< @Uriel1339 > Sairan returned the sign of respect with his own, left fist to right palm, but without the bow. He said nothing to the student about the plans, as one must adapt to the changing battle. As he moved away, the Exarch returned to his task of creating a battle for his students and newcomer.
Vailaniel soon stepped into the Striking Scorpions' shrine with her arms now held at her sides, almost stiffly so. Her eyes keenly looked over all details around her, admiring and analyzing everything in view: even whatever other people were there. She said nothing though, preferring to allow others to be on their business for the time being lest she interrupt something.
"I am happy to greet you,"Linaya said politely, though there was a genuine warmth to her words under the formality. She didn't look much older than two centuries, and the youthful cast of her features was softer than a war-maiden's would be; doubtless she had not spent long on this Path. But she carried herself with a certain wary poise, a mere shadow of the Exarch's own for now, but an echo of it nonetheless. She led the older Eldar to a chamber with a double door, as wide as it was tall and large enough for a Wraithguard to walk under without stooping. Inside, it was divided into two halves, each of which ended in a curved chamber. A curved rib ran the length of the ceiling, ending in a jewelled lantern fashioned after the shape of a scorpion's sting. To the left, rows of Aspect armour stood on mannequins, each faceless and somewhat formless, serving only to hold the armour neatly in place. Under each set, a folded ythrain-suit lay ready to wear underneath it. On the right, mirroring each mannequin, a stand held the chainsword, shuriken pistol and helmet belonging to each suit. Several of the pairs were empty. Some had a small runic sign placed on the plinth or stand, signifying that it was claimed for use by another Aspect Warrior. "It is not our custom to take the suit out of the Shrine save in times of war," Linaya said, though she wondered if this stranger knew more of the War-Path than she. Still, this was her first time as a Scorpion, and she presumed it was his as well. "Please choose one of the unmarked suits, and it will be yours for the duration of the Path. You are free to take the other weapons, but do not don the helmet until the Exarch so instructs." She stepped back, allowing the other to choose freely. "Once you have a suit, we can -" She paused. The backpack indicated that he intended to stay a little while, and though it was possible to find a place to sleep in the Shrine, training Warriors were not encouraged to take up residence. Too much saturation of the untrained psyche in the atmosphere of war could cause the soul to become unbalanced. So Sairan taught, and Linaya was inclined to believe it. "Do you need somewhere to stay? The Shrine is not really open to aspiring warriors. I have a spare chamber if you are at a loss, and I live not too far away." She did not know Valerian, but the word of her Exarch and her own nature meant that she was happy to share freely with another Craftworlder, especially since they were to be of the same squad. "Anyhow once you have a suit, we can go to the practice-grounds and I will show you what I have learned." She left Valerian free to choose whatever suit he liked best, knowing that it would mould to fit him for combat.
Ariskia sighed, she didn't enjoy just roaming around the Craftworld like he did, but she replied "Fine, I'll tag along... But I do need to visit the shrine soon, I don't want to let a lack of practice let everyone else down when it's actually time for me to go out and do what I must." After all she hadn't actually gone out to war even for a small skirmish (as her undecorated armour would attest to), unlike some of her fellow warriors who did have experience. So if Taeris decided to meander around the Craftworld too aimlessly, well at least she'd disappear and head over to the Shrine to get a little practice in.
"You speak the truth. Everyone must learn, because learning is growth, but you know how legends grow. It starts with a prestigiously good teacher and before you know it" Ladornarr guestured to the various musicians who were dotted around the grotto, in groups or individually, and kept his tone respectful and slightly playful "They will be talking about how you sprung from the ground fully formed singing the praises of Isha." Ladornarr let silence hang in the air for a few moments. The sound of Anahar's earlier laugh echoed through his soul, it's haunting beauty and its subtle variations merged with the sounds of the practicing trainees. The moment of reflection passed and after his long meditation longed for something to eat. He glanced towards Anahar and looked for the tell tale signs of one deep in thought, so as not to interrupt any thoughts. When he judged that he could speak he spoke softly and removed the more playful tones to one of more genuine kept a respectful tone. "Shall we wander? I haven't eaten anything since the beginning of the day cycle and I would like to talk with you more. Do you know any pleasant places to eat nearby Anahar?"
< @Maleth @Nurianis > "Ah! I see! The noble warrior doth require her training! Well, let us then procure sustenance, so that thine body doth not fail thee!" he said cheerfully, taking her hand and walking her past the grotto to a nearby eatery. Once there he sat at a table and gestured for Ariska to do the same. "I hear that meat doth be quite beneficial to one who exerts their body. I also hear that the chef here came from Saim-Hann, and his steaks doth be divine!" At the same time, Anahar looked at his old disciple and smiled with a slight nod. "I would find that refreshing. There is, nearby, a Saim-Hann craftworlder who cooks wonderful steaks. I will admit I have lost some taste for meat over my cycles, but the salads are also satisfying. We may talk there, if you wish. I desire not to wander far at this moment, so my learners can find me if required."
@Jorimel @BadDo9 Nodding as he entered the chamber, Valerian walked down the row of suits, looking perhaps a bit distracted. But then he stopped in front of the suit farthest down the line, the armor itself not looking anything specially different than the other ones. Without a word, he dropped down his backpack and quickly changed from his robes into ythrain-suit after which he donned the armor. Finishing with that, he turned around and picked up the chainsword and the pistol, placing both on his belt while he kept the helmet safely in the crook of his arm. Only then did he turn around and walked back to where Linaya was waiting on him. "It's been a while since I was here on our Craftworld, in fact I only just got here and headed directly for this shrine. As for having somewhere to stay, I really appreciate your offer but I must politely refuse, for I'd be only a burden and that is not what I want. After we are done here, I'll try to find if there are any of my old friends left here and find lodging there," Valerian replied, grateful for Linaya's offer. In truth, he had no friends on Biel-tal that were alive any more and despite the offer being something he should've taken, he wanted to spend some time alone here, away from the thoughts of others. "I am ready," he spoke next, "Lead the way to the training grounds."
Linaya nodded her head politely, taking no offence that her offer wasn't taken up. It wasn't as if her hospitality had been slighted. Happy that her new squadmate had found a suit to work with, she collected her own armour and ythrain-suit and prepared herself for practice. Carrying her ritual weapons, she went briefly to one of the stores and brought out a small box, which she took with her to the broad, flat plaza just outside the Shrine. Along the way, she did not rush and neither did she dawdle, allowing Valerian to see the layout of the building and his way to and from the arming-chamber to the outside. There were many routes within for those that knew them, but only two obvious entrances. There were said to be other ways in, stealthy ways, but she had not learned them yet. On such days as the Exarch decreed it, the whole Shrine would shut down and the aspiring Aspect Warriors would be encouraged to try to infiltrate, using their cunning and stealth to find the hidden doors. Linaya set down her gear at the edge of the beaten clay oval, roughly fifty paces across. She glanced at the forested area to the edge of the practice grounds, knowing that the whole terrain of the dome that held the Shrine was for their use. But first, she would begin more softly. "Customarily," she said, taking the power unit off her sword so that, even by chance of Fate, it could not be activated, "we do not use live weapons for our initial training, so unpower your sword and we can spar. There are other ways we train, but let us begin here first." She paused, happy to answer any questions but with one of her own: "Have you served Khaine before? I ask because we will warm up before we fight, and the methods the Guardians use are sufficient if you have not." She smiled. "If you have, then doubtless this will all be familiar and so you are ahead of the game." Whatever the answer, Linaya went through some basic warming-up exercises before some friendly swordwork, not seeking to beat her opponent but to get the measure of the best kind of sparring to begin training.
< @Uriel1339 @Vlayden > Sairan had been focussing on the best manner to train the newcomer, as well as the one who seemed to be standing in the shrine with no direction. When he found it, he stepped into the entrance hall and gazed at the second newcomer, looking her over. "Anduthir!" he called, his voice carrying to wherever that one was lurking about. When that one arrived, the Exarch's war-mask stared at him. "Take this newcomer to arm herself, and take her outside to meet Linaya. Take the armor and weapons of the others as well." His tone brooked no disagreement, the warrior would do as told. With that the Exarch walked away, melding into the shadows. Gone. <+ @Jorimel @Colapse @Maleth @Nurianis > As soon as the two would leave the shrine, the doors would lock. And the next time that one tried them, runes would appear, reading: When the blades of shadow have all gathered, then shall Karandras' children be called.
The very instant she heard someone's named get called out she looked over to the male, blinking a few times. She looked rather average - aside from being taller than some she was quite simplistic for an Eldar, her chin-length black hair being well taken care of. She wore a simplistic Eldar robe that was a mixture of different brown colourations with a faint green pattern to the sleeves as to give it a sort of forest look. She had little time to register what the man had said, though she faintly smiled with a sense of awe - an Exarch, in the flesh? She had heard stories before of them, of how they were those Lost on the path. While her heart felt a stab of pain at the thought of someone becoming so.. Gone from their race, to become nothing but a living manifestation of their duty was heartwrenching, to see one was another thing entirely. All the same, she swiftly shrugged off the amazement from her mind and looked around to seek the one named 'Anduthir', should they be in the same room, and offer a kind smile with a nod of greetings.
