001 | video

[percolates]

Who: Ciri and you!
Broadcast: Fleetwide video.
Action: On the Marsiva! Feel free to tap her on the shoulder and say hi.
When: Nooooow, a little bit after her arrival.

[video]

[For someone who looks like she stepped out of some medieval era, Ciri doesn't seem too alarmed by all the space and technology. It's easy enough for her to figure out how to broadcast, and she peers into the camera for a moment before speaking.]

So, two questions: where can I get a sword, and how exactly are my abilities dampened, here? [Because the first thing she tried to do was teleport back to Skellige, only for a whole lot of nothing to happen. Maybe if she didn't have enemies to demolish she'd actually feel some relief about the fact that what makes her a target for so many people is gone.] I can't be the only one. Someone must be very skilled to figure out how to keep that much control over us.

And... one more thing. I don't suppose any of my companions have found themselves here. [She frowns, brow creasing with worry. It's unlikely. She knows how sudden world-hopping works... or doesn't work. Still, she must try.] Geralt? Yennefer? Triss?

Comments

[percolates]

[Oh, no.]

Sorry. I apologize. [She shakes her head a little at her mistake.] Do wardens not know their families?

[theirinurpants]

Er, some of us? I don't know - Wardens come from all walks of life. Peasants, nobility. Elves, humans, dwarves. Me, I'm a bastard. The fatherless kind.

[percolates]

[The clarification gets an amused huff from her.]

I'd no reason to think so by either meaning of the word. But that's enough of me asking about your wardens and accidentally stumbling into unpleasant topics of conversation for one day.

[theirinurpants]

It's all right. I mean it's not my favorite topic of conversation but what can you do? You can't choose your parents. Hopefully I'm not too much of a failure in spite of it all. And I'm happy to talk about Wardeny things - the non-secret ones, anyway.

[percolates]

You've a sense of humor about it all, I'll give you that.

[Awkward, funny man.]

[theirinurpants]

No sense complaining about it all the time. Not that I don't complain, but you know. Not all the time.

So tell me about witchers! Are you one?

[percolates]

Do you think I'm one?

[This is your punishment for being all secretive.]

[theirinurpants]

I don't know! Is this a trick question? [ He doesn't like those. He usually gets them wrong. ]

[percolates]

Is it? [It's a secret!]

[theirinurpants]

[ Alistair makes a vaguely annoyed sort of scrunched up face. ]

I... asked first? Come on, I've told you things! Just because there's one or two things I can't say...

[percolates]

[It's not very fun, is it! Ciri smiles before giving in.]

I'm not a witcher, no. But I was taught everything I know by them. To be a true witcher, one must undergo mutations that heighten their senses, give them new strengths and magic, and makes them look like they've got cat eyes.

[theirinurpants]

[ Alistair looks impressed. ]

You can learn magic?

[percolates]

[No, why is he focusing on the thing she'd like to talk about least.]

Great power comes with great cost. The way a witcher learns magic is not pleasant. None of it is.

[theirinurpants]

[ Because that's just how it works, of course. ]

Well, becoming a Warden isn't pleasant, either, but we don't get magic out of it. In my world you're either born with it, or you're not.

[percolates]

What do you get out of it, then? [Lalala changing the subject.] Is an immunity to sickness all that makes you better than the average soldier?

[theirinurpants]

[ It's not really so much an immunity as it is a delayed demise, but he doesn't want to get into that. ]

I can sense them. Helps, you know, to know when they're around.

[percolates]

Are you stronger than a normal man? Quicker? A shoddy deal if all you can do is not get sick and sense the things.

[theirinurpants]

Not particularly. I mean, I trained as a templar, so I know how to fight. That's really all you need, aside from not getting sick and being able to sense them.

Also, we're the only ones who can kill the archdemon. Which is the only way to end the Blight.

[percolates]

What happens if there's no blight?

[theirinurpants]

We...train, mostly. "In peace, vigilance," that's part of the motto. Don't want to be caught with our trousers down.

[percolates]

[She snorts.]

Indeed. Well, you've a talent for words, if anything. Darkspawn beware.

[theirinurpants]

I mean, as long as your trousers are up, I think you're probably a person who has it together! It's a start, anyway.