[video] un: toucan play that game

[revengeisalie]

[ So this is very off-center, but you will still be able to see the face of a young woman, her black hair parted into two braids, to each of which a ring is attached. She peers at the camera -- well, her pendant -- curiously and with uncertainly. ]

Hah -- uhm -- hello?

Hi. I was told by Miss Karsa, I think that was her name, that this pendant will enable me to talk to those who share my plight, even if they are far away. And I, uh, wanted to try it out, essentially. We don't have anything like this where I'm from. How strange!

[ A tentative, awkward smile. ]

Anyway. So there's a group of us who come from other... worlds? Several of them? And we're trying to get to the "beacon". That's what I remember.

[ She claps her flat hands together. ]

Well, then! My name is Rin. Nice to meet everyone. I hope we will get along.

[ A beat. ]

I have a question. Is everything in this place as if you were in a fairy tale? I never quite know what's real or not! It's really unnerving. A little guidance would be appreciated.

[ She gives a small bow in her seated position. ]

Thank you very much.

Comments

un: absterge | the most helpful.............

[downswing]

Greetings.

Travel circumstances vary.

[video]

[revengeisalie]

[ Alas, she has not yet figured out texting. ]

Ahh, thanks? Could you... perhaps elaborate? If it's not too much trouble.

text forevs!!!

[downswing]

Some areas of the land, friendly. Some challenge.

text; many minutes later

[revengeisalie]

Challenge how? Terrain? Enemies?

[downswing]

And minimal resources.

video | un: wooden sword

[vdovy]

The scenery changes but magic and the undead are everywhere.

[ A beat, then she gives a small wave, obviously an afterthought. ] Welcome. I am Yelena.

1/2

[revengeisalie]

[ Rin shivers at that. ]

Undead?

2/2

[revengeisalie]

[ But she manages to catch herself. ]

Ah, hello! Thank you for the welcome. So, your... other name. Is "wooden sword"? Are you a swordswoman, Yelena?

[vdovy]

An undead army. [ She catches the shiver and tries to save, quickly adding: ] But they're not an immediate threat.

[ She gives a slight shrug as she considers the next questions. ]

The name came with the device, I didn't pick it. I do know how to handle a sword, though.

[revengeisalie]

That's right, same as mine... I don't even know what a "toucan" is.

Anyway, a whole undead army sounds troubling. How do you... [ She swallows a little. ] handle that? Just kill?

[vdovy]

It's a colorful bird.

We try to stay ahead of the army, but sometimes we've been forced to fight. They're already dead, though, so I wouldn't technically call it killing.

un: headless ragdoll | text

[matermali]

Fairy tales can be quite gruesome, so yes.

[revengeisalie]

I know, thus the comparison! So I gather it's good to be on my toes around here.

[matermali]

I have yet to hear of a world where that isn't the way.

What confounds you most, to request guidance?

[revengeisalie]

You know what, point taken.

I guess what confounds me the most is the concept of different "worlds" at all! Not something I was familiar with before. Back home, before the last year or so, I barely ever left my city, let alone country!

[matermali]

Nearly everyone here has walked your path of bewilderment on arrival. You will find your balance.

What was the name of your city?

video; un: keystone

[daughterheir]

[The video function is so thrilling! She's using it every opportunity she can to observe how it works and also just cause it's neat.]

Yes, people do seem to have come from a variety of worlds. We haven't got anything like these pendants were I'm from, either. Aren't they wonderful?

My name's Elayne Trakand. It's very nice to meet you.

[revengeisalie]

They're so interesting! I think I'm definitely going to try using it a lot.

Nice to meet you, Elayne!

[daughterheir]

I'm afraid I can't answer your question about fairy tales. I'm not familiar with anything like this from my own world, but that's one of the exciting things about meeting people from new worlds, isn't it? I've been learning so many new things I'd never have encountered at home.

Is this place familiar to you?

[revengeisalie]

Really? No... folk tales? Creation myths?

Not at all! Well... it was winter at home, too, so I guess that's a common point. And we do have similar looking forests. But there's so many strange things as well!

[daughterheir]

I was being more specific, I suppose. There are folk tales and legends in my world. And there are forests and castles and things, of course. But no undead. No bestial princes locked in towers. At least not that I've ever heard.

video; un: man's greatest treasure

[reparo]

Hello, Rin - honestly, this is the first time I've noticed similarities to fairy tales. Mostly it all feels like a proper nightmare, until it either doesn't or we leave.

[A pause.] Or we make it worse, and then we leave.

[revengeisalie]

Make it worse?

[ Her expression says "how do y'all manage that?" ]

[reparo]

Don't worry about it.

[revengeisalie]

If you say that, it's only gonna make me worry more!