Lou is just finishing up setting up for the mass testing day, Willen working as her handy assistant. There is equipment and gear all over the place, anything Lou thinks might be of use to test people.

It is upon this that Lilia comes. She's hooded and cloaked against the cold and the seeming-endless snow but the weather is less a detriment to her than for others; she is, after all, a crowd of one who comes into the clearing to look around with great interest and maybe, possibly a tiny measure of some trepidation. Test anxiety. Which she's going to hide behind a sunny smile.

At first glance, Armani Gilden doesn't look entirely prepared for a test of skill as she approaches Lou's testing area. Underneath her winter coat it's easy to glimpse lycean fashion and gleaming jewelry which reflect the bright sun over head. "Highness!" She calls out once she gets closer, raising her hand to wave at the princess and her assistant. "I hope you got something planned that makes up for exposing my poor lycean skin to this dreadful cold."

"Considering we frequently travel to Everwinter for this project or the next, this is nothing compared to /that/ sort of cold. You are free to ask my Eurusi husband just how cold Everwinter is.... considering he was used to desert heat," Lou tells Armani, a light grin touching her features. "And, also, welcome, Lady Lilia, Lady Armani. I trust you are both interested in testing for the Explorers?" she asks, just to make certain. "If so, the test involves two tests in knowledge, survival and combat skills each. If you fail, the only thing that will happen is that we ask you to learn a bit more and try again. We try to make sure our Explorers are capable enough to handle situations, particularly with out of the box thinking - since anything can happen during an expedition." She grins, "Seriously, anything. Like sharing a cave with a whole pack of woods, which happened on my northlands expedition to meet with the Wolfheart Tribe."

Lou quickly adds, "And, of course, if you pass - you're invited to join the Explorers should you like."

"I was somewhat undecided until my visit to the Hall," answers Lilia, concerning the test. She lifts a hand to wave at Armani, a little wiggle of fingers that might be a distracting gesture, to disguise some of the way she studies the other woman, as if sizing up the competition. She's got a flash of smile still though, and she's quick enough to approach, pushing back her hood. "I reckon a proper adventurer should be able to think outside at least one or two boxes. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, unless you expect an archery demonstration. In which case maybe I will just go home and start practicing now." There's some amusement in her statement though. Whether she's serious about that or not, she does not, yet, appear ready to depart.

"That sounds downright horrific Lou, I'd have to wrap myself in so many pelts I'd look like a wooly bear just lumbering along. I bet I'd need a carriege, or whatever those things you use up in the northern snow are called." Armani laughs briefly as she finds herself some appropriatively tall piece of testing equipment to sit on and proceeds to look over Lou's preparation. "It doesn't look like it's a cave today."

"Alas, I use a clearing in this section because it's just easier. I'll be moving the gauntlet indoors - I think, unless spring decides to be sprung and tame the winter before that event happens." Lou looks hopeful it will! April is not far off! She grins a bit to Lilia. "I do tend to be free with information where I can be, much to the consternation of some. Aislin started the Explorers so we recover that information and make it available to others. We work closely with the Scholars. Unfortunately, there are some that would warn you away from things without expressing why it might be dangerous and I don't take those people entirely seriously. In fact, I rather ignore them. If you can warn me, you can bother to explain why I shouldn't be doing something other than just 'you shouldn't." She pauses a beat and says, "As for archery - eh. It's overrated, and I say that as someone somewhat better skilled than average in shooting a bow. But if you need to practice, Dame Leola is who I learned from." See? Information sharing already! "She's a great teacher." She looks between the two. "So, given what I've explained today - I might need to tailor two different situations. So, what are you both good at? Based on the categories I gave you."

Lump, the long and short badgerhound, Goofus, the gallant Graypeak Mountain dog arrive, following Malcolm.

Lilia tilts her head a little. "Lady Ashford has informed a lot of what I know about... well. Things. I regret that I missed the opportunity to make her acquaintance, as long ago as that chance passed. I've noticed that some people like to give warnings without explanations, or they like to give half-answers about why they don't want to tell you anything. Thus I am here, to roll up my sleeves and work on finding the answers for myself. What's the worst that could happen?" A pause. About three seconds of one. "Don't answer that." She's close enough now that she can inspect some of the gear that has been set out for use during the test and there she turns in a slow circle, contemplative. "Admittedly I am not well trained in either of what you might call traditional survival or combat techniques. I do excel in thinking outside of boxes, however, so if there are any things you can think of that might be outside your parameters you might want to declare them in advance."

"What I'm good at?" Armani taps a ringer finger against her lips and tilts her head. "I'd say I know this and that about tactics and ships, that I'll probably make it back alive if you set me adrift at sea and I know which end of the sword is the pointy one, really I'm better at convincing someone else to do that part for me."

Humming out-of-tune, Malcolm's headed into the clearing that's set-up with all sorts of equipment. He pauses beside a training dummy, leaning against it as he continues to look around with a smile on his face. He's listening, not offering up any words yet because he's curious - keen on watching Lilia, Armani and Lou for now. A pair of dogs - one small and long, the other large and floofy - are busy exploring through their surroundings. Finally, he lifts a hand in greeting, "Good day!"

"Vellichor's Archfiend decides you know too much and sends his herald after you." Oops! Lou answered. "From time to time, I've been looking over my shoulder. But, I'm not going to let that stop me from exploring places and discovering things." She pauses, then adds, "I suspect that was the reason for the green snow... but, I have no proof to back that up." She nods over at Armani, probably trying to think of ways to make those sorts of things work in her scenario. She looks back to Lilia. "Well, I'll do my best to include you," she tells her. "Or, if the situation comes up and you think you can do something, I'll let you try it." And then there's Malcolm. She waves in his direct. "Duke Malcolm," she greets. "Have you come to test to be an explorer?" she asks.

"Any really deep investigation is going to make someone uncomfortable. Given the stakes, given what we've already lost once, I dare say that while being afraid of the consequences might hold some wisdom, allowing them to paralyze or pacify you into inaction and ignorance does not." Lilia falls quiet then to listen to Armani's answer and tilts her head, only to smile, as she does. "I would think that, in the spirit of the test, if you've often no idea what you will be encountering until you find yourself lost in it... I'll do my best." She is clearly not all that worried about being left behind. And there's Malcolm, and his dogs, to whom she offers a little tilt of her head in returned greeting. "It is a good day," she agrees, meanwhile.

"Sure am, Lou. Hopefully, all of you won't mind that I were a tad bit late. Somethin' about paperwork and signing 'til my fingers went all numb." Cheerfully, the Shepherd Duke offers a smile to all three, and he offers a bow of his head a second later. "Malcolm Shepherd, Duke of Graypeak - out of the Crownlands. It's a joy to meet'cha. "I think that I'll - uh - hang by 'til I'm called upon, yeah? Mostly on account of not bein' too sure what this exam's about." He lowers his voice, confessing with a playful grin. "I didn't study."

"If he shows up, I'll just point at you and suggest that this delightful princess is surely a lot more tasty then a tiny lycean whos blood is surely poisonous. Then it'll be time for the orderly retreat." Armani winks at Lou before spinning over to look at the new voice of Malcolm. "Armani Gilden, admiral of the Gilden Navy, admirer of the sea and by some accounts, the best bar companion in Arx."

Lou chuckles softly in Malcolm's direction. She explains quickly. "The test to join the society of explorers requires a two tests each of knowledge based skills, combat skills and survival skills. Anything goes. Different skills for each specific opportunity in the test. Don't feel holed into the box of using survival though, if say seduction or something else would be useful in such a situation. I try to tailor the test to things people know, which gives me an idea of what you are good at as well in order to recommend you to other people. Which is what you heard Lady Armani doing as you walked in. If you fail the test, I'll ask you to try again after you've learned a bit more. It's not a complete bar to joining. If you pass, I'll invite you to the explorers." She looks to Armani. "If he shows up, I'll remind him of his table manners, and hopefully that will work..." She doesn't look confident it will though! She looks over at Lilia and nods her head. "Alright." She takes a look around the clearing and says. "I'll begin. Malcolm, as soon as you let me know what you're capable of, I'll weave you into the test."

"I feel now compelled to point out that I suppose technically you can now persuade him to do your fighting for you." Lilia's smile goes mischievous. Briefly. She did after all ask for parameters. "Lady Lilia Telmar, the only child my father, the Duke Telmar, acknowledges that he likes." It's almost as good as being an admiral, right? But now that the test is beginning more or less officially she falls quiet, the majority of her attention turned on Lou to await the first challenge.

"Any good expedition starts out with a bit of research and knowledge. Sometimes, that research is gained through exploration, sometimes it is gained through talking to other people, or maybe translating a text that you have in your possession. Or, you can through it through some occult means." Lou throws out potential situations of how to discover the knowledge. "But, knowledge about a topic of your choosing must first be discovered in some way. It could even be through the practice of medicine, or testing something through alchemy, or something you know from farming that might have tainted the land. So, you start there. You find something you want to explore, and then you move forward with it. How do you choose to find your topic, and move forward?" she asks, looking to the group at large.

"Perhaps I can." Armani flashes Lilia a quick, her breath forming a cloud of condensation as she speaks. She rubs her hands together idly while she listens to Lou's explaining her test to the Duke and eventually decides get off her seat and start pacing back and forth. "I usually listen to all the silly stories the sailers tell eachother when they're drunk on beer and rum. Sometimes you hear something intersting enough you just feel the urge to find out if it's actually true."

Armani checked perception + investigation at difficulty 20, rolling 51 higher.

"Ah - a little of this an' that, Lou. I'll figure it out as we go along, I think, dependent on the situation. That's what I'm best at." Malcolm's bouncing on the balls of his feet, clearly in some kind of good mood. It's also quite the honor to meet'cha, ladies. For example, like, there's a thing that'll need a little figuring out on account of it being difficult to suss out. Like a journal entry or a map or whatnot, sitting around that table with Lady Armani. She's listening to those stories and I'm there looking over that map - then I'd just try and figure it out --"

Malcolm checked wits + riddles at difficulty 20, rolling 18 higher.

Lilia's answer ends up being similar to Armani's, though her methodology is a trifle different. "Most of my best leads have come from conversations with people. Someone mentions something offhandedly and for whatever reason it hooks my imagination like a spear grabs a fish. And while I've spent hours and hours digging through books in the stacks, I've had similar results, perhaps even better ones, by seizing my opportunities and asking people outright if they know anything about... anything." She flashes a sharp smile at Lou. "Do you know anything about Whitepeak? About elves? About Copper? About green snow? About holy relics?" Questions lob in an easy patter, but they come right after another. "Of course usually I try to be a little less obvious and a little more diplomatic."

Lilia checked charm + diplomacy at difficulty 20, rolling 24 higher.

"Or," Lou counters, "Maybe that map you're trying to decipher actually ends up being a schematic from Brass on how to make a clockwork toy..." Then she breaks into a grin, "Because that happened." She pauses a moment, then considers. "So then, you need to get there. You gather a group of likeminded people, hopefully with the skills you need. But the thing about exploring is that you never know what you're going to need, or who. So you have to do your best, and make sure you have a well rounded team where possible, or you're going to back to be prepared to back track a lot. So, you've got your team and you get to the place you're going, but then your party misses something and you fall down a slide into a basement or room of sorts, and you're trapped there. There are symbols on the walls, buttons to push, maybe some writing, or some puzzles to work out. Or, there's questions of theology that you need to solve, regarding all 13 pantheon. Either way - you need to know something to get out of this room. A thorough sweep of the room might even provide more information to get you out of it."

"I guess a schematic is still a map in a sense." Armani says softly while looking at a snowflake that's landed perfectly on her forearm, balancing there precariously for a long moment before the wind pushes it onwards. "I can't read forgotten languages and any godsworn putting me to test on questions of faith would be torture for us both. So I'd say I would make sure my group of likeminded people have complimentary skills and in that strange room of puzzles I'd keep them all organized and efficient."

Armani checked command + leadership at difficulty 20, rolling 43 higher.

"That happens, it does, although not to me." Malcolm's all grins, dark eyes bright as he considers Lou, shrugging. "N'yet. So - uh, been caught in a 'haven or two in my time. Usually while trying to help a body out. 'M not so keen on the brain bits, but, I'm not too bad on trying to figure out how not to get squished if - say - those walls in that room start to start moving inward. Ready to flatten us all like pancakes. Though, now, I'm hungry. So - Lady Lilia is doin' her thing, and Lady Armani's doin' hers. They're both way sharper n' me, and I'm hoping that one of them might figure it out." Malcolm claps his hands together, rubbing them together.

Malcolm checked luck + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 16 higher.

Malcolm checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 36 higher.

"I do love a good puzzle," Lilia replies after a moment. "Finding it. Finding all of the pieces. Trying to figure out which goes where, or what little bit of obscure information is necessary, or which lever to pull that isn't connected to the sliding tile on the floor that opens to the next thing that slides down into the next basement." As the others give their answers she ends up laughing. "I guess in this room we're hoping the Duke brought enough lunch for everyone, or I'm liable to forget I'm hungry."

Lilia checked intellect + riddles at difficulty 20, rolling 47 higher.

Lou seems pleased so far with the progress of everyone. Åre people doing well? Quite probably! She nods to the answers given, and says. "However, once you get out of the room you're faced with a group of angry cultists who think you are there to steal their secrets, or go after their leader. Which, realistically speaking, it's very possible. Or, maybe they are guarding a horde of knowldge they don't want you to have. The only way to get past them is to confront them."

"Oh - that. Yeah, confrontation happens. Sometimes. Angry cultists are still people too, but, people that need to get out of the damned way." Malcolm rumbles, offering a mischievous grin.

Malcolm checked strength + medium wpn at difficulty 20, rolling 24 higher.

"I mean, sure, you can start shoving." Lilia glances at Malcolm, as if sizing him up for his capacity to push through a mob of angry cultists. "Sometimes you just need to come out with your hands up and empty and smile your biggest smile and tell them that you're only here to help. Or that their leader sent you. Or you got into the library and it was empty because their leader already stole what it is they were supposed to be guarding. Sometimes," she clarifies, "if you cannot blind them the blade, you need to baffle them with manure."

Lilia checked charm + propaganda at difficulty 20, rolling 15 higher.

"You know what they say about assumptions, they can lead us all sorts of astray. We can't possibly be intruders, how would we even have found this place? The secrets of our cult are still well guarded. We were sent here to test your security and let me tell you, you've performed very poorly so far." Armani shakes her head with a regretful expression. "I really don't my report to your leader to end on this note. Maybe we could think of something together?"

Armani checked charm + manipulation at difficulty 20, rolling 37 higher.

Deliverance, an albino falcon arrives, delivering a message to Malcolm before departing.

Lou chuckles softly at the responses, but schools herself back to seriousness. "You get past this group of ruffians through your combined efforts. But then there's a new challenge before you. There is a chasm you must cross. You could try to jump it. You could try to find something to use to walk across it. You could look for another way. Or, any other number of situations you come up with."

Malcolm says, "Hm, er - I might try an' jump it so that I might be able to able anyone across if need be, or, you know - if I fall and crack my head open, then they'll know not to try and do the same thing as I did. Either way, pretty helpful. I think." Malcolm shrugs his shoulders."

Malcolm has rolled a critical success!
Malcolm checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 38 higher.

"I'm good with puzzles, not so good with pitfalls. Our intrepid Duke crossed the chasm so magnificently that I suppose I will have to ask him to help me across. Provided he doesn't fall halfway across and crack his head open." This one Lilia can actually demonstrate. She straightens her shoulders and holds out a hand toward him, like she were at a ball and inviting him to dance. "Good Duke Shepherd, would you kindly help me across this unfortunate obstacle? Perhaps toss me yonder rope or move yonder log? Please?"

Lilia checked charm + etiquette at difficulty 20, rolling 29 higher.

"I'm most certainly not going put my life on the line over my long jump, I think that would more then likely end with a very unflattering look once I hit the ground." Armani tuts her tongue and shakes her head. "No, I'd send someone brave and strong like Duke Malcolm here over first, then we could make a bridge or find some alternative route. If we could find some vegetation I could help by tying together a rope."

Armani checked dexterity + sailing at difficulty 20, rolling 0 higher.

"You get across the chasm only to find that you're confronted with a very clever trap, and there seems to be a myraid of ways that you can disarm it - but all of them require some certain specific sets of knowledge to do so." Lou tells the group. "And, in unlocking the trap, you'll actually get to the horde of knowledge you came for in the first place."

"Is this the part were we draw totally not rigged straws to determine who should sacrifice themselves for the greater good?" Armani suggests with a brief sly and playful smile, pale green eyes measuring up Malcolm and Lilia. "I do have an eye for things sometimes, maybe I don't know how to disarm it but I could lead them to the mechanism."

Armani checked perception + teaching at difficulty 20, rolling 3 lower.

Malcolm checked wits + legerdemain at difficulty 20, rolling 33 higher.

"I might've been all out of my usual sorts of skills, Lou. Although - you're mentioning specfic skill sets. After helping Lady Lilia with her nice ask and jumping across on Lady Armani's say-so -- I uhm. Hrm. Realized that I done borrowed a thing from those cultists that we needed to disarm that trap. Only, see, I'd do it with flair. Like making the thing appear from behind Armani's ear - like a coin. Or a key." Malcolm does show off his favorite sleight of hand trick with a coin.

Lilia mmmms. It's a thoughtful sound; a complete one, all by itself. She nods at Armani's contribution, smiles at Malcolm's little coin trick, then bows her head slightly. "To be fair I'd probably want to start by spending some time examining the trap. Like I said, I like puzzles and figuring out what thing needs to be pushed or pulled. Sometimes it requires an obscure bit of knowledge, but sometimes you can figure out what the proper answer is just by looking in the right spot. Which tile has been scuffed. Which part of the door has the scrape on it. What did your fellow explorer do that made the wall shake."

Lilia checked intellect + investigation at difficulty 20, rolling 47 higher.

Deliverance, an albino falcon arrives, delivering a message to Malcolm before departing.

"And the trap opens without being set off, and inside you find all sorts of letters, documents, and additional bits of Lore. But, by that time the cultists have informed their leader that you are his guests, and such, and they have realized that you've duped them in that respect, and so they have come back, in spades, to confront you once more." Lou tilts her head as she regards the rag tag group to see how they are going to handle this new dilemma.

"Isn't that just dreadful?" Armani runs her hand through her dirty blonde hair before clasping both hands behind her back. "If the ruse is up, then we have no choice do we? Wouldn't it be just the most unfortunate thing if something just so happened to push them all down that nearby chasm. What kind of person set up that kind of trap and perhaps encourage a most valiant Duke to drive them towards it?"

Armani checked command + war at difficulty 20, rolling 11 higher.

"Aw, blast it all - hey guys, we -- eh -- weren't anticipatin' your re-arrival back to bother us. I git it, I do. But can we all just get along here? I don't wanna have to go diving into the fray again." Malcolm asides behind his hand, addressing the others. "This might be where I start to talk shit, you know, in order to make sure that the others get a better plan together. Or, give them the chance to grab the contents of and run. Whatever they'd wanna do really. Or, we'd all just tussle again and see how that goes."

Malcolm checked strength + brawl at difficulty 20, rolling 23 higher.

A few nods from Lilia as if she is all for this plan of pushing cultists back into the traps they've so very recently come over. Or they're thoughtful, as if she's considering her own answer while she imagines the trap set and triggered. "Meanwhile someone has to pack up all of these treasured fragments and quickly search them for some sign or symbol that might point to a thing the cultists fear. The aforementioned opposite of their object of worship, perhaps. Or something that sounds enough like one to be invoked without actually accidentally invoking some malevolent higher power, because the last thing we - or the cultists - need is that sort of attention."

Lilia checked intellect + occult at difficulty 20, rolling 13 higher.

"You all manage to deal with the cultists in your own way, sending the last of them packing or over the cluff." Lou says, then grins a wide grin. "And with that, you are able to get out of the place you went to explore and return home safely. And, consequently, you each pass the test to join the Explorers. All I need to know is whether or not you wish to be formally invited to join." She looks to Lilia. "Consequently, our organization has some of the information on Whitepeak you are looking for readily available for review if you do join."

"I don't know why I ever doubted you Lou, you did manage to make all the snow and cold worth it." Armani smiles dazzlingly at Lou as well as her two fellow test takers. "I had a great time, I hope I'll get you see you again someplace more warm and comfortable, or maybe en-route to some cultist temple. Till then I'm retreating back to a nice warm bath."

"Formally invited, eh? How is that any different from being informally invited?" Malcolm's expressive eyebrows crunch together with a thought, smile broad and amused. "Otherwise - yeah. More and less happy to be considered an Explorer all official like. My need for adventuring is - great." He swings his hands open and wide to emphasize how large he considers 'great' as an adjective. "That's an understatement. How do nobles /manage/ to balance out the dutiful parts with the fun? 'S a lot." He turns back to bow his head toward Armani and Lilia. "It was fun. Likewise, hope to see you both around."

Lilia raises her hand in a gesture that might be farewell to Armani, and to Malcolm. "I imagine we shall, soon, find somewhere more hospitable. Likely less full of cultists, at least until the weather breaks. It was a pleasure, and I hope this is but the first cobble on the road to all manner of entertaining adventures." As for Lou, she gives the Pathfinder a more somber tilt of her head. And then a thousand-candle smile. "I was worried there for a minute. But, yes. If you'll have us. Me. Because I will unapologetically take any information you have, happily."

Lou chuckles wryly at Malcom. "I'm just a princess. I don't really have any responsibility like you Heads and House do. So, my balance is finding something that takes me out of the city as often as possible because despite my sunny disposition out here in the woods, I'm not big on people or cities. Unless, you know, we're out here in the woods. Then I'm okay with people. The one exception I make in the city is the Explorer's Hall. You're more apt to find me there than drinking house, salon, or any other public space."

"Fair 'nough, Lou. Ladies Lilia and Armani. Best be going on my own way now 'cause the dogs'll need to thaw out and I'll want a hot chocolate of my own," he nods. Turning on his heel, he lifts his hands to his mouth, calling out for the pair of pups. When they burst into the clearing from the undergrowth, Malcolm's calling and clapping his hands at them. "Take care!" He calls, as he starts at a long-legged run with his companions tagging along behind.