[Voice]

[paragonbrosca]

So, I can't be the only one who's been smacked in the face with culture shock, right? Or technology-shock, because a lot of the shit that's here I've never seen or heard of and have no idea how it works. I've figured out a couple of things through trial and error, but I'm not too proud to admit most of my reaction is still 'no fucking clue'. For those in the same boat, how long did it take you to adjust? What's the craziest discovery you've made? And for those that aren't, care to lend some advice? I'll pay you in drinks or other stuff; if you've the patience to endure all my questions, you've earned it. 

I've said it elsewhere, but just repeating myself now: if you're on that hit list and not that great at defending yourself, let me know. I'm pretty damn good at that, and so is the large war dog at my side. [Said war dog lets out an eager bark.]

Comments

[hotspurred]

Open-topped carriages for a single person which move themselves forward when one steps on a pedal. They are inferior to horses, but they possess the advantage of being made of metal, and having no will of their own. They are also named “mopeds” — you shall hear both used to refer to them.

[paragonbrosca]

Ohhhh, those.

...I might have crashed one already. I didn't know what thing did what, and went faster than I meant to. It's not seriously damaged, though.

[hotspurred]

[Henry laughs, short and somewhat sharp, but nonetheless clearly amused.]

...I see. Worry not. Tranquility should maintain them.

[paragonbrosca]

Good to know.

...do they actually show up and fix them? [Is there a way to talk to these 'gods' in person?]

[hotspurred]

No. 'Tis rare that they manifest. Usually their magic is wrought unseen.

[paragonbrosca]

But they actually do, sometimes? When did this happen, and why? Where you here for it?

[hotspurred]

Twice have I seen their kind in person. Both times were at parties they hosted. The first time was after we escaped the Null. The second was to celebrate Delight and Rage's return from their mission outside of this cavern. One hears rumours of other manifestations of theirs, but those occur few and far between.

[paragonbrosca]

Hm. And they looked just like people? How did you know they were gods?

[hotspurred]

They have oft shown their human disguises on the network. Most of us would recognise them by sight and voice. Their true form is that of a glittering cloud, which we have also seen over the network, but only when Fear was too weak to maintain his human mask.

[paragonbrosca]

A glittering cloud? ...that's new.

And they only have human disguises? Someone should scold them for discrimination.

[hotspurred]

[There's a pause as Henry puzzles over that — he still has a mostly fourteenth century understanding of language — before he asks:]

...So you are not human?

[paragonbrosca]

Nope, I'm a dwarf. And to be clear, that's not a shorter human. Some people use that word differently than I do.

[hotspurred]

You are the other kind? We have a few folk tales of dwarfs whence I come. Though, ah, I fear they are not particularly flattering. Untruths, I am certain.

[paragonbrosca]

...yeah, I've been told that. [Sigh.] It depends on what you've heard but given how much I've had to explain to people already, I'm guessing a lot is going to be pretty different.

[hotspurred]

One imagines so.

[Dryly, he remarks:]

Unless you make it habit to lead travellers astray in hills. Especially at night.

[paragonbrosca]

Uh...nope, can't that's a dwarven thing where I'm from. That's been a common rumor about Dalish elves, though, mostly as a scapegoating tactic. Humans can be real asses to them, like destroying their empire and enslaving them wasn't enough.

[hotspurred]

Your homeland sounds most troubled.

[paragonbrosca]

You're not wrong. Some places in Thedas are better than others, but with a Blight and a civil war in recent memory, my particular corner's had a rough time of it. And of course someone's always willing to fuck it up somehow, because they're idiots or evil or both.

[hotspurred]

Thedas? Belong you to the Inquisition?

[Since everyone he's ever met from Thedas seem to be part of it.]

We have not been spared such folk here, though most people you shall meet are decent enough.

[paragonbrosca]

Nope, the Inquisition doesn't exist in my time. I'm from ten years before that, believe it or not.

[hotspurred]

Ten years is no so great a difference.

[paragonbrosca]

A lot can happen in a decade, and did. Thedas isn't exactly a peaceful place.

pretend that no was a not

[hotspurred]

Compared to centuries, however...

[At least she has a good degree of the familiar.]

Have you been told of your future? Broadly speaking.

[paragonbrosca]

Just that I'm a hard person to reach, since I traveled too far away to help out. I'd feel bad about the timing what with everything going to shit, but I've done my heroics. It's time for someone else to pick up the slack, and Cecily's doing pretty damn well from what I've heard.

[hotspurred]

She did appear to possess the love and confidence of her men.

[From what he saw, at least, speaking with Dorian and observing the network in the days when Cecily had more of her people present here. Curiously, he asks:]

You are a hero of Thedas?