001 | Joint Video

[barbarus]

[ This video opens with an up close and personal view of a dark brown eye. ]

How do we know if it’s even working? I could be speaking to no one right now.

[ The eye narrows, and then the camera wheels back to show a large, dark-haired man next to a smaller, paler, and much prettier blond. The first looks, at the very least, invested in what he’s doing. The second looks like he’d rather be examining his nails. ]

My name is Damianos of Akielos. This – [ Gesturing to the blond beside him. ] – is Laurent of Vere.

These…devices show people speaking to us. Assuming that this is how you all talk to each other, we wanted to introduce ourselves. We have questions, if you can answer.

[ With a show of reluctance, Laurent draws himself up to answer the camera. ] The typical answers you give to newcomers will suffice. How are we here, why are we here, how do we leave. So on and so forth. [ He waves his hand in dismissal. ] If you need a truer list, I can continue. I am sure you've heard all of it before.

[ With a moment of thought, he adds. ] As well as where I can get in-depth information. If anyone has consolidated any information I may read or any other materials I can look through.

[ With that, he falls back to a more relaxed and bored pose. That's all he's got. He's in no mood to give more. Or even thank anyone for the effort. He leaves the rest to Damen. His requests have little to do with books. ]

Beyond that, I want to know the state of your defence. [ He’s seen monsters in caves and general mayhem. It seems unlikely there’d be no organisation at all. ] To whom do I speak about rotation of guards, weapons and drills? If there is someone in charge, direct me to them. If not, the Captain of the guard will do.

[ ooc: Damen is red and Laurent is blue. ]

Comments

[mainiac]

[If Maine could laugh, he absolutely would.

Instead they get text.]

DON'T BOTHER ASKING

POINTLESS

permavideo 8|

[barbarus]

[ What even is that

What just happened

How does he write back?!

At a loss, Damen just keeps it as video. And talks to the invisible person, sending invisible letters, as if by magic. ]

Because you do not know, or because there are no answers?

This cave is full of people. That cannot be true of all of them.

texting forever :|

[mainiac]

DON'T KNOW HOW WE GOT HERE. AT MERCY OF PEOPLE IN CHARGE, CAN'T LEAVE.

NO DEFENSE. NO MILITARY. NO GUARDS, WEAPONS IN ARMORY. NO DRILLS. NOBODY IN CHARGE

text

[frigidus]

[ Someone is not so afraid to learn new things about strange technology.

Although the text takes almost too long so he deletes most of it. ]

Why?

text

[mainiac]

[Well at least the guy isn't making it weird by continuing to talk to him by video. Not that it matters, he's got his reasons, but still.]

NO ANSWERS.

[audio]

[synthedick]

[Positive someone will cover the other basics, Nick goes for the later query.]

There was talk of a city watch starting up, but it's all quiet on that front. For now, what 'guard' we have is just a few of us who keep an eye on things, patrol the streets every now and then. Make sure monsters don't wander into the city from the caves.

permavideo

[barbarus]

[ Well, a voice is better than nothing. If Damen's device does something other than project his face around, he doesn't know it. He'll care about learning to use it once there aren't more important matters to complain about, such as: ]

So there is no official guard, no coordination?

Who is in charge? There are children here. There must be more organisation than that.

[synthedick]

There's no real official guard that I know of, but you're right. There are kids here, and someone needs to keep the peace. The problem is finding the right people to do it, and maintaining that when, er... some of the more unusual problems arise.

You might try talking to Kazuhira Miller. He's tried to organize things a time or two around here, especially when one of the gods is up to no good.

text.

[frigidus]

[ Someone has discovered text. He will now be foregoing all actual interaction with people.

Bless technology. ]

How common is such an occurrence?

[text]

[synthedick]

[Nick is significantly slower at answering texts than he is just talking -- blame the fact that metal hands don't work with touch screens very well -- but he answers all the same.]

Monsters wandering in? Uncommon, but it happens. There've been some efforts at population control lately. It's more likely one of the gods is causing problems for the people here. That's what we need to watch out for.

[video]

[mismanagement]

[Maketh has dark circles under her eyes, but is otherwise the picture of Imperial professionalism - makeshift uniform ironed into painfully sharp angles, hair strictly regulation. Everything as it ought to be. She's also attached the map she's been working on, along with a few other files that might be useful - locations of possible defensive positions, some weapon schematics that she's been working on, and a list of all the monsters encountered so far. Everything is blunt and impersonal.]>/small>

We are here on the whims of beings calling themselves gods. They feed off the emotion they're named for - Hope, Fear, Rage, the like. They orchestrate events to suit their whims when they get hungry or bored.

[She pauses, voice suddenly flat.]

Death is not permanent here, but the process is not without pain. There is no formal watch. Myself and several others have been working on a coordinated defense. Your aid would be welcome. I have sent you my relevant intelligence. Do you have questions?

[video]

[barbarus]

[ This is...

Strange, mostly. Damen sees things popping up on the device, but accessing them is another matter. For now, he focuses on the woman, who looks like no warrior he has ever seen. He'll take it, though. The tone she uses is familiar, even if her appearance is not.

She speaks like a Captain.

And what she says doesn't make sense. ]

I've heard of these gods. I'm not used to divine influence being so obvious.

If you aim to protect this place, you'll have my aid. Explain what you mean about death. Already I have killed creatures from the caves here. It seemed permanent enough.

text.

[frigidus]

[ Having discovered texting, he will now be continuing with texting. He doesn't actually have to talk to people. He may love this device. ]

They can starve?

How is death so impermanent?

Audio!

[bloodbrine]

[ Oh, sweet summer children. If only it were so easy. ]

Should you discover answers, I would be most interested to know. Any viable solution at all would be impressive should you discover one in a short period of time.




[ That wry tone tho ]

text.

[frigidus]

[ Someone hates talking to people, and he's now discovered texting thanks to the above. ]

I recall asking for information, not offering a solution.

Audio!

[barbarus]

[ Damen’s eyebrow lifts. He had thought their questions easy to answer. Resistance is something he had not expected among fellow captives, but perhaps he should have. ]

Did our ignorance offend you? Perhaps then you won’t mind improving it.

I would like to be useful here, until an escape route is found. I thought it not unreasonable to ask.

text.

[smited]

There is currently no guard. Rage has supplied an armory for our use, but many are untrained in the weapons available there. I have been instructing those interested in learning how to defend themselves, and I think there may be a few others doing so as well.

video

[barbarus]

[ More text.

He’s going to have to learn how to do this, isn’t he. Laurent is already on board with it.

He’ll hold out with video for as long as he can. ]

I would offer the same. Already I’ve seen too many civilians here. They should have an army to protect them.

Without that, I will do what I can. Are you among those who run their own patrols of the city?

text.

[frigidus]

If there is need of sparring partners, I am in need of more practice. [ Someone needs to keep his skills honed. ]

Video

[prespangled]

[Another set of friends who arrived together. Steve's sensing a theme.]

I'm Steve, it's nice to meet you both. I'm guessing you've got answers to most of your questions by now. Sorry if they weren't what you were hoping for.

Video

[barbarus]

[ Friends is one way of putting it. ]

I’ve been told there’s no military, no leader, and no routine, though there are weapons to be had. That’s a start. Not much of one, but I’ve dealt with worse.

[ …Ish. And not well, but he refuses to lie beneath this situation. ]

As for a way out, there isn’t one. I’m not so ready to accept that.

I’m glad to meet you, Steve. How long have you been here?

text.

[frigidus]

I had hoped for more, but expected as much.

The gods hoard their answers to themselves like secrets. That is not so surprising.

video

[dragonbite]

Why is your names of something?

[ These "person of place/family" thing is sort of unfamiliar to him so he gotta ask. ]

video

[barbarus]

[ …not a query Damen was expecting. He’s far too well used to being known. ]

Because we are the Kings of Akielos and Vere. That is how we are styled.

[ ’Kings’. Technically, that's only half of the story. These are details that will mean little to strangers and he would rather avoid further confusion. ]

Is this strange to you? In our own world, this is how we are known.

woops, text!

[frigidus]

Titles matter more on our lands, especially the higher in rank that you are.