transport log » ❝ welcome to Exsilium ❞

[initiates]

Date & Time: Oct. 24th
Location: The Initiative Hold
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports have all arrived and have been led to a banquet room within the Hold.
Warnings: None.

NOTE: This takes place during this plot, though the plot log will not be posted until tomorrow. The Transports already in game have returned from their mission to find the island overrun with monsters. The log is set within the safety of the Initiative Hold, however, so while characters will be aware of what is going on outside, they can otherwise go about their business as usual if they choose.

--

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. She looks worse for wear, pale and gaunt, though is putting a great deal of effort into maintaining her energy and professionalism for the new Transports. "I am truly sorry that you came at such a bad time. That wasn't intentional, I assure you."

She leads the way through the Initiative Hold. The walls bear the occasional claw mark as a sign of the misfortune that has plagued the island, but it hardly seems deserted anymore due to the other Transports recently returning from their mission. After turning several corners, you arrive in a large room that has been transformed into a makeshift banquet hall. The food presented is perhaps not as luxurious or bountiful as one would hope, but it is certainly enough to go around, and isn't inedible by any means.

"We wanted to try and make this up to you," she explains. "It's meagre, but we did not have much time to prepare." There are a number of Transports already present, some looking over the long banquet table, others seated throughout the room at large, round tables meant to each seat eight people. The mood is grim, despite the Initiative's efforts to raise morale.

Before the Greeter turns to leave, she is reminding you that it will be perfectly safe to explore the Hold, the courtyard, the housing building, and even a several block radius around it. "Hopefully things will be back to normal soon."

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

Comments

[its_storytime]

[ He answers with a raised eyebrow. Modesty doesn't really fly with him! ]

Warden-Commander, sure, but you're also the Hero, married to the sodding King of Ferelden. That should count for something!

[ladyspitfire]

[Elissa simply stares, uncertain.]

...I'm not married to Alistair. He took the throne without a queen where I am from. I imagine he will take one eventually, of course, to have an heir-- But I am certainly not his wife.

[Another time, another variation? Is that it? She frowns.]

You know this for a fact?

[its_storytime]

[ And now he is starting to get it. Bringing a gloved hand over his mouth, he lets out a grumbled "holy shit." Genuinely at a loss, he glances back over at Elissa, good to see she's at least as confused as he is. ]

I always have my facts straight, Warden. [ It helps when you make it your job to stretch the truth. ] The only Elissa Cousland I know of is co-ruling Ferelden. Two Wardens putting themselves on the throne like that isn't something the rest of the world just forgets about.

[ladyspitfire]

[She sighs ruefully.]

Maker's breath.

[And after a long pause that she uses to collect herself, she shakes her head.]

Besides bringing us to a new world and a new time, this place has a habit of bringing people from different...'versions' of the same world. The people here from Thedas have very different backgrounds in some cases. You'll find both King Alistair Theirin and Anora Mac Tir here, the both of them married to one another and jointly ruling Ferelden.

[With some trepidation - her expression carefully neutral - she adds:]

Alistair ruled on his own where I come from. I am no more royalty than I am capable of magic.

[its_storytime]

[ The wheels turn in his head as she speaks, quickly making a mental note of the differences here.

Anora and Alistair married. That sure does make his earlier conversation with the...formerly former queen a little bit awkward. OH WELL ]

Well, then, I stand corrected! I...meant no offense, of course. [ Saying so because her reaction was a little...odd? Or was he just imagining that? ]

[ladyspitfire]

[She holds up her hands as if in mild surrender, the gesture lacking any sort of real sway to it. Elissa gives him a sympathetic smile.]

No offense taken, really. And even if I was queen, I would still want you to be less formal. You can call me Elissa. Or Warden. Or Cousland. Whichever you prefer.

[And maybe one day there'll be some coherency to the names she's called among her peers.]

I'm sorry for the disappointment. Hopefully a Grey Warden can still suffice?

[its_storytime]

It will more than suffice, Warden! [ Yes, Warden. Welcome to his thing for obvious nicknames. ] Regardless, it is the utmost honor to meet the Hero of Ferelden. Even if it is in...this kind of a situation.

Even I couldn't come up with something like this.

[ladyspitfire]

You're not the only one. Many believe this place to be a dream upon arriving here. [She shakes her head.] But I can tell you it's no less real than you and I. And it's as dangerous as Thedas, if not more so.

[Virtual reality, time travel, guns, laser weapons. Not her thing.]

[its_storytime]

I can't wait. [ His tone is dry, but he's actually telling the truth. Somewhat. ]

I mean, if I had to be dragged out of Kirkwall, at least I wasn't taken somewhere boring in comparison. [ Assuming somewhere without Hawke could even be as exciting.....hmmm. ]

But I bet you feel the same way? A Warden's work is never done, or so I hear.

[ladyspitfire]

Oh, you won't be bored here. I can nearly guarantee that.

[He doesn't seem the type to want to train. But he does seem like he may want to listen in and snoop on the network. There's no shortage of posts for him to peruse, she imagines.]

No, never. We're always wandering somewhere, killing something, investigating someone... [She shrugs lightly.] It keeps you on your feet. Besides, you see more of the world that way.

[its_storytime]

Well, since I assume asking to go back would be too much for these people, I'll take any small favors I can get.

Me, I'm not much of a world-traveler. The Wounded Coast is exotic enough for me.

[ladyspitfire]

We'll go home eventually. I'm certain of it. [And she'll fight the Initiative to the death to do so.]

Well, some of us need to be the travelers, else you wouldn't have any good rumors to hear about.

[its_storytime]

Rumors? [ Heh heh. ]

Am I really that obvious?

[ladyspitfire]

You remind me of a friend of mine. Orlesian bard, lovely voice. Always curious to know about people.