Riona Cousland | Hero and Queen of Ferelden (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bryces_pup) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
driftfleet2016-08-04 07:56 pm
bryces_pup) wrote in driftfleet2016-08-04 07:56 pm
Sixth Blight - video
Who: Riona and you!
Broadcast: Yus
Action: On the Blue Fish, if you'd like!
When: Now?
[There's the distinct sound of a canine sniffing nearby when the feed turns on. Anyone with an acute ear may also hear a different kind of sound, something akin to snuffling. The animal causing it is revealed a moment later. To those not from Thedas, it looks like a pink, hairless mole. But any Thedosian would know that it's a nug.
The camera pans over to Riona, who's feeding said nug while Kiter cautiously sniffs at the other animal. She shakes her head.]
A favor for a favor, I suppose. Sister Nightingale has fallen into one of those comas. For the time being, Schmooples here is in my care. If you were expecting to see her in the interfaith center, I'm afraid it'll have to wait. [She looks over at her puppy, smiling conspiratorially.] You and I will be brainstorming what to draw on her face. Tit for tat, too.
[When she looks back at the camera, her smile falters, and pronounced concern sets in its place.]
Also, Dr. Beverly Crusher seems to be missing. Normally I'd suspect she's gone home, but her things are still here and her name still shows up on the communication device. Something is amiss. If anyone has seen her the past few days, please do let me or any of the crew on the Blue Fish know.
[Her disappearance puzzles her, along with her obvious worry. It's not like Beverly to do that, and with them having left the planet, there are only so many places she could be.]
Those matters aside, we've now returned to the dull void of space and to confinement in our ships until we make land again. There's only so much to entertain in the fleet, especially when you've been here awhile. Recently, I returned home for a few months. Here only a handful of days passed, but it felt much longer. I find myself feeling a bit homesick. So, I have a request.
[She pauses, uncertainty flitting across her face. For a moment she glances down, and finds herself fiddling with her wedding ring, which she's recently gone back to wearing on her hand. She clasps her hands together and looks back at the camera.]
But first, I suppose I should introduce myself to those who don't know me. My name is Riona Cousland [And here there's the slightest pause, a moment of hesitation. She swallows the trepidation back.] Theirin. I've been here nearly eight months.
[Whatever caused her hesitation seems to have passed. She relaxes, and continues:]
In my time, I've heard quite a few things about people's worlds. Comparing them to Thedas - where I am from - always interests me. I love hearing stories, and I'm always happy to share ones from my world, in particular the ones of my home country.
So. Let's do an exchange. A tale for a tale. It can be anything you experienced, or perhaps a legend or fable from your world that you're fond of. And I will tell you one in return. Simple enough, and a good way to pass the evening, no?
[She smiles, wiggling her fingers in good-bye before shutting off the feed.]
Broadcast: Yus
Action: On the Blue Fish, if you'd like!
When: Now?
[There's the distinct sound of a canine sniffing nearby when the feed turns on. Anyone with an acute ear may also hear a different kind of sound, something akin to snuffling. The animal causing it is revealed a moment later. To those not from Thedas, it looks like a pink, hairless mole. But any Thedosian would know that it's a nug.
The camera pans over to Riona, who's feeding said nug while Kiter cautiously sniffs at the other animal. She shakes her head.]
A favor for a favor, I suppose. Sister Nightingale has fallen into one of those comas. For the time being, Schmooples here is in my care. If you were expecting to see her in the interfaith center, I'm afraid it'll have to wait. [She looks over at her puppy, smiling conspiratorially.] You and I will be brainstorming what to draw on her face. Tit for tat, too.
[When she looks back at the camera, her smile falters, and pronounced concern sets in its place.]
Also, Dr. Beverly Crusher seems to be missing. Normally I'd suspect she's gone home, but her things are still here and her name still shows up on the communication device. Something is amiss. If anyone has seen her the past few days, please do let me or any of the crew on the Blue Fish know.
[Her disappearance puzzles her, along with her obvious worry. It's not like Beverly to do that, and with them having left the planet, there are only so many places she could be.]
Those matters aside, we've now returned to the dull void of space and to confinement in our ships until we make land again. There's only so much to entertain in the fleet, especially when you've been here awhile. Recently, I returned home for a few months. Here only a handful of days passed, but it felt much longer. I find myself feeling a bit homesick. So, I have a request.
[She pauses, uncertainty flitting across her face. For a moment she glances down, and finds herself fiddling with her wedding ring, which she's recently gone back to wearing on her hand. She clasps her hands together and looks back at the camera.]
But first, I suppose I should introduce myself to those who don't know me. My name is Riona Cousland [And here there's the slightest pause, a moment of hesitation. She swallows the trepidation back.] Theirin. I've been here nearly eight months.
[Whatever caused her hesitation seems to have passed. She relaxes, and continues:]
In my time, I've heard quite a few things about people's worlds. Comparing them to Thedas - where I am from - always interests me. I love hearing stories, and I'm always happy to share ones from my world, in particular the ones of my home country.
So. Let's do an exchange. A tale for a tale. It can be anything you experienced, or perhaps a legend or fable from your world that you're fond of. And I will tell you one in return. Simple enough, and a good way to pass the evening, no?
[She smiles, wiggling her fingers in good-bye before shutting off the feed.]
video.
[It sounds like a bad idea. And stupid. Something the Orlesians would do.]
All but one? It wouldn't happen to be the Tyrells, would it?
video.
[ she smiles a bit ]
Well, not all of them, it turned out. House Martell of Dorne. When the dragons came telling them their house's words, Fire and Blood, they were not so impressed and reminded them that their words were Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken. Much blood was spilled over the sand dunes of Dorne but they were never conquered and never bent a knee.
video.
[Civil conflicts tended to be like that.]
Truly? I was under the impression they managed to bring all of Westeros to heel. That must have rankled Aegon quite a bit.
video.
[ a bit of a sigh ]
They were both killed in the rebellion. Terrible stories, so my brother told me.
video.
[Maker, it sounds like the whole affair was just awful.]
video.
[ a terrible time, Margaery thinks. no less terrible, however, than the havoc the war of the five kings brought upon them all ]
The dragon queen who resides here survived, somehow. She was but a babe, mayhaps she was taken out of Westeros before the rebels came.
video.
[For one thing, she couldn't remember any of it. And it was about the death of her family. Not really a topic one pries into, especially with someone who was barely an acquaintance.]
Ah, listen to us. This is so depressing. Shall I tell you a tale in turn? Is there anything in particular you'd be interested in hearing? Or, what kind of tale?
video.
[ a bit of a smile. tragic, that most stories in westeros have sadness and grief laced in them. it's a realm that doesn't seem to quiet down or find its peace for very long, as of late. ]
A happy story, then.
video.
[Thedas, likes Westeros, does seem to love its tragedies.]
I... there is one I can think of. It is not happy in its entirety, but it has a happy end, if that suits you.
video.
[ if only there were a few more of those in Westeros recently. ]
What is about? A battle? an adventure?
video.
[She smiles faintly.]
Not too long ago, there was a man by the name of Nathaniel Howe. His family had once been of nobility, but they fell after his father was killed and the new king stripped them of their titles and land.
He heard of the location of the one responsible for his father's demise. She was the commander of the Grey Wardens in that country, and it was said she would be arriving at Vigil's Keep shortly. He snuck into the fortress to lay in wait. But he was caught. It took four Wardens before he was pinned down and thrown into the dungeon, to await for the sentencing of the commander when she arrived.
video.
[ she is a dutiful audience, if anything. leaning her chin on her knee as she settles to listen ]
Who was this commander? how was she at fault for his father's death?
video.
[Her lips quirk to the side.]
She killed his father. With her own hands. You see, Rendon Howe had her family killed a little over a year prior to that night. His men had gathered in her home, welcomed by her father. They were to set out with her father's men in the morning, at the behest of the king. But in the middle of the night, they attacked the castle. Killed everyone - the servants, the soldiers, and most of the commander's family. Even her little nephew.
[Her heart aches to remember that night.]
She only escaped thanks to a Grey Warden who'd been there to recruit. But she swore to avenge her family someday, and months later, she got her chance. She ran Rendon through and snapped his neck in half, leaving him dead in the dungeon of the Arl of Denerim's estate.
video.
[ he could have liked to avenge him, still. it is a terrible circle, one she sees time after time in Westeros, too. If more people would mourn deaths instead of avenging those who are gone, mayhaps they could form more alliances, to have more peace. ]
What happened when they met?
video.
She damn near killed him right then and there.
[She could still remember that rage. Oghren's hand on her arm stopped her... and something else.]
However, given that the Warden numbers were extremely low and she was in desperate need of men, she had another idea. Nathaniel was a good rogue, and that it took four Wardens to stop him? Impressive. So, she conscripted him, forcing him to join the Wardens and serve under her command. She thought it would be a more fitting punishment, to make him obey her orders and be under her heel.
[At the time, she'd been pleased with her decision. But now? The guilt still flared from time to time.]
video.
[ if there is one thing she learned - ]
Can one truly trust a turncloak in their camp?
video.
Your thinking is completely logical. But I can say, sometimes, you'd be surprised. Remind me someday to tell you about Zevran.
[There's another story in and of itself.]
Nathaniel's choices were to join or to hang. So, like most would, he joined the ranks of the Wardens and served under his new commander. The woman was determined not to like him, and was said to be callous to him. [A pause.] At first.
Despite his situation, he wasn't bitter. He did as he was told, and he offered a level head and a quick draw. At times, he was the most rational one in her rather motley crew of Wardens she had gathered. She... couldn't help but at least respect him.
Then one day, he heard some unexpected news: his sister was alive. He thought his whole family dead, but apparently she lived still in nearby Amaranthine. [The look on his face... even despite her determined dislike of him (which was slowly crumbling), she couldn't ignore it.] He very hesitantly asked the commander if he could seek her out the next time they were in the city. As someone who knew what it was like to think you'd lost your whole family, even she couldn't say no to him.