(no subject)

[initiates]

Date: May 1st
Location: The Initiative Hold & Courtyard.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports arrive and are shuffled into the Courtyard after their initial briefings, while those Transports on the mission to Wollongong return.
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

oh no edit because title noooooooooooo

[obliterating]

[Wow Ashraf undead destroying? R U D E. Healbombs don't work in Warcraft. pls don't test that to make sure. it burns]

Another blood elf, and a tauren. Both women. I'm certain you'll know them when you see them. You're not the first to guess what I am. We are, unfortunately, a little distinctive.

[highhealplz]

[ yeah but how about magnus excorcismus huh??? MEANWHILE Ashraf nods, taking note of that as well.

He definitely hasn't forgotten the difficulty in keeping Koltira's bloodfrenzy subdued. It's not quite reassuring to know that now it will be four times over. ]

How has it been, Exsilium being home to four Death Knights?

[obliterating]

[pls don't turn undead me I don't know if you're stacking luck.]

We're fine for now. I fear I may have to keep them all busy, but it's a task I do willingly, if it must be done.

[A slight pause.]

Do you know, about...

[He frowns, even he dislikes admitting it. He's an honest man, but there were some parts of himself he would rather not acknowledge.]

...that we must kill?

[highhealplz]

[ Another nod, now more solemn. There's a few memories flooding in with that little fact, and they're not particualrly pleasant. ]

I do. I had assisted Koltira with that a few times.

[obliterating]

I see.

[He nods.]

Undeath is not kind to anyone, but it is a curse we must bear. I will do what I can, in hopes that they don't harm anyone unnecessarily.

We are safe, for now. We just returned from a mission.

[highhealplz]

Good. [ Good that they recently killed people? Well, yeah, let's go with that. There isn't really a good end, where Death Knights are involved, as he remembers. He considers a moment, then reaches to rest both hands at Thassarian's upper arms. Yeah, okay, he just met this dude, but how else is he going to convey all this earnesty?? ]

As a high priest, I have a wide array of protective and regenerative skills. It is difficult for anyone to deal me lasting damage, and I stand a good chance of containing any of you — even if just temporarily. I can help, if you ever need it.

[ There, offer made. You can have your arms back now, Thass. ]

[obliterating]

[He's really not used to the living touching him, and he goes eerily still, not even breathing, in surprise. Sure, he has on the coat, but...most didn't care for his kind. Even his still-living sister, Leryssa, was surprised when she had touched him, and had pulled away from him with a hiss.

Contact is something he knows, he was familiar with it, while he was alive. But now, he would rather not inflict himself on the living.

He nods, gravely.]

I'll keep that in mind, but I hope it never comes to it. I'll try to keep them busy as I can.

[Questgiver lyfe.]

Thank you, Ashraf. If it's not too much of a trouble...I'd ask that you keep us in your prayers. Light knows, we need it.

[highhealplz]

[ The smile never stays away for long. It's back again, warm, but with a touch of humor. What a silly request. ]

You already are, my friend. [ gosh why would you ever even have to ask! even creepy dead folk get prayers. ]

[obliterating]

Thank you.

[He does smile at that, even though it seems slightly cold. He just can't make it look as warm as he used to.]

You're a good man. Take care of yourself, and I hope we meet again soon.

[highhealplz]

We will.

[ He waves a hand toward him, calling down the standard array of spells and blessings for Thassarian. Strength, quick thinking, speed... and with a quick renewal of his own quick-walking spell (god who would ever want to go anywhere slow), he turns to leave. ]

Go with God, Thassarian.