hadriel | video

[ The device is held by someone who is clearly still learning how to use it. The visual is bits and pieces of a young woman, one who eventually gets the camera pointed at her face... more or less. Her head is in the bottom of the view, partially cut off by the angle so that most of the image is ceiling. ]

I have now seen the arrival of new captives for myself. It has only been weeks since I was brought here, but this helps to confirm that things really are as you all say.

[ It's been hard to swallow the story that everyone tells, but a month is more than enough time to see it all in action, much as she hates to admit it. ]

I am Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, rightful heir to the Iron Throne. ... I am many other things, too, but there are no titles that carry weight in Hadriel. There is no Iron Throne, there is no war between the Great Houses. There is only the war between those beings that call themselves gods and we who are their prisoners. [ Her mouth flattens unhappily, jaw tight in clear defiance. ] I have much to say about these gods, but that is not a matter for this - message.

[ What are the little boxes called, anyway? Hopefully, it's actually sending out her words, or else she'll feel more ridiculous than she already does. ]

I am asking for the aid of someone who can fight. I am no warrior, and I don't need to be taught the skills for myself. Rather, I need a guard. This place is dangerous more often than it isn't, and not one soldier from my armies arrived at my side. [ Dany's expression softens a little: this is a request that isn't likely to have any results. ] ... I do not ask for service out of loyalty, as I am owed none from any of you. I realize, too, that there are few ways that such work could be repaid in a place like this. All the same, I'm not able to defend myself from the monsters that make their home here, and so... I must ask.

[ Nothing comes without a price, which makes this difficult, given that she has nothing to pay with. ]

I have no confidence in my ability to speak on this device, so if you are near the center of the city, in the middle of the houses and shops, you can find me nearby. ... You have my thanks.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, the Guard has technically been tasked with helping and protecting the people who need it. There appears to be a pattern to when shit happens here, but it's impossible to tell whether it's going to be benign happy bubbles or rotted corpses trying to kill everyone and their fish.

Arguably the safest places are the temples, but they're run by the gods and you'd have to deal with them fucking with your emotions, and not everyone is into that.

[Least of all Rey, herself.]

I have no love for the gods. [ Quite the opposite. ] But if they are truly the safest locations in this city, then I may need to visit more than I might like.

[ Especially if she isn't going to be getting any help with the mercenary thing. ]

Thank you for the information.

[Rey has no such liking for them either, but she recognises a valuable ally when she sees them -- and the gods are preferable to the alternative.]

You can usually speak with them in their own temples anytime, if you'd like to get a word with them yourself. In case you want to know what they're like. They don't make much effort to hide themselves.

You can speak openly with them? [ That's a new one. ] ... Am I to assume no one has found suitable answers, though, regarding how we were brought here and when we will be returned?

[Ah yes, time to have this talk again.]

They've been more forthcoming with info these days than before, but Sorrow is the one most likely to be straight with you.

As for "when" -- there's no telling. Not all of us want to be returned.

Sorrow? [ Her stomach twinges almost nervously. Speaking with Sorrow - if what they say about the effects of the gods' emotions is true - could stir up some unpleasant memories. ] ... I see.

[ It's no surprise that they wouldn't be straightforward. Her opinion of them is similar to what it had been of the Masters, i.e. negative and deserving of violence in exchange for what they'd already done. ]

I assume that, as 'gods,' they are... well-defended?

[ She doesn't dare say 'invulnerable' because she doesn't want it to be true. ]

Sorrow's a lot better than his name gives him credit for -- but he isn't without his faults, either. He was once willing to sacrifice half of the city to save their own skins.

[A fact that she should be more furious about, considering she was on the side that was to be sacrificed.]

If by "well-defended" you mean "keep running as far as we can like a bunch of scared dogs with our tails between our legs", then sure. [Sarcasm. Rey has it.]

Then we cannot trust him. [ Or the others. ] They will always put their own kind before ours. We are tools to them, not lives worth saving.

[ As far as she's been able to tell, anyway... ]

What do you mean? Has anyone tried to attack them before?

[ This is a very important question. ]

Never said anything about trusting them. You don't always have to trust your allies when you're dealing with something worse.

[Far as Rey is concerned, she'd rather be dealing with the gods over more synthetics any day.]

Apparently most of their kind was wiped out by another race that has been pursuing them -- and, in a way, us now as well.

Something worse? [ And it's back, apparently? Her spirits sink at the thought of something worse than the gods, but - no. She can't let herself fall into panic, or despair. ] ... Whatever it is, we will find a way to overcome them.

[ No matter how powerful they may seem. ]

[Rey isn't fond of being the bearer of bad news, but she so often already is. Sigh.]

Yes, well. Have dealt with things like them before. Fought them. Destroyed them. Not all of them, but a decent number. Am pretty fucking good at it. Not too worried about whatever these assholes are.

[And Rey isn't the type to toot her own horn -- she's just telling the truth.]

You must be very strong.

[ Or a braggart, but this woman doesn't seem the type. ]

Ah-

[Strange, why is it still so weird to hear that- OH WAIT.]

You could say that, sure.

[ There's a brief pause. ]

I have other matters to attend to, but I hope that I can seek your counsel later, should something come up.

All right. No worries. Um. Good luck.

[Or something. Boop.]

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