Information based on what they know

"Had enough already, Warden? The trial was just about to get to the best part."

Elder Maran was a man of jovial stature. The silver haired elf was wiry and seemingly matured in his features, but such looks and disposition hid no small amount of experience and vitality beneath a facade of old age. He normally spends his days as he did when he was young, chasing after potential mating partners of all ages and dispositions all across Ironwood. He was here by Morgon's invitation, knowing that his wisdom would be well suited to the role of an invigilator. Finding him amidst the vastness of their woodland home was no small feat. The man had the greatest sense of wanderlust that he had ever seen, never lingering in any one place for long. Some had even claimed that he had dared visit the outside world several times in his life time, making him somewhat of a legendary figure among those who shared the same sentiment of adventurous curiosity.

Flanking him were the more serious looking Elders, Kaya and her sister, Yaksha, a pair of autumn haired warrior women clad in the sleek and deceptively tight fitting full battle gear that reflected their high stations. They were the finest archers in the enclave, and even though they had aged enough to be called Elders, they still had steady hands to do their reputations justice. Elder Yaksha still held the record for the furthest accurate shot ever made while blindfolded. They were here of their own accord, eager to participate in this year's selection ritual like they had in previous years. Unlike Maran who preferred to be easy going beyond his years, Kaya and Yaksha were far more earnest, having become great mentors to many generations of rangers in the past.

Morgon joined them at the edge of the main observation platform. It was an ideal vantage point to watch from a convenient distance away. Elder Maran was the eldest among them, while the other two were likened more to Morgan's age in appearance, even if all of the Elders shared the same generational age. Having spent a great amount of time beyond the deeper boundaries of the forest, the flux of magical energies there had slowed Kaya's and Yaksha's aging significantly. He was not cowed by being the youngest among the party of invigilators. In their society, age governed seniority, but he shared with them a bond of familiarity that was forged long before his appointment as Warden.

"I have made my rounds. There were a few that caught my eye." He described the four prospects he had discovered in detail.

"A young female hunter with intimate knowledge of herbcraft. I see." Elder Kaya crossed her arms, "She must be Maylin Windleaf, the youngest daughter of Tajan and Kaliri. Her family learnt the craft of potion making from ancient Spirit Wisps in their home camp by Daylight Lake, close to the inward regions before the Deep Woods, one of many places where Spirit Wisps were known to appear. She claims to be able to speak to them through a kind of mental telepathy, even though she does not possess the training required to attune to such powerful wild folk."

"It is not unheard of for some of our kin to have an affinity to the places where they were born, especially if wild folk live there, but why does she wish to become a ranger? If she does have this ability to... mind link with Spirit Wisps... shouldn't the druids have come to take her to their moot?"

"They did, and she refused." Elder Maran shrugged, "She seemed preferable to the excitement of out-of-door action instead of sitting around communing with the forest all day, and not the kind of communion that you would see me doing. Much more boring than that."

"Oh, please, Maran. We do not want to hear another story about your many frivolous escapades." Yaksha finally spoke up while rolling her eyes, "They are as bad as a satyr's drunken advances with morning wood."

"May we return our focus to the recruits, Elders?" Morgon interrupted them before it could escalate into banter, "What about the young man with his gift of agility?"

"That pompous fool?" Yaksha waved her hand dismissively, clearly familiar with the likes of him, "His name is Jhaan Longtalon. He fancies himself an amicable sort, and for the most part, he is so to everyone he meets, but he lets his successes worm into his head. He claims his lineage runs deep into the founding of the enclave."

"Is there any water to that story?" Morgon raised an eyebrow over the idea that the youngster might be a very distant relative. It was a common occurrence to have such relatives among the children of the wood, but he could not help but feel slightly uncomfortable if he had to call kin like Jhaan a direct relative.

"I spoke to the druids personally to check the Memory Trees. There is no mention of Longtalons being part of the Greenwing seed." Kaya concurred, "He is the companionable and merry sort, the kind that seeks to his desires above his duties. His family are great rangers, and they trained him well to stay true to a good hunt, but he wastes his potential away on endless pursuits of fun and frolic. Just the other day, I spotted him in the company of a half dozen dryads in the baths."

"If he is so carefree, what is he doing here in the Crucible?"

"Likely to chase some tail. It is what I would do at his age," Maran spoke matter of factly, "There is another thing about him. He loves a challenge, and he loves to conquer it. He likely sees becoming a ranger as a way to test his boundaries."

"Very well. What about the last two?"

Elder Kaya suddenly seemed to puff up, even as she carried a detached expression, "Their names are Elas and Lasha Silverwind."

Morgon was taken by surprise by the revelation, raising both eyebrows, "Silverwind? Those two are your children, Elder Kaya?"

"Is that such a surprise to you? I trained them myself. Their skills are slightly above par, but they share a very close bond. What you witnessed today was the result of that." She exuded the pride of a matriarch with a straight face, "If they had caught your attention, Warden, then their efforts had indeed born fruit."

"They are strong minded and true to the wisdoms of the Va'arin. However, they do need to improve further before they can become rangers themselves." Yaksha added, "As a pair, they work exceptionally well, but when separated, there will be great hardship for them both. As important as teamwork is to their survival, they must also be able to fend for themselves when isolated."

Kaya lets out a half defeated sigh, "I will admit that my failing was for them to become too dependent upon the other. Their greatest strength is also their greatest weakness, along with their lack of experience."

After hearing what Kaya had said, Morgon appraised his initial impressions of them. There was a great amount of truth in her words. Although rangers were required to work together, teamwork was useless if one finds themselves isolated from the rest of the pack, which was a predicament that occurs particularly frequently in a place like Ironwood. One must first be able to hold their own, and there was still a lot of work to be done with the Silverwind siblings when observed individually.

Morgan continued to discuss with them the year's prospective selections, dividing his time between observing and checking with various kinsmen throughout. He watched the final phase of the test take form. At the head of their ranks were the ones who remember how to traverse the upward climb with an uncooperative load in tow, and even then, it was with great difficulty. It was to no surprise that he spotted Maylin Windleaf far above the rest, having started the ascent early with her prey out cold from the concoction it had consumed. Behind her was Jhaan Longtalon, followed by Elas and Lisha Silverwind, making them the top four prospects to complete the challenge. Many others below them lagged behind. Those at the bottom either lost their prey or their footing, having to start again if the mouse deer did not survive the fall. By dusk, a few of them had given up in shame. A vast majority managed to pass. Time was never a factor for those who braved the Crucible. What was needed from them today was to test the borders of their abilities, resolve and their patience, and thus, even if those who had finished later than others had a chance to be selected.