transport log » ❝ welcome to Exsilium ❞

[initiates]

Date: January 3rd
Location: The Initiative Hold & Courtyard.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports have all arrived and have been led to a banquet room within the Hold.
Warnings: None.

You've just been hustled and bustled through mazes of information and literal, wide corridors of the Initiative Hold and you've been equipped with your weapon—be it a gun, a sword, or even your existing powers. They've handed you this light netbook and a small pouch of coins (or a debit card, if you're more inclined), and there are several Transports before and after you going through the very same motions. You can hear the Greeter's voice as she walks alongside large groups, telling them all about the history of this place and sharing with you your purpose here in a hurried and urgent tone. "You're in luck that we have enough rooms for all of you; the housing building is getting awfully full. Please, let me show you into the courtyard."

You pass what looks like huge gymnasiums, all with dummies and targets strewn and splayed around the room. Training areas. There are even classrooms, and a few small offices. You're rushed past a large library while the Greeter informs you that you can find almost all your information there, if you've got the time to look—and trust her, you'll have time. You don't spend a lot of time in the bank, and it's a bit of a blur of exchanges with more and more of these strangely-accented and oddly polite-seeming members of the Initiative.

Soon enough, you're in a massive courtyard bustling with all the other Transports. It's not exactly what you'd expect, and it looks more like barracks than anything—huge walls of concrete and stone, separating you from all of the hallways you'd just passed through. It's raining heavily, and dark clouds loom in the air, though it hasn't turned to snow. It's a chill cold, and there are shelters—long cloth hangings that extend from the walls of concrete to house you from the rain, but not enough. Most notably, the courtyard is filled with a marketplace. Even in the cold and the rain, there are several citizens seated at their covered booths and tables, bundled up against the weather. They're selling all manner of their own handmade goods and foods, and citizens and Transports alike are traveling from one small covered shop to another in search of all manner of necessities.

The Greeter's voice has become so faint now, but you swear you can make it out in the back of the crowds as she tells you, "Good luck. Be safe!"

Her voice is drowned out by the busy marketplace, though even the transactions taking place are somewhat subdued. Nobody is overly happy, really, though most citizens can be found with smiles on their faces. It doesn't seem like they're that shocked to see you, either; even if you're not bound in tattered rags and wrapped in heavy shawls as they are. You're welcome to walk up to a shop, and find yourself something to eat—hey, maybe you'll even find something akin to a raincoat. Or, you can join the others under the coverings against the walls. Where am I? What war? She was talking so fast, and it didn't all make very much sense… did anyone else catch it all?

Welcome to the courtyard. Welcome to the Initiative Hold—and most importantly, welcome to Exsilium

Comments

[undroppedeaves]

[A few days ago? In the Shire? It had been months since Sam had seen Pippin and longer since he had seen the Shire...

He knew from his talk with Frodo though that time seemed to be odd...] It is one of the tricks of this place, we all remember different things. I don't know how exactly but we all believe it to be a different date. [He had thought it odd that Frodo was from so long ago, but to Pippin had they never even left home yet?

Things were getting odder and Sam did not like it.]

[foolofatook]

[Pippin frowned at that. Different dates? Why, did that mean Sam might have been from along their long journey, and not returned safe at home with Rosie? How strange!]

Then one of us belongs to the future of the other! But which of us? I suppose we must speak of what date it was last, and then we shall know.

[undroppedeaves]

I'm afraid I don't know what date it was before I was brought here but it has been months since I saw you last. [A pause as he looked thoughtfully up at Pippin before realising the obvious.]

Why Pippin have you grown taller? [Sam had always been the smallest but he had never had to look up quite so much!]

[foolofatook]

[Ah, well that explains it then. Standing up straighter and bouncing on his toes, Pippin nods.]

That I am, dear fellow, that I am! Though let it be known that I have always been taller than Merry, whatever codswallop he might say.

[undroppedeaves]

[It was good to see Pippin again, after all this time.] But how does a full grown hobbit get taller? It makes no sense!

[foolofatook]

That I can explain easily! Well, no, actually the story will sound quite odd to you, but my growing came about quite easily.

[He gestures for Sam to walk with him.]

I shall tell you as we get out of this rain. Now, do you remember tales of the Tree-herders?

[undroppedeaves]

[Sam followed him listening earnestly.] I do! Walking trees, do you mean to say those stories were true as well?

[foolofatook]

They are! Merry and I came across them in Fangorn Forest. One's name was Treebeard, and he served us a drink in his home known as Ent-draught. And that is why you see me as you do, for Ent-draught made me grow!

[And Merry too, but it's not like Merry grew that much.]

[undroppedeaves]

[Sam's eyes widened in amazement] That is quite a wondrous tale! [He wondered what else Pippin had seen and done, he knew some things like Boromir's fate but he had no idea what had happened to his friends after they had parted.]

[foolofatook]

[Pippin chuckles. It was fun telling others the tale the first time, and it hasn't grown any less so in retellings.]

And what is more, these creatures --the Ents, as they are also called-- rallied for war! They destroyed Isengard! With the help of Merry and myself, of course.

[undroppedeaves]

Destroyed Isengard? [Sam is a good audience, he looks suitably awed.] You and Merry? Destroyed Isengard with the Ents... Why that is a story for the ages...

What else happened whilst we were parted?

[foolofatook]

Much, indeed!

[Pippin laughs aloud.]

So much that it will be dark by the time I have finished. But I may say this: Merry and I became soldiers! He to Rohan and myself to Gondor. We saw battle as well.

[undroppedeaves]

You fought in battle? [Not that Sam had been expecting them just to sit around while Frodo and him went to the depths of Mordor, but nor had he thought that they would go and fight for the world of big people.]

Who'd of thought it.

[foolofatook]

Is it so hard to believe we might find use for our swords?

[Why, he doesn't know whether to sound surprised or insulted. Maybe both.]

I once told Gandalf, being on the edge of a battle I couldn't escape was worse than being in a battle at all.

[undroppedeaves]

No, I didn't mean that, just. [He shrugged] Everything, you and Merry going to war, me and mister Frodo going to Mordor. It hardly seems real sometimes.

[Pippin's grown, in more ways than height. Sam blinked at his words and nodded slowly.]

[foolofatook]

It does seem quite like a tale where embellishments are added to keep it interesting. I can hardly believe I've seen all that I have. But it is all true, I assure you.

[undroppedeaves]

I believe you. Though I fear that not many others will.

[foolofatook]

[He thinks back to the Shire, and has to agree.]

It is to be expected, I suppose. But no matter. As long as you and Frodo believe me, that is all that matters.

[undroppedeaves]

I'm sure mister Frodo will, though he does not even know of our parting yet.

[foolofatook]

Doesn't he? Do you wish it to be kept from him, then?

[undroppedeaves]

[He blinks] I don't think I've got the right to choose what mister Frodo does and doesn't know. I was just warning you, in case he acts confused or upset when you talk to him so that you know why.

[Yup he looks almost hurt that Pippin would suggest Sam was deliberately keeping information from Frodo.]

[foolofatook]

Oh, dear Sam.

[He claps the Hobbit on the shoulder.]

I suppose you're right. If Frodo wants to know something, he'll fish it out one way or another. I appreciate the warning.

[undroppedeaves]

That he will do I'm sure. [Though there were more serious warnings to be given, however much Sam didn't want to be the bearer of dark news.]

From where you were when you came here, had mister Frodo finished his mission yet?

[foolofatook]

[Pippin nods, unsure how much he should say.]

Yes.

[undroppedeaves]

[It was a relief, that Sam wasn't the only one. Made it seem less like some strange dream.

But the unsureness of the answer told Sam what he had known already; that he and Frodo had most likely perished on that mountain.] Well then this will come as much as a shock to you as to me... but since Frodo is not... it is here.