genessia | Second Conquest - Out of the shadows

Video. Genessia City Park

[Ivina had been playing around with the communicator device and been listening in on the public conversations. She had been in this world for quite some time now, much to her frustration that she can't break out of this place. Some other power greater than her own was keeping her here, and she didn't like it. But since she's going to be here for a while, she decided to let her presence known. Might as well, right?

Activating the video function, the camera focused on her sitting by a glass coffee table. She was inside the garden pavilion at Genessia's park, with a cart of drinks and a personal bartender (who she has under mind control) at her beck and call. She appeared in her more human self, not wanting to broadcast her darker side to anyone just yet. She didn't feel the need. Legs crossed and a glass of whiskey on the rocks in hand, she gives the camera her usual icy stare.]

Greetings, people of Genessia. My name is Ivina of Darcann, Queen Regnant and Supreme Commander of my nation of Salimdor. I understand I am not alone in concern of this world, drawing us from our own realms against our wills. Though now I wonder, if there are other people here of high birth? People of royal lineage or nobility. Generals and commanders of armies too, perhaps?

[She considered generals or any high military rank to be part of nobility. Even if they were born poor. She feels they've earned a place in the higher class of society for their service. Still, she asked. She only knows of Vlad as someone of noble birth in this world.]

I invite you to have drinks with me, here at Genessia's garden park. It will be pleasant to make acquaintances with others of similar pasts as I.

Action. Genessia City

[Night time in Genessia tends to get interesting at times. It's when all the criminals are most active. Ivina doesn't care about any crime going on in the city that's not her own, but a group of thieves have beaten her to the punch in stealing some precious jewels she had her eyes on. Stealing from a queen? Now that's just unacceptable. In truth, she doesn't mind of some shiny rocks got away from her grasp. But she's been itching to stretch her wings a little and get her hands dirty. They're just regular humans who won't present a challenge to her, but it's better than nothing.

She followed the get-away van used by the thieves to the outskirts of the city, to a rougher and grittier neighborhood awash with activity even at this late hour. Different sorts of gangs hang around outside of the rows and rows of establishments. Loud music blared from the distance, mixed in with the drunken reveling of the low-lives below the rooftop from where she stood. She kept watching the van until it took a turn to a dark alleyway into more of a rundown suburb, away from the noise and the bright lights. That is when she decided to strike.

Vanishing from the roof, she reappeared as a bolt of lightning crashing down from above, and on to the street the thieves decided to park their vehicle. She flashed a dark grin at the masked thieves]

Nice night for a walk?

[The thieves just looked to each other before open firing at Ivina. Even with the volley of bullets, none of them have passed through the invisible barrier protecting her. She gives a sigh of a mock disappointment then raised her hand, and with a simple snap of her finger, the thieves all dropped dead.

The van caught on fire as Ivina casually walked towards it. She opened the doors with a swipe of her eyes, willing the gems to come to her. Floating towards her one by one, Ivina formed an orb of diamonds, rubies, and other sorts of gems in her hand until she sensed a presence.

With the bright flash of lightning, the thunder and gunfire that followed, at least one person would have heard the commotion.]

Cease your games and show yourself. There is no use in hiding from me.

[By this point, she's using a concealment magic. Only her silhouette can be seen. She wouldn't want her earlier efforts that morning to look like a decent person go to waste]

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[Probably for the best. When it comes to dry wit, Ike can dish it out with the best of them.]

Spaces?

Anyway, I'm also something of a traveler between worlds. Have you heard of the Outrealms?

Give me your name first, warrior. I do not know what sort of manners are taught in your culture, but it is only polite to tell me your name before you ask me so many questions.

[She will answer him once that's done. She can let one or two questions fly without the formalities, but Ike's curiosity and eagerness with his questions were kind of rubbing her the wrong way]

Oh! My apologies. My name is Ike. I'm a traveling swordsman.

[He bows his head toward the camera. If his father had seen this, Ike is certain he'd be receiving a verbal lashing right now.]

Please pardon my manners. I'm normally better about them.

[If there is one prevailing characteristic of Ike's personality, it's his honesty. Everything he says is genuine.]

[Ivina only hummed in response, but she pardons his minor blunder. She pauses briefly while she puts her drink down on the table, making the ice inside clink against the glass]

The Outrealms, you call it. This collection of worlds bear many names that I know of, and this shall be the first I heard them be called "the outrealms". Fascinating term.

[She picks up her glass]

We simply call it The Continuum. An infinite number of worlds gathered into one cosmic tree. When a world dies, another shall be born. It's a cycle that would never cease. I had the privilege of seeing realms beyond that of my own, and defeating otherworldly invaders who dared cross my borders.

[Salimdor, and Mordrah itself, may look like a medieval-era civilization, but their magic puts them on the same weight class as even some of the most advanced of space-faring civilizations]

[Ike listens attentively to Ivina's description. He may be a simple mercenary, but he still enjoys learning the ways the worlds work. Not to mention that it can be good for business.]

I'm certainly no expert on the topic. It was only so long ago that I discovered the Dragon's Gate that led from my world to the Outrealms. So far, all the worlds I've visited have also had similar gates connecting them, with the insides of the gates being some kind of...swirling blue void.

Would you mind if I took you up on your offer? I'd enjoy hearing more about travel between worlds.

[Ike does have the credentials, as a former Crimean lord and general, as well as the general of the Apostle's Army. He'll give them if asked, but otherwise he finds the distinctions bring him trouble more than anything.]

[Ivina may seem indifferent, but her ears caught all of what Ike had said. Gates to other worlds. That's something she's familiar with. Creating those require strong magic, so she's more interested in how those came to be]

Very well. If it is knowledge you seek, then you are welcome to join me.

Second Conquest - Out of the shadows

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