driftfleet | 1st Blight - Video and action

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1st Blight - Video and action

Who: Riona
Broadcast: The entire network
Action: On the SS Blue Fish
When: After the weekly shuffle

Action on the Blue Fish

[You've got an armored lady on board, Blue Fishies. Unarmed, of course, but that makes her all the warier as she glances around uneasily. Too much of this is foreign to her. The fact that there's something in her head telling her what some of it is makes it worse. Like the taint in her telling her when darkspawn were near, but much more potent and a lot more invasive. So having the armor on may seem unnecessary, but it's all she has and it makes her feel a little safer. Much like a child clinging to a stuffed animal. A metal one that could break a jaw.

She moves over to the food set out, scrunching her nose at it. Maker, none of it looks right. Not that Fereldan food was the be all and end all of fine cuisine, but at least there were recognizable ingredients in it. This was... not food.

Her upbringing obliged her to at least take some and try it. Though she was relatively sure that her lessons didn't account for being kidnapped and offered not-food to her...]

Video

[So after settling in and having had time to take stock, Riona finally feels comfortable in attempting this messaging thing. With any luck, someone else from Ferelden - or Thedas even - got brought here as well and could perhaps explain a bit more what was going on.

Or, honestly, just conversing with someone else from her world would be a relief at this rate.]

Assuming this isn't the worst drunken stupor or dream in history - and I'm still not entirely certain it isn't - I understand I am to be here for some time. And that I am to work on this ship [The word is said with a hint of skepticism. Ships float on water, not fly.] in that interim.

Maker's breath.

[She heaves a sigh.] Okay, fine. Well, no, it's not fine but it seems I have little recourse in that regard right now. I mean, did you really have to take my sword and shield? I don't use it willy-nilly.

Anyway, is there... truly no way to send word back to our homes? Not even a message? [Her next words are considered carefully.] My absence will be noted very quickly, and likely would cause a panic amongst certain parties. I only wish to avoid that. [And stop her husband from launching a huge search campaign for her.] Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you kindly. [She forces a polite smile before she fumbles with the device, finally getting it to shut off after a moment's struggle.]

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I do not know the cause. [ it may or may not be magic, it could just be a trick of the mind, it could be a lot of things but she has committed to none of them. she knows that it is true though. ]

Many have informed me, and I myself witnessed it once already. I had been brought here previously, nearly a year ago, and when I was somehow returned home - everything was as it had been when I left.

As you can see, they were insistent on bringing me back, and I can only assume time once again remains unchanged back home.

[Riona would hardly have accepted it based on the word of others, but with the stranger's assurance that she experienced it herself, she felt considerably better. She heaves an audible sigh of relief.]

That's... I can't even express how huge of a relief that is to know. Thank you for telling me. It'll make staying here a lot easier. [She smiles sympathetically.] Though I am sorry you got brought back a second time. I wonder why they even sent you back the first time if they intended to bring you back.

Of course. [ she smiles softly in return, pleased to hear that she can at least abate her worries even a little.

to the woman's apology, lioriley shakes her head. ]

I know nothing of our captor's way of thinking, so I can hardly parse a sensible reason to send me - or anyone else, for that matter - back and forth as they do. But... this place is not so terrible, for what it is. There are wonderful people here that I am sure you will meet soon enough; their presence makes this far easier.

[Riona listens carefully, taking in what Lioriley had to offer by way on information.]

Well they seem good at masking their motives and means. I suppose I can give them credit for that. [However begrudging the praise.]

That is good to hear, though. I know something about making friends in unlikely circumstances and places. Are there many people here like us? It seems like there are a good number of ships.

There are many, brought from worlds I have never heard nor could even dream of aboard these ships. This time around, I am on the Bishop, where a good number already reside - I can only imagine the other ships have grown larger still in my absence.

Have you been assigned a ship yet?

[The augment or whatever it was told her the same thing, but there was something about hearing it from another that really made it sink in.

Different worlds. Her people barely understood their world; it was almost overwhelming to consider there were different planets out there, filled with people and their own history and share of problems.]

It certainly sounds like a learning experience to be had. Admittedly, I'm still having a hard time absorbing all this and believing it's real.

I have. The Blue Fish, I believe it's called. I'm assigned to be a communications officer, though I hardly know what that entails.

As did I when I first arrived. [ she still thinks it's strange, but she has at least accepted the good that can come with something as ridiculous and unbelievable as this entire situation is. ]

Oh! I know a few aboard that ship. Have you had the chance to introduce yourself to the others yet?

I've met a few of them, yes. Including the captain and first mate. Also a medic and a couple others. A lot of them were actually surprised to see me. [She assumed they would be informed if they had a new crew member. It made sense, at least. But then, she doesn't know Atroma and how they operate very well. Not yet.]

Perhaps they have not had a new crewmate in some time, or you simply arrived when they were least expecting it. Either way, it seems you are among good company.

[ she opens her mouth to say something else, but seems to stop herself as she realizes something. ]

It occurs to me now that I have not introduced myself yet. I am Lioriley.

That is good to know.

Nice to meet you, Lioriley. Riona Cousland.

[A beat of silence passes.

Riona's noticed that Lioriley looks a little different than what she's used to. Different races don't surprise her, but she's never come across anyone quite like her. If she had to wager a guess, she'd say she's an elf, but she doubts she's right.]

If you don't mind my asking, what race are you? [She can all but hear her mother's chastisement in ignoring common manners, but her curiosity is winning out.] You look sort of similar to an elf back where I'm from. You even have the vallaslin the Dalish wear. But I'm probably wrong.

A pleasure, Riona. [ she bows as best one can over a small communicator screen. maybe just nods her head slightly. yeah, that's it.

to the woman's next question, lioriley shakes her head and offers another small smile. hardly insulted, she answers: ]

I am a Dark Elf. [ proudly, leylines pulsing faintly. ] I am afraid I do not know what vallaslin are - nor the Dalish, for that matter. Is that a specific clan of elves in your homeland?

[OKAY SO SHE WAS... kind of close? Pretty close? Ish?]

I.... have never heard of such. How is a Dark Elf different than I... suppose a normal elf? Ordinary elf? [Run-of-the-mill elf? Light Elf?]

Specific clans, but yes. In my world, there are essentially two kinds of elves. Those who live in human cities and settlements - usually Alienages - and the Dalish, who have eschewed contact with most humans and have gone off to live in the wild. They're roaming clans. Their vallaslin are a kind of facial tattoo, I think. Obtained when they've become adults.

[ light elf, yes. ]

I cannot quite compare my people to those elves you may be familiar with, but from what little I know - most elven races are not as dark skinned as my people, seem to be significantly taller, and lack the magical abilities Dark Elves do. We are born of magic, you see, hence the lines you see on my body.

[ she'll explain in a second. not wanting to interrupt, she waits until riona is finished explaining the dalish before adding: ] Ah - the difference then is that these are not tattoos, but means of transferring and containing the magic that flows inside of me. It sounds as if the Dalish's tattoos are more for aesthetic? Though I could be terribly wrong.

[Riona takes it all in, nodding along as Lio explains. They were all mages? She has so many questions, but she holds back on most of them, not wanting to come across as rude or pushy.]

Their tattoos are aesthetic as far as I know. Each set of tattoos pay homage to one of their gods, if I remember correctly.

But you say each dark elf has magic? Does not present any... problems?

How interesting! I have not heard of such things practiced by elven clans before.

[ her excitement seems to wane when riona asks her next question though, the elf's brows furrowing in confusion. ]

Why would it?

The Dalish have a number of strange practices, most to do with their religion.

[She chews her bottom lip softly. It wasn't her intention to offend. It's just differences of world culture rearing its head a bit here.]

Where I'm from, not all elves are born with magic. But some are. The Dalish clans don't keep more than a few mages in their group at any given time. Mages can be prone to possession, and many believe that most mages would resort to blood magic or other banned practices if given the chance. Personally I don't, but it's a pervading belief and enough of one that the Chantry cracks down very hard on it.

...but perhaps that's not how it works in your world. If it isn't, then I apologize.

[ ugh, how disgusting, hearing of worlds so unlike her own that view magic as vile and dangerous. magic is amazing, magic can help people, magic--

wait. did she say something about the Chantry? before she can even begin to address her obvious distaste for the treatment of mages in riona's world; she remembers hearing about something similar from someone else. ]

It is not, but now I am curious... what world do you hail from?

I am from Thedas. There are a few others here who come from the same place.

I see. [ suddenly it makes sense. enough so that the dark elf relaxes a little - not that she's pleased with the state that riona's world is in, but at least now she knows that it's the same one she has heard of a few times before. ] I have known a few here that come from Thedas - one of which told me of mages and templar relations in your homeland. It is... unfortunate, in my opinion, but it is hardly my place to judge.

Ah, so you do have an idea of how it works there. [She shakes her head.] Magic in my world does come with serious risks, and precautions are needed, but...

I think things crossed a line a long time ago.

Swords and axes pose just as serious risks, it all depends on whom wields them.

[ but she won't get into that now, so she chooses to end that particular thought there. she has nothing against this woman - and she can't say anything for thedas as she does not hail from there.

she clears her throat. ]

I had not meant to delve into such a delicate subject. Was there anything else you wished to speak of? Further questions, or have they all been answered?

I agree entirely. And it's all right, I didn't mean you had crossed a line. It's a very... debated subject back home.

[Sadly, too many fall on the side of the Chantry and fear, locking away the problem rather than figuring out a way to work with it.]

As for any further questions, I can't think of any. Everyone's been really helpful so far.

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