The Black Tower

Finally, he had arrived at the damnable tower he had sought out for the past two days on the plains. It had seemed like he would be walking forever, the massive structure never appearing to grow or shrink in size no matter what direction he had travelled in until he had finally arrived there.

With some slight hesitation he debated whether or not this was right decision, but his brief wandering had not done much for his journey. The realization that perhaps he should try to help others, rather than trying to better himself, had come during his night time howlings, hus tribe's method of seeking Wisdom from the Moon. No, this was the right decision, and he walked up to the front doors of the tower and knocked.

The guards perched on the Black Tower's walls had watched the approach of the wolf-man with interest. A few of them even chuckled when he rapped so boldly on the giant gate embedded within the wall. How polite! After getting over their mirth, one of them called down to the lupine male, his voice carrying easily across the distance.

"Please state your name and your business with the Black Tower, sir!"

The guards withdrew, one of them contacting Tristian to see if he was available. Upon being told that he was speaking with Xel'rath, the guard leaned outward again and called down to the lupine.

"Lord Seryl is currently occupied, but you're permitted to enter the Tower grounds, and will be escorted to meet him as soon as he's finished his business." True to his words, the gate creaked open to allow him entrance to the grounds. Guards were milling about, some training, some tending to various duties. Few glanced at him. They'd seen stranger things than a wolfman in their time here.

Xel'rath would remain unmoving in his gaze as he responded to Tristian, the voice of the void being ringing out in his mind as he communicated to the man. The voice was indescribable, sounding neither male nor female. 

"I will do this. Are there any limitations in my tests you would like to place?" 

Xel'rath was quite unpredictable at times, and one could never know exactly what his tests could entail. He knew most lacked the foresight, or perhaps the understanding as to what exactly their words entailed for the void being. He was very literal with everything, from what outside observers could tell. Xel'rath knew there had to be some narrowing down as to what exactly Tristian would want out of these tests however. 

Xel'rath's shadowded form seemed to nod then to indicate its understanding of Tristian's orders. However, Xel'rath would also speak.

"Understood, I will start this assignment immediately."

And with that the void being would disappear from existence once more, leaving empty air before Lord Tristian Seryl as he sat alone once again in his office. Any further instructions would have to be relayed through the communication crystal that Xel'rath had in his possession, or rather, the effect of the crystal. He had disintegrated the crystal long ago already and had replicated it's effects into his very being so he could communicate just like any other agent could.

"Yes, I have had a...shall we say, troubled past, and found a path adventuring. Heard you all might be looking for some more recruits, figured I might offer my services, bit better than killing rats and goblins for a few silver every day, even if the pay is the same."

Once again, he spoke in a deep, educated voice that decidedly did not match his appearance, yet at the same time seemed to suit him. He seemed at ease amongst the training guards, their presemce reminding him of his time with his tribe, a happy time that had been for a while, until he took command at least.

He grinned widely at the man as he rose and fell into step next to him, the assessment of Fenrir's combat abilities was accurate. A single claw tapped the arm that was sheathed in metal.

"You see this? It doesn't come off. It is my arm now. That was how I learned to read the fine print of Fae contracts at a young age."

White runes shone dimly as he laid the gauntleted on the hilt of his sword, the inscriptions on both matching each other and a slight chill could be felt.

"Frost magic, mostly anyway. Some minor prestidigitations but otherwise it is focused on frost magic, and I am fully capable of wielding those abilities, although I had to do several years of schooling to learn how to do so."

"That would be a fair assessmemt, yes. I have spent several years doing exactly that in fact. It is a style of warfare I found myself and my people particularly adept at."

Left unsaid was that he had perpetrated these acts against an establishment that was now a part of Isra, although it hadn't lasted long into Isra's ownership of the Winterlands.