video/action ♔ hallow's end is here!

[dazedbythebell]

[There's a new addition to Fayren and Genessia, and he comes as a very dapper blond prince. Really, he's far too fancy for his party. But maybe someone will mistake it for a costume? He's opted for a childish mask that makes him look like a lion, and he seems to be enjoying himself. When he tilts back the mask, there's a smile on his face. He can't be more than sixteen.]

I didn't think I would end up in the middle of a Hallow's End party. Quite a lively place, isn't it? It seems I chose the correct archway after my arrival. To be honest, this entire transportation system is incredibly fascinating-- oh, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Anduin.

[He leaves off his title for now, not wanting to bring more attention to himself. For now, he'd rather just pretend he's no one special.]

Can you really see me? And hear me? Amazing. I do have a few questions for whoever is listening. I promise I won't take up too much of your time.

Comments

[ Video ]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Straight out of a fairy tale. With the exception of that silly mask. It amuses her though, so she's grinning cheerfully into the feed when she responds. ]

I can hear you - and see you - believe it or not. [ She laughs. ]

These things they gave the people who arrived here are pretty convenient. You said you had questions? I can try to answer them if you like.

[ Video ]

[dazedbythebell]

I believe it. The-- videophone, right?-- looks like a piece of goblin technology, but it's not. It's really interesting.

[Ahem. Anyway.]

I heard something concerning from the illusion of the lady in white. She said something about... people being real?

[He looks concerned about that statement, and rightfully so. How could the people going about their lives in this city or the other ones be anything less than real?]

[ Video ]

[celestial_wizard]

Mm, that's definitely something you would have to speak with Weiss about. To tell the truth I didn't access the terminal that the message you speak of was on. This isn't the first time I've been to another world by unknown means, and I was more concerned with finding out if my friend was with me or not.

video;

[crymoore]

[ Isn't it a bit surreal? One moment she's caught up in a memory of brightly-lit smiles with the heat of flame burning ever bright and arms wrapped tightly around her form as she flickered between consciousness. In the blink of an eye it's gone, but not completely.

There's a young prince with golden hair around his face in the palm of her hands. ]

Ar-? [ A younger Jaina cuts herself short. In the blink of an eye, she denies him once more as the more logical pieces fall into place. ]

Are you truly Anduin? [ The uncertainty isn't from her own self-doubt, but from his appearance. He's... older? That doesn't seem to be right, but if there's one thing she's taken from her conversation with Thrall, it's that this realm pays no respect to time. ]

video;

[dazedbythebell]

Aunt Jaina! [He's surprised and pleased to see her, and there's no denying that chubby-cheeked smile is that of the prince.] I didn't know you were here!

[A pause... and then he notices her hair color isn't just the videophone being strange. Her face is younger, too. Losing Theramore has made her look so much older.]

Oh! You're... er, how are you?

video;

[crymoore]

[ Worried for him now that he is. He'll need looking after though he seems to look to be of the age where he doesn't need a caretaker. Maybe she can relent a little on that. A bit of her is frightened for his sake as well. How overwhelming it must be to be in unfamiliar territory, but at least he has her. ]

As well as one could be in a foreign land! [ She smiles faintly, doing what she can to alleviate his concerns. ]

My presence may have been unexpected, but it is good we are both here now. Two heads are better than one.

video;

[gammavirginis]

You seem to be in rather good spirits.

video;

[dazedbythebell]

[Anduin blinks at the face on the screen. Not the weirdest one he's seen, but she's rather beautiful in an alien way. His smile returns, of course, though it has a tinge of shyness to it.]

I never expected Hallow's End to be a tradition known on an entirely different world! Incredible, isn't it? I haven't had the chance to participate in the festivities before now but I've... done a lot of reading.

[... That sounds so sad. He moves on.]

Even though it might seem gloomy, it's an important holiday. There is feasting, honoring those that have passed on, and most importantly... it's about letting go of the negative things so that one can enter winter with a light heart.

[Video]

[blue_flames]

[A tall, blue-haired, muscular man appears on the other end. He can totally relate to Anduin's surprise that such a thing is possible, since he didn't believe it before he showed up here, either. He gives the boy a nod.]

Yeah, we can see and hear you. It is amazing, huh? I have no idea how these things work -- though I've only been here for a couple of weeks.

What do you want to know?

[Even if he can't answer the questions, he can direct him in the right way to get them answered.]

[Video]

[dazedbythebell]

[Anduin does a doubletake, thinking perhaps that's Kalec and not... someone else. But no, his hair is a slightly different shade, and he's lacking the pointy ears of a half-elf.]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was some kind of magic. Scrying has been around for a long time.

[His smile dims somewhat as the conversation shifts.]

Is it true that we're trapped? If I am missing, my father-- [... will siege an entire continent.] It won't be good. I understand if I've been brought here for a reason, but I'm needed at home, too.

Re: [Video]

[blue_flames]

Scrying magic? I've never heard of it. But then again, I'm not really a scholar.

[That was Soren's duty.]

...Yeah. As far as I know, there's not really a way out.

[Ike's own expression remains unchanged. It bugs him a bit, but not much -- he'd already decided to leave Tellius behind.]

No one I've talked to has found anything, anyway. And from what I hear, some of these people have been here for a long time.

Video~

[spitfireprincess]

[Sakura watches the mask and then laughs before flicking on her phone to reply.]

Hello. You look like you are enjoying the party.

[The princess has decided to stay in for the night and watch the celebration from her window.]

I'm Sakura. Is this your first time using these devices?

video;

[dazedbythebell]

It's a great party! The food is wonderful, and the decorations are enchanted! It's wonderful.

[He smiles warmly.] It's a pleasure to meet you, Sakura. [She gave no title so he isn't using one.] There's nothing at home like this. I'm not sure if it's magic or engineering or both, but it's interesting.

video;

[spitfireprincess]

[She isn't able to experiance the party but she's glad he's having a good time.]

I wish I could have been there. I bet it's magic! If it's in Fayren.

[Sakura smiles brightly as if the sun is contained in her grin.]

[Video]

[son_of_durotan]

[There's only one person that he could think of that would know of Hallow's End, and introduce himself as Anduin. The fact that he wore Stormwind's colors and crest only sealed the deal. Just what he needed. Varian's whelp.]

I see Stormwind's favored pup has found his way here too. I cannot say I was expecting to see you here, but all the same I'm not entirely surprised either.

[Video]

[dazedbythebell]

[Varian's whelp grew up. Hi. Anduin doesn't look unhappy to see Thrall, though something worried flickers across his expression and creases his brow.]

It's good to see you in one piece, Go--

[He's... wearing... something else...]

-- Thrall. [He seems unsure of the word.] That's strange...

[Video]

[son_of_durotan]

[More than Thrall thinks he should have. What was Onyxia feeding you?]

...All that is strange is how you know that name, boy.

[His name was something very private to him after all. He had kept the name Thrall to remind him of the challenges he had overcome. Go'el was a cherished memory of the parents he never knew.]

action;

[dynastiny]

If you insist upon it. [ It may have been all too easy to overlook a tiny little thing like Nanamo nearby seeing as she's the height of a toddler.

Dressed in her royal gown that looks a bit too authentic up close, she thought she could get away with it tonight. So many others are dressed in costume and with masks so why not join in on the fun? She won't deny she was starting to miss the comfort of fine silk against her shoulders, enjoying the nostalgia of her own clothing. Just for tonight.

And what were the chances she'd run into someone dressed just as fine? Minimal at best. ]

If there is aught I know that may aid another, then is it not my responsibility to share the information? [ The better educated the other captives were, the quicker one may come to a solution. ]

action;

[dazedbythebell]

[Oh no... Anduin thought she had been a child, so he'd ignored her, but hearing her speak? She's obviously something else. He gets a solid look at her now. Stature of a gnome, but the face is much more delicate, and the ears are almost half-elven.]

Thank you, Your Highness. [He's cheerful, and he bows to her, acknowledging her 'costume'.] I was wondering if you knew what was meant by 'real'-- as in, why we have to continue wearing these strange necklaces, so we are not confused for other people.

It doesn't make sense. These people seem real to me.

action;

[dynastiny]

[ While a part of her starts to fret over the term of royalty, she catches on quick enough that it's meant in jest. After all, Your Highness doesn't sound as familiar as Your Grace so there's no possible way he knows. It's all part of the act: no one would suspect the Sultana to walk around in her vestments as though she were back in Ul'dah while she was missing, right?

She doubts herself more as time goes on, but there's no point in dwelling over the things that can't be changed now. ]

I may have some knowledge on that though much of it is guesswork. [ Though it's something she doesn't understand entirely herself. ] There are spirits outside the barrier that prey on one's emotions so perhaps these natives are spirits themselves.

[ Then a bit more sternly, she adds: ] If truth be told, they are likely meant to establish who among us are outsiders to this realm. I cannot say what it is that drove them to commit to the deed of separation, but the act is done.

video;

[behindthefakesmile]

I see that everyone has already jumped to your aid in order to help you, so I won't do something like that and be a problem. However, I do have to ask if that mask you got here or if you had it with you when you first arrived. It's most unusual after all.

[Well it was better than doing what everyone else was, right?]

video;

[dazedbythebell]

Oh, this? [He chuckles a bit and tugs it down over his face. FRIGHTENING...ly cute.]

I bought it from a vendor. There were all sorts of masks there, but I chose one that wasn't too scary. It's good to make friends, after all.

video;

[behindthefakesmile]

Yeah but on a holiday that is all about scaring people?

[He's been here over a year and knew what this holiday was about.]

Makes you stand out more.

video;

[bondsofthread]

What's with that getup?

video;

[dazedbythebell]

[That actually catches Anduin off guard, and it takes him a moment to recover.]

It's-- it's for my costume. [Very convincing. If he hadn't stuttered.]