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

[barbarus]

So, you serve no particular country?

[ That's a different kind of army than any Damen has ever known. Cullen's description makes them sound more grand than a band of independents, but perhaps that's actually what they are.

Either way, Damen will take it. ]

I suppose none of us do, here. I'd be glad to work with you.

[smited]

And I with you.

Should you need directions to the armory or any other help settling in, please let me know.

[barbarus]

Thank you, I'd appreciate that.

It's difficult to imagine getting truly lost here. It's large, I know, but it's enclosed. Have you explored much of the outer cave system?

[smited]

Some. It's filled with beasts so unless one is careful and had back-up, going in there isn't the smartest of plans.

[barbarus]

I've seen these beasts.

[ And killed some of them, though it was clear there were plenty more. ]

I didn't get far. Do we know how deep they run? They must lead to somewhere, even if it's just another cave.

[smited]

There were efforts being made to map them not long ago. The gods interrupted us and I believe some of those involved went back through the Door or were killed, so they have not been finished.

[barbarus]

Killed? I thought that didn't last here.

[ As impossible as it seems to him. He's only repeating what he's heard. ]

Do you think the gods are trying to keep us from the caves?

[smited]

There are cases where it hasn't, but that doesn't mean there aren't cases where it has.

I don't think so. They've offered rewards in the past to those who venture in and kill the monsters dwelling there.

[barbarus]

So the monsters don't benefit them.

[ But they don't benefit the people, either. They still need to be killed, and Damen knows that.

Still, he'll bear this in mind. Maybe he'll be less likely to go looking for trouble if he thinks that leaving the creatures alive will upset their hosts. ]

What you said before. Have there been cases where someone hasn't come back?

[smited]

Yes. At times people will disappear without a trace. No note. No scent to track. No body to find. They simply vanish.

The current hope is they return through the Door, but we don't know for sure.

[barbarus]

Have any vanished, and come back again?

[ That would be a helpful thing - though, Damen recognises, a very bad thing for anyone actually involved. They would think they'd escaped, only to be dragged back again. He knows how that feels. ]

I have yet to even see this Door they speak of.

[smited]

Yes. Some seem to retain their memories of this place when they return. Others do not.

[barbarus]

And there is no pattern to this?

[ It seems impossibly chaotic - but then, so is the way they were brought here in the first place. Perhaps it shouldn't be surprising. ]

Where is it, how do we find the Door?

[smited]

Not in the going, but there is in when people show up.

No one has been able to find it so far.

[barbarus]

I see.

[ He doesn't, really. If there's a pattern for when they arrive why isn't there one for when they leave?

That's a question that doesn't suit Damen. He already hates this. ]

Thank you, for everything you've said. This has been a great help.