He tries to get a glimpse of the titles. "So just what books are you reading there Aithne?"
Aelyn had quickly lost focus on his group and had been closeby serenading a couple of students, standing on one knee, playing his lute, singing about a brave knight secretly riding off to court a fair maiden against the will of her mother. Those interested noticed the drama unfold with small images beside him where the knight had a striking resemblance to himself coming up to something resembling a dormitory with a fair maiden resembling one of the students and the mother looking something like a dormitory matron. As he finishes the giggling students quickly move on to their morning classes and Aelyn returns to his group finding that a new student had arrived.
Upon seeing the aasimar holding a stack of books he stops and just looks at her for a moment. "Hi there, I'm Aelyn, pleased to meet you." He says giving the aasimar a warm smile. "Please, allow me to carry those for you." He says, taking a step closer. "So, just one short then Professor Sharpbeak."
"I mean there's always the dorms," Ambre suggests, holding up her dad. "My dad did me a favor. Got all my stuff right here, but when it's all out its turning back to a normal backpack. That way I only needed the one for today!"
"So did you all already move in?" Aelyn asks the others. "I just arrived now, perhaps I can get some guidance on which dormitory I will sleep in. Is it like every college has it's own dormitory?"
"Oh, well..." Aithne made an attempt to adjust her grip so the spines of the books were visible to Avrol (and therefore, the titles) but when one tome nearly escaped her grasp, she corrected her hold instead and recited the names from memory. "Elemental Magic Theories, Practical Applications of Divination, A Historical Study of Orcish Tribes, Basic Druidic Symbology and Meaning, The Core Values of Religious Worship in Drow Society, and, ah, this one is..."
While the other titles had been spoken confidently, Aithne ducked her head at the last and said, "...Fae Tales and Flights of Fancy: Courting Rituals of Elves and Eladrin." This part was addressed to the stack of books held in her hands and once it was done, she pinked sightly, her cheeks flushing. "I just, um, thought it looked interesting..." She trailed off, clearly embarrassed and debating a return to the Biblioplex where she could disappear into the shelves.
Aelyn's introduction derailed her plans. Rather than scurrying away to hide behind Professor Sharpbeak or sinking into the cobblestone of the courtyard to, hopefully, turn into a grain of sand, she smiled. Still flushed-- now for an entirely different reason-- but with glasses precisely positioned, she responded. "I'm Aithne. It's lovely to meet you. Oh, but, you don't need to carry these. I'm quite capable, I promise."
"I haven't!" Aithne brightened immediately. She could quite easily talk about books and spellcraft all day. Turning her attention to the newest participant in their conversation, she offered, "Did they have any recommendations for improving the use of True Strike?"
"I've always felt that spell was suboptimal. A quicker casting or the ability to transfer the benefit to another party would certainly improve it, but the magics have proven rather resistant to tampering. A newer spell variant is likely the best option, but I would be interested in a dissenting opinion."
Trailing off, aware she'd been babbling again-- theory of spellcraft and the history of spellcasting were her focus of study, so it was difficult to tear herself away from the topic-- Aithne cleared her throat and started over. "I'm Aithne, by the way. I'm sorry for missing the introductions earlier."
"Are you sure Aithne, it looks heavy for you." Aelyn says, curiously looking through the stack of books, and their titles. "Ah, Fae Tales and Flights of Fancy."He says like it was a classic. "You should know the author really didn't do his research properly on the last chapters, but I'll be happy to educate you on the eladrin and their ways a bit if you'd allow me, as I have had the pleasure of their company back home. In fact it was an eladrin who inspired me to come here and pursue knowledge on the general subject of that book really."He says casually.
"He didn't?" Aithne sounded disappointed as her dark gaze tracked back to Aelyn. "I've always assumed that Etrogar Biggenwind was one of the foremost experts on cultural studies. He supposedly spent no less than 10 years studying the flight patterns of mated pairs with the Aarakocra of the Windy Cliffs."
"Ah, supposedly." She immediately backtracked, realizing quite belatedly what she was admitting to. "I really wouldn't know. It's not as though I've read Life's Journey, a Treatise on Romance in the Skies..." Oh Gods of Book and Scroll, why was she even talking about this at all? Shuffling from foot to foot, she quite abruptly changed the topic.
"Oh! Ah, I'm studying with Lorehold. What are the rest of you specializing in?"
Aelyn smiled warmly as Aithne revealed more and more of her most interesting reading habits. "Silverquill for me Aithne, to gain a greater understanding of those words that empower your books with knowledge." He said, then looking to Ambre and Arvol.
"Well your dad has the right idea Ambre, it's absolutely obnoxious how many spells that have been researched purely for war and the ending of lives. If only the magic wielders of the world would try to create more magic to end conflicts before they start, or as the aforementioned eladrin say, make love not war." Aelyn says, ending with a smile and quick wink at Aithne. "But I didn't catch which college you were going to Ambre, might it be Prismari by any chance?"
"Oh I have no idea right now," Ambre says. "Probably. Im taking as many classes as I can to see what the other colleges offer before making a decision though."
"Here!" The words are uttered in a near-breathless tumble, the speaker stumbling to a halt in front of Professor Sharpbeak and the other students. She'd arrived at a near-run and appeared a bit flushed; at least what could be seen of the figure partially hidden behind the stack of books clutched against their torso. Her arms stretched to the maximum limit by the tomes clutched against her, Aithne beamed cheerily at the others, her glasses slipping hopelessly down her nose. With her hands occupied, there was no way to correct them and she found herself tipping her chin upward slightly to prevent them from falling off completely.
"I'm so sorry for my late arrival. I've been reading in the Biblioplex. It's wondrous." She offered the praise sincerely, her gaze lit with excitement. "I could spend my life there. I completely lost track of time." Her cheeks were flushed red from the exertion of running from her reading nook to the appointed meeting. Aithne adjusted her hold on the books, then tilted her head to the right to try and nudge her glasses back into position using her shoulder. Instead of improving the situation, she ended up looking more disheveled than before. Eventually giving up on the attempt entirely, she continued to smile, still alight with the pleasure of having experienced the Biblioplex for the first time.
She felt as though she could spend a lifetime exploring the books and scrolls lining the walls of the immense structure. And she'd come to Strixhaven to do exactly that. Her studies within Lorehold would let her read and research as much as she could possibly desire.
"I'm Aithne Dresar." She added abruptly, realizing only belatedly that she might be required to introduce herself. "I'm sorry. Again. I really didn't mean to lose track of things, but well, there was so much to see and before I knew it I was opening one book, then another... It was very difficult to stop. There's so much to learn and see. I'm from such a small town, its rather difficult to arrange for proper research materials. Especially not spell script or alternate language texts and I really..." She shut her mouth with a near-audible click, suddenly aware that she was rambling. She cleared her throat, self-consciously shifting her weight from one foot to the other. "Regardless, I really have no excuse. I apologize, Professor."
Arvol steps forward, "Good to meet you Aithne. I'm Arvol Flintwind. Why don't you let me hold a couple of those books so you can collect yourself?" He puts his hands out, waiting for her approval before helping. "You do know that they'll let you come back here again, you don't have to read all the books today!" he jokes. "Now, are you the Owlin or the Aasimar we were waiting for?"
Rabbit Sebrica | Skarai | Katryl Brightfury | Rylia Lionrage | Roxana Raincrest | Janek Whitmor | Lokilia Vaelphin
"But... we're outside..." Ambre seems very confused, yawning again before turning her whole bottle over and seemingly chugging for a good five seconds. "Maybe I should stop doing stuff with only three hours of sleep."
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
"Oh! Yes, of course, thank you." Aithne surrendered the stack she carried to Arvol. The weight of the books was considerable, with a number of the tomes being as thick as several books combined. "And, I know I can return later, I just... There was so much to see and I really couldn't choose..."
With her hands finally free, she nudged her glasses fully back onto her nose, bringing the group around her into sharp focus. Where before they'd been little more than colorful smudges, now she was able to make out the finer details. She took a moment to study them, inquisitive gaze tracking over each one.
Aithne herself was a tall, slender figure in overlarge robes. Her sleeves fell past her fingertips, rolled up to free her hands and form cuffs at her wrists. Her hair, stark black with streaks of red throughout, fell in loose curls to her midback. Her eyes were nearly black, pupils virtually indistinguishable from her iris. A smudge of ink streaked the edge of her jaw, a blot of black against her tanned skin.
"Oh! My apologies. I'm the aasimar." Realizing she's been gawking, Aithne jolted into motion, retrieving her books from Arvol and clutching them back to her chest with reverent care. "Again, I'm sorry for my late arrival. Thank you for your help."
Arvol, not expecting the WHOLE stack, has to shift a bit to keep them from tumbling to the ground. "Um, not a problem?" he says. He does look a bit relieved when she takes the books back from him. As Aithne thanks him he gives her a smile, "Oh, no problem at all. Anytime."
Rabbit Sebrica | Skarai | Katryl Brightfury | Rylia Lionrage | Roxana Raincrest | Janek Whitmor | Lokilia Vaelphin
With her glasses corrected and her books returned to her, Aithne turned her attention back to the topic at hand. "Was there another individual we are waiting for? The, um, owlin?"
"Miss Dresar! How in the Founders' name did you manage to slip past me...? Well, I am glad to see that you have already made yourself familiar with the Biblioplex, even though it has made you tardy. I have a feeling you'll be spending a lot of time there," Professor Sharpbeak says with a chuckle. "We are still waiting for one more: Hendrix Korebole. I certainly hope he did not come from a nocturnal flock and he's currently asleep..."
Celica Maloraen | Twilight Domain Cleric 5 | Wildemount Irregulars
Jasper Finch | Fighter 1 | Curious Critters - A Tal'Dorei Tale
Amaris Tell | Order of Scribes Wizard 3 | Baldur's Gate Mysteries
DM | Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
"I certainly hope he's not asleep. I'm ready to get this orientation going! I've still got to find books, supplies, and a place to live!" Avrol then looks over at the books that Aithne is now carrying again. He tries to get a glimpse of the titles. "So just what books are you reading there Aithne?"
Rabbit Sebrica | Skarai | Katryl Brightfury | Rylia Lionrage | Roxana Raincrest | Janek Whitmor | Lokilia Vaelphin
Aelyn had quickly lost focus on his group and had been closeby serenading a couple of students, standing on one knee, playing his lute, singing about a brave knight secretly riding off to court a fair maiden against the will of her mother. Those interested noticed the drama unfold with small images beside him where the knight had a striking resemblance to himself coming up to something resembling a dormitory with a fair maiden resembling one of the students and the mother looking something like a dormitory matron. As he finishes the giggling students quickly move on to their morning classes and Aelyn returns to his group finding that a new student had arrived.
Upon seeing the aasimar holding a stack of books he stops and just looks at her for a moment. "Hi there, I'm Aelyn, pleased to meet you." He says giving the aasimar a warm smile. "Please, allow me to carry those for you." He says, taking a step closer. "So, just one short then Professor Sharpbeak."
"I mean there's always the dorms," Ambre suggests, holding up her dad. "My dad did me a favor. Got all my stuff right here, but when it's all out its turning back to a normal backpack. That way I only needed the one for today!"
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
"So did you all already move in?" Aelyn asks the others. "I just arrived now, perhaps I can get some guidance on which dormitory I will sleep in. Is it like every college has it's own dormitory?"
"Oh, well..." Aithne made an attempt to adjust her grip so the spines of the books were visible to Avrol (and therefore, the titles) but when one tome nearly escaped her grasp, she corrected her hold instead and recited the names from memory. "Elemental Magic Theories, Practical Applications of Divination, A Historical Study of Orcish Tribes, Basic Druidic Symbology and Meaning, The Core Values of Religious Worship in Drow Society, and, ah, this one is..."
While the other titles had been spoken confidently, Aithne ducked her head at the last and said, "...Fae Tales and Flights of Fancy: Courting Rituals of Elves and Eladrin." This part was addressed to the stack of books held in her hands and once it was done, she pinked sightly, her cheeks flushing. "I just, um, thought it looked interesting..." She trailed off, clearly embarrassed and debating a return to the Biblioplex where she could disappear into the shelves.
Aelyn's introduction derailed her plans. Rather than scurrying away to hide behind Professor Sharpbeak or sinking into the cobblestone of the courtyard to, hopefully, turn into a grain of sand, she smiled. Still flushed-- now for an entirely different reason-- but with glasses precisely positioned, she responded. "I'm Aithne. It's lovely to meet you. Oh, but, you don't need to carry these. I'm quite capable, I promise."
"Oh have you read the Practical use of Impractical spells?" Ambre asks, interested now that shes more awake. "Its really interesting!"
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
"I haven't!" Aithne brightened immediately. She could quite easily talk about books and spellcraft all day. Turning her attention to the newest participant in their conversation, she offered, "Did they have any recommendations for improving the use of True Strike?"
"I've always felt that spell was suboptimal. A quicker casting or the ability to transfer the benefit to another party would certainly improve it, but the magics have proven rather resistant to tampering. A newer spell variant is likely the best option, but I would be interested in a dissenting opinion."
Trailing off, aware she'd been babbling again-- theory of spellcraft and the history of spellcasting were her focus of study, so it was difficult to tear herself away from the topic-- Aithne cleared her throat and started over. "I'm Aithne, by the way. I'm sorry for missing the introductions earlier."
"Are you sure Aithne, it looks heavy for you." Aelyn says, curiously looking through the stack of books, and their titles. "Ah, Fae Tales and Flights of Fancy." He says like it was a classic. "You should know the author really didn't do his research properly on the last chapters, but I'll be happy to educate you on the eladrin and their ways a bit if you'd allow me, as I have had the pleasure of their company back home. In fact it was an eladrin who inspired me to come here and pursue knowledge on the general subject of that book really." He says casually.
"He didn't?" Aithne sounded disappointed as her dark gaze tracked back to Aelyn. "I've always assumed that Etrogar Biggenwind was one of the foremost experts on cultural studies. He supposedly spent no less than 10 years studying the flight patterns of mated pairs with the Aarakocra of the Windy Cliffs."
"Ah, supposedly." She immediately backtracked, realizing quite belatedly what she was admitting to. "I really wouldn't know. It's not as though I've read Life's Journey, a Treatise on Romance in the Skies..." Oh Gods of Book and Scroll, why was she even talking about this at all? Shuffling from foot to foot, she quite abruptly changed the topic.
"Oh! Ah, I'm studying with Lorehold. What are the rest of you specializing in?"
Aelyn smiled warmly as Aithne revealed more and more of her most interesting reading habits. "Silverquill for me Aithne, to gain a greater understanding of those words that empower your books with knowledge." He said, then looking to Ambre and Arvol.
"Oh my dad sometimes uses it when he's working on really delicate mechanisms to make sure he its it right with the hammer," Ambre says.
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
"Well your dad has the right idea Ambre, it's absolutely obnoxious how many spells that have been researched purely for war and the ending of lives. If only the magic wielders of the world would try to create more magic to end conflicts before they start, or as the aforementioned eladrin say, make love not war." Aelyn says, ending with a smile and quick wink at Aithne. "But I didn't catch which college you were going to Ambre, might it be Prismari by any chance?"
"Oh I have no idea right now," Ambre says. "Probably. Im taking as many classes as I can to see what the other colleges offer before making a decision though."
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard