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

[acemedium]

[Hold the phone...!]

Arthur? Like... the Arthur?!

[futurarex]

[what is she doing...? her startled expression first reads as-- well, perhaps it's an illness? and he's irritated by her cheerfulness, yes, but he's not entirely heartless; there's still a mild concern--]

The Arthur what?

[acemedium]

[She has a severe case of awe-itis. Stage two of the disease is getting even more excited than she was previously!]

Arthur Pendragon? From Camelot? With Merlin and the the knights of the round table and the sword in the stone in stuff? You're that Arthur?

[futurarex]

[some of that is familiar. some is not. (swords in stone?) but still, it's shocking to hear even the slightly familiar gasped at him, as if it's all common knowledge. Camelot is not an unknown force in Albion--but this is not Albion, and she is not of Albion and why would she know of Merlin of all people?

so, cautiously, he takes a half-step back, his hand going to his sword.]

How do you know of me?

[acemedium]

[Maya's only reaction is for her eyes to light up further - she doesn't even seem to notice his trepidation]

The stories, come ooon! And the movies, too! But sis used to read them to me even before I saw any of the movies!

You're really that same Arthur? This is so cool!

[futurarex]

[what is a movie and-- stories? what stories? none of this makes any sense and she is far too eager for her own good.]

What stories? What same Arthur-- you speak of Arthur Pendragon? [and still more suspiciously:] Who is your sister? What kingdom do you come from?

[acemedium]

Yeah! King Arthur! [Wait, had he said prince? Had she misheard? Oh, well]

[And then, without missing a beat] My sister's Mia! And I'm from Kurain Village, but I don't think you'd call that a kingdom.... [Though Maya had to admit it had a good ring to it. 'The Kingdom of Kurain...' Wait, would that make her future king?]

[futurarex]

[He might correct her--prince and not king, get it right!--but he's far too distracted by everything else she's going on about. Because he's never heard of her village--granted, it's only a village, and likely not very large, but even so--]

And how did your village come to hear of me?

[acemedium]

[Whatever Arthur you'll be king in two seasons Maya's taking a moment to contemplate this whole "Kingdom of Kurain" thing ... She can get behind King Maya.]

The stories! There are tons of books about it! [It really doesn't dawn at her at all that this might be weird for him]

... And some movies, but we probably shouldn't talk about those. Especially the one with Kara Knighting.

[futurarex]

[yeah this is... really weird. the thought of being known in far off kingdoms, not quite as much--other worlds, more so--and what the hell is a movie!]

I don't have any idea what you're talking about. I don't know you, I don't know your sister--I don't know your kingdom--and I don't know what movies is supposed to mean.

i see what your keywords did thar

[acemedium]

You don't know what movies---

[Sigh, stay calm, Maya, stay focused! He's getting upset, you need to calm him down] Alright, okay, um, just calm down and I'll try to explain.

just for you C:

[futurarex]

Calm down. Thank you.

[But he's at least retreated back to eyerolling now, nothing stronger, though there's a muscle working in his jaw that suggests he could slide back to irritation quite quickly indeed.]

What are you explaining, precisely, movies?

I'm touched....

[acemedium]

[Maya proceeds with caution. Actually, no, she really doesn't]

Not just that. This place is in the future. Really far in the future.

You have a lot of stories about you because you get really famous for all the stuff you do. [Sort of] and television is the greatest invention the future ever gives! Including movies.

touches you more!!!!

[futurarex]

[He could keep eyerolling over movies and the future and time travel and television and all of these things--and he will, later, when he's had time to sort of suss it all out. But what she says about fame stops him there for now, so much so that he hardly hears the last bit of it, as his stare might indicate.]

What-- Famous for what things?

ooooh miss cee oooh

[acemedium]

[Whatever Arthur you're just not sophisticated enough to appreciate]

Um... like! Oh! Having a legendary sword called Excalibur! Leading Camelot to prosperity and defending it against invaders and bad guys! Like... Leading the knights of the round table and upholding chivalry and being a just ruler!

That sort of thing.

FLEXES

[futurarex]

[The strangeness of this place, the sheer unfamiliarity of everything that surrounds him--the ever-present threat of sorcery--all of it fades, at least for a moment.

A just ruler. Was there ever anything else that he wanted to be? The best king Camelot had ever known, perhaps--a strong king, a fierce king, honored in song for deeds and battles and bravery--but as he grew older, justness seemed as important as all the rest, sometimes more than. Does this count the same as having some seer tell him of his future? And it hardly matters that he does not know or understand the rest of what she says--legendary swords, knights of round tables--a prosperous Camelot, that's what he hears. A just king with a prosperous kingdom, with strength enough to defend his people.

His stomach feels very small and tight, and his throat is difficult to work, but he swallows, hard, and gives a curt nod.]

Does-- [Morgana, he thinks of her, of course, and Gwen--his father, the knights of Camelot--Merlin-- Their fates are entwined in his. But he cannot ask of the future. He will not peer into it more than he has; he will not use this end of sorcery to know more than he ought, no matter how tempting it seems.] I will not ask further. So long as I know that Camelot is safe, that my rule is known for being a just rule.

[A pause, and he actually adds:] Thank you.

SWOONS

[acemedium]

[Maya watches his reaction, not sure what to make of it at first. She was really starting to think of him as a jerk, despite being King Arthur (or Prince Arthur, as the case may be), but watching his face, hearing him thank her (woah!) - at the very least, he did care very much about his kingdom. And being a good ruler.]

[(It makes her think of being Master, that ever looming responsibility of the fate of Kurain that will inevitably drop on her. Could she do that?)]

[...Regardless, Maya softens a little, though the thanks perplexes her. She isn't sure how to respond]

Um... no problem.... But um, if people who you don't know start recognizing you, that's probably why.

catches

[futurarex]

[he nods, distantly, still more than a little distracted by the weight of all that he's been told.]

Do truly that many people know of Camelot?

/STAYS IN YOUR ARMS....

[acemedium]

[She nods!]

Like I said, there are a lot of stories about it. And you.

[futurarex]

[he nods, shortly--already he's regaining some of his usual manner as the shock of it all begins to fade.]

Then I thank you for that information as well. Better that I know in advance, so I can avoid less surprise. [and y'know. come across as less crazy and ready to threaten people who recognize him!]

[acemedium]

Pretty much! This place is pretty confusing to begin with, so you're bound to wire your crosses somewhere. [That's "cross your wires, Maya", but wow, Arthur's being civil. Somewhat.]

Time is pretty weird here, like I said....