[Video]

[paragonbrosca]

 [The video feed activates, revealing a disheveled but still upright Aren, Barkspawn peering over her shoulder. Where they are isn't identifiable, except that she's sitting with her back against a wall.]

So, we've heard plenty of amazing pep-talks. I'm not here to be redundant. I just want to say a couple of things, that's all. 

First off: Don't be a dumbass and fight past your limit.  If you have the chance to rest up and heal, for fuck's sake, take it. If you're around and need backup, let me know. Yeah, I know those nug-humpers are watching us, but at this point it's not about stealth, is it? Barkspawn and I are pretty damn fast on our feet when we need to be. [Barkspawn huffs, looking smug.]

Second, I don't know about you but I like to party as hard has I fight. I said it before to just one person but now I'm saying it to everyone else; once we're done with these assholes, I say we grab a keg and have a hang-out at the hot springs. I'm not going into details before they're all accounted for, but, you know. It's something to keep in mind. 

Comments

[musicandmovement]

[There is one thing and one thing only that Ty is zeroing in on during this whole post.]

You have a dog? Where did you get it?

... Its name is Barkspawn?

[paragonbrosca]

[She flashes a grin, always happy to talk about her dog. Barkspawn wags his tail, pleased at the attention.]

Yep! I got him back in my world, when I saved his life and then he saved mine. He's imprinted on me, so we're a team for life. Isn't that right, boy? [Barkspawn huffs, nuzzling her until she has to gently push his head away so it doesn't crowd the phone.] And he's not just

I named him that because it's a play on 'darkspawn', the creatures we fight back home.

[musicandmovement]

[He looks disappointed at that.] You can't get a dog here? [You can't get a cat here either, he's learned from someone else. For someone who loves animals as much as him, it's very bumming. At least he knows enough about animals to know what imprinting means.]

What's a darkspawn like...?

[paragonbrosca]

[Aw, guy. She looks a little apologetic at that.] Sorry, but no. I think you had to have had them from before. Someone mentioned the 'gods' might be willing to do a favor, but it probably comes with strings attached. I wouldn't trust it.

Darkspawn are humanoid, but gross and hideous. They're a corrupted version of dwarves, humans, elves, qunari...the whole lot. So they range from short and squat to huge things with horns that make the ground shake when they walk. The smell is pretty bad, but it's the blood that's really toxic. Get that in you and...well, you'll become a ghoul sooner or later, if you survive.

[musicandmovement]

There had to have been animals at some point. Something must have happened to them. [Even in caves, there's still always some sort of naturally occurring wildlife - like bats or moths or other insects.]

We have things like that, the Forsaken. There used to be Endarkened too but they were all defeated in the war. The Forsaken are misshapen but not the Endarkened. They look normal. My father became one; my brother killed him.

I don't know what a qunari is. Is that a kind of faerie?

[paragonbrosca]

Ha! No, they're huge, horned people from the north. Grey skin, at least seven feet tall. They've tried to invade the whole continent a few times, almost succeeded. If my qunari companion's right, it'll happen again, too.

[She shrugs, not about to freak out about that until it happens.]

...and I'm sorry, that has to suck. I was lucky during the Fifth Blight, when all the darkspawn went to the surface. If they'd taken my sister, I would've lost it.

[musicandmovement]

... They sound like a kind of demon from my world. Are they hostile?

It's not your fault. Julian had to. Dad would have killed me if he hadn't. I didn't understand he was different at the time because he looked the same as he always had.

[paragonbrosca]

They can be, but they're not demons. They can be as nice or dickish as anyone else...in theory, anyway. I've only met the one, so that's all I have to go on.

Exactly the same? That's even weirder and more unsettling than seeing people turn into ghouls. When that happens, it's obvious something's off.

[musicandmovement]

Oh.

Yes, exactly the same.

[But back to the reason why he answered this in the first place.] Can I come see your dog?

[paragonbrosca]

Sure, why not? We're heading home and that area should be pretty clear since we just made a sweep. We're at the second spiral housing, number 1502.

Any Null assholes who hear this? I'll have buttload of pain just for you, if you get close.

[musicandmovement]

[He looks confused about the 'sweep' wording. Adventures in 'Ty takes everything literally' - he's picturing her actually sweeping with a broom and doesn't understand why she would be doing that when the Null are attacking, especially because he doesn't think a broom would do much good against them.]

... I'll find it.