001 Action | Audio

[tevinteraltus]

Action | Arrival/Near the Bay

[ He could keep his composure through all this...madness. Surely. He was convinced, at first, as he awoke in his little capsule and had his first look around the bay, that he was in some part of the Fade, that somehow he'd entered again, but the solidity of the terrain as he'd cautiously stepped through the water, clutching the box he'd woken with and rubbing the strange fatigue from his eyes, told him another story. There was no ambient temptation or fear, nothing to suggest this was the realm of some demon or other. Nor, though, was there any indication he'd been kidnapped. He didn't have any sore spots on his head or anything that would suggest he'd been physically subdued, and no strange tastes or smells hovering about to suggest magic had been used. The lighted ramps seemed to be directing him upward and while he's explored enough ancient elvhen ruins to know they're probably leading to some sort of impending doom, it beat letting his new, Antivan leather boots soak up anymore of whatever water he was currently standing in. He takes a moment to straighten his robes before steeling his nerves, smoothing his hair with his free hand, and starting up the center ramp.

He didn't have a staff, that was true, but he'd strained in casting without a focus. It was harder, but also more impressive, something he took pride in. He'd be lying to himself along with whomever might have been watching (what a silly thought) if he tried to convince himself he wasn't nervous as the mouth of the corridor opened on to the street above. A city, then, but one the likes of which he'd never seen. He starts whenever Weiss' message appears on its dias, and he nearly hurls a fireball at it's face before he laughs nervously. ]

Ah, a recorded message. Very clever.

[ But he allows the recording, from which he notes with a confused look he detects no magic, to finish it's message. Armed now with more questions than answers (isn't that always the case?) he moves to the side, where the maps are to be acquired, and he takes one before pushing the other things collected on the stand aside and to the ground to make room to unpack this box he's been given. Any passers-by will come upon a very smartly dressed mage in leathers and belted robes of white and royal blue standing at the map stand, pamphlets scattered across the pavement near him, reading the information he's been provided.]


Audio | Open

[ When the audio begins transmitting, the voice, cultured and crisp in accent, is clearly mocking in tone, though it's apparent after just a moment, he's not talking to the network at large.

At first, the his voice is high-pitched, changing tone to something more normal for him at the second line. ]

"Here you are, ser. A pittance to pay your way. Now, if you would, obediently follow this path and use this key to open a door."

"It's that easy is it? Why of course! I'd be happy to! What's the worst that could happen?"

[ He breathes a small sigh before the sounds of the device being shifted can be heard, and when he speaks again, his words are clearly, like he's moved it closer to his mouth. ]

Ah! So it does work. In light of this news, it'd be remiss of me not to introduce myself before I explore this painfully ill-advised avenue.

[ He clears his throat politely. ]

I am Dorian of House Pavus, Altus Mage of the Tevinter Imperium and Ambassador to the Inquisition. If any of that means anything to you, wonderful. I'd be happy to let you know where you may collect me. If not, well, no effort is lost save that which is not attempted, eh?

Comments

Action

[manynames]

[It didn't quite feel right to abandon the cave entirely. He'd currently decided to linger in Genessia City for a while longer yet at Koumyou's shrine, mostly out of curiosity regarding the holy script the priest there carried.

But at length, concern grew at the idea of another person ending up at the bay, confused and alarmed. Not all of them arrived from such a dismal place as he did after all. He was fairly certain most people would rather be home.

Yes there was a hologram, but there was something nice about having a face to face conversation with an entity that could actually respond.

And this was how Azrael stumbled upon Dorian, eyeing the pamphlets scattered here and there, pondering if maybe he should... pick those up for him.

He... he wasn't sure the other man was going to do that.]

... Have you found what you are looking for?

[Still sort of getting used to people preferring him to not float, the angel had been kind enough to keep his feet on the ground this time.

Wings however, wings are still there, massive and covered in runes as always.]

Action

[tevinteraltus]

[ The light cast by a streetlamp, and the shadow it forced Azrael to cast in his peripheral vision, alerted Dorian to the angel's presence. He turns, even, some witty and sarcastic quip on his tongue...

...until he sees his addresser. His expression shifts from prickly retort to something akin to confusion...and slight shock. Were those...wings? Huge, feathered wings? Impressive to be sure, but... ]

Ah... [ Get your head in the game, Pavus. You just woke up in a strange...sarcophagus in a subterranean cavern with no memory of how you've come to be here, and some mysterious benefactor has seen fit to bestow upon you some helpful little trinkets. This is hardly the strangest thing you've seen today. ] ...you know, I have no idea. [ He smiles, because it seems better than staring. ] You see, in order to know for certain, I'd have to know what, precisely, I was looking for.

Re: Action

[manynames]

[Oh Azrael himself casts light, a faint but obvious shade of blue. Not enough to overpower the lamp of course.

Azrael looks from him back to the pamphlets on the ground, thoughtful]

I suppose then it's fair to say you've just arrived, if you cannot imagine yet what to look for.

[It wasn't a snotty comment, the tone was even and soft, Azrael gesturing momentarily at the fallen pamphlets... which started to pick themselves up and stack back on the map stand]

If I may, I can help you find a few better places in town to ponder things. It cannot be easy to think right now.

[Action]

[cadbane]

[Cad Bane happens to be in he area when he sees the man looking at the maps. His appearance may be a little unusual - a six fee tall blue-skinned alien with red eyes wearing what amounted to a Wild West style of outfit. He speaks with an almost mechanical sounding drawl of some hard-to-pinpoint European accent. Strange tubes are attached to his cheeks.]

I take it you're a new arrival here.

[Action]

[tevinteraltus]

[ It isn't often Dorian is at a loss for words. In fact, not losing his verbal stride is a point of pride for the mage. That being said, whenever Cad addresses him, the sound of the man's voice gives Dorian goosebumps (and not the good kind) before he looks up and turns in the direction of the words, olive green eyes taking in the, for lack of a better word, alien being standing before him.

He's only thrown for a moment, though, before he clears his throat, as though the action snaps him back to himself, and he crosses his arms before speaking. ]

Good of you to notice. If all the natives look like you, it shouldn't be too hard to figure out.

[ He smirks slightly, as though to let the taller alien know he was joking, and moves a hand to his chest. ]

Dorian. Of House Pavus.

[Action]

[cadbane]

More of them look like you. Or human in appearance, at the very least.

[He tips his wide-brimmed hat.]

I'm Cad Bane.

All Action All the time SUNDAY SUNDAY SU-Monday.

[hammernhasslehoff]

Ah, new here, ja?

[Lucky ducky, as weird as this day has been, at least one person here might look normal! No weird wings or blue skin.

... Doesn't stop him from being over seven feet tall, but at least he's not in armor right now, or else this would be hella strange to look at amirite.

Reinhardt was just slogging back to the common space with food for the week himself. A weeks worth of groceries in all the bags it would take, slung casually over his back, mostly carried with one hand.

The other one was bringing along a six pack of bottled beer. Don't bother trying to read it, he only buys German beer.]

You are doing well, I hope?

Technically it's Tuesday now but we can stay with the days of the week sure :)

[tevinteraltus]

[ Dorian had reached the point where he was dangling the necklace of gold and jewels, interspersed with green stones, from gloved fingers and turns at the sound of Reinhardt's approach. It wasn't as though the man was small.

Or quiet. His olive green eyes met the man's chest first, before panning up to his face. My, what a large, strapping blond man.

A pleasant smile touched Dorian's lips as he inclined his head in acknowledgement before slipping the necklace into one of the pockets lining the belt at his waist. ]

Just so. That obvious, is it?

[ He spread his hands out to the sides as he shrugged. ]

Well enough, I suppose, given the circumstances. I've just woken up in a subterranean cavern inside a metal sarcophagus to find I've been kidnapped to another world, apparently. I'm hale, whole, and not possessed. Things could be worse.

[ He moves a hand to his chest and bows at the shoulders slightly. ]

Dorian. Of House Pavus. If that means anything to you, maybe I'm not as far from home as I fear to be true.

GOOD

[hammernhasslehoff]

[Yeah, Reinhardt isn't what one might call subtle, in almost anything he does. He smiles back, an easy gesture.]

Many people don't stay at the caves too long after getting here. Too wet.

Ja, it could be much worse, as far as kidnappings go, it is one of the more tolerable ones I've witnessed.

[Reinhardt respectfully dips his head, as close to a bow back that he can get with all the things he's carrying.]

I am sorry, friend, I'm afraid I don't know the title. Still, it is good to see you! Hale, whole and not possessed.

I am Reinhardt Wilhelm, Crusader and former member of the Stuttgart division.

Welcome to Genessia.

[sixthmage]

[A look of apprehension lingers upon Elatus' face once he makes his way towards the hologram. He noticed the other man earlier but definitely didn't have the courage to greet him at first. Being whisked away to some strange land is enough to frazzle anyone's nerves, especially his. The mage always been a bit of an odd duck around others and this encounter will be no different as he carefully approaches.

He watches in mildly intrigue when the other looks as if he was about to attack the hologram. The ghostly image of that girl is mildly haunting despite how cheerful and friendly she seems. Elatus seen something similar to this kind of technology within the royal city but nothing quite that advance. The teal-haired gentleman gives the hologram another skeptic glance glancing at the man reading the pamphlets.

'Fancy.' Elatus thinks to himself as he eyes him. 'High quality leathers.'

He spies on this fellow for a moment before mustering up some kind of courage speak. The awkwardness of it all is honestly nerve-racking.]

I--[There's a brief pause as he rethinks how he's going introduce this topic. Blurting out "I've been bloody kidnapped" isn't a good conversation starter.] *Ahem* I take it you're...not a local.

[tevinteraltus]

[ Dorian jerked his head in Elatus' first muttered pronoun, taking a long breath while the elf (at least what Dorian sees as an elf) steeled his nerves to continue speaking, and even offering him a friendly smile of encouragement. Being born the son of a Lord, a Magister, and his sole heir, he wasn't unaccustomed to intimidated people just by existing. He didn't want to give the impression he was mean-spirited though, so he bit back the sarcastic response that sprung to mind in response to Elatus' hesitant commentary and just shook his head gently once the other man was finished speaking before bowing slightly at the shoulder with a nod. ]

And you would take it correctly. I take it you haven't been around here very long, yourself. I am Dorian, of House Pavus. I'll spare you the full title, as I'm slowly beginning to realize it means...next to nothing here.

[ He chuckles. ]

How long have you been skulking about here, anyway?

[sixthmage]

[A title? Ah, it seems that this man is some kind of lord.

Elatus could somewhat tell given the gentleman's somewhat regal stature. That certainly doesn't help with his crushing anxiety but at least this nobleman doesn't seem to be the hoity–toity type. Thank the gods for small favors. So, instead of awkwardly shuffling away in his attempt to make sense of this living nightmare, Elatus continues.]

It's good to make your acquaintance nonetheless, Sir Dorian. Title or without title. [He chuckles some.] The name's Elatus Klein and like you, I suspect all my doctrines and degrees don't matter here at all.

[A quiet sigh.]

Nevertheless, I suppose they never really held any meaning other than just extra words upon a page.

[That next bit catches the alleged "elf" off guard. Skulking? Wait, he wasn't skulking!]

Oh, no, no! I wasn't skulking as much as I was cautiously exploring. [Bull! He was totally skulking earlier.] This quite the experience, being kidnapped and all. I keep thinking this is just some bizarre dream but alas.

[Elatus pauses for a time as to gather his thoughts. While he suspects this is no mere dream, how else is he to rationalize what the hologram claims? This is a bizarre situation, a little too bizarre for his liking.]

It seems that everything that girl--[He points to the hologram.] Rings true.

As of how this is possible, I still cannot quite comprehend but there's unknowns here she hasn't even figured out yet.

[Action]

[sonicosuper]

*It has taken some time, but Sonico is finally feeling able to leave her apartment more freely. She recently suffered a horrible attack that has left some deep wounds on her arms and legs. Hence why she is wearing a longer skirt than usual and a cardigan to cover her arms. Not that any stranger would notice the change. Still, she finds herself feeling very out of place when she comes across this particular newcomer at the bay.

It's good to see someone taking such initiative, but Sonico pauses and smiles in amusement at the number of pamphlets he has scattered about him. She stops just by the map stand, and gives him a welcome smile*

Excuse me for interrupting, but that's quite a lot of information you have there.

[Action]

[tevinteraltus]

[ Dorian is clearly no stranger to collecting information as he goes along as he doesn't stop in his collection of the various pamphlets when she addresses him. He's also, clearly, used to being interrupted as he takes it all in stride, tucking all but the pamphlet on the city they were currently standing in into a pouch at his belt before turning to regard the girl more fully.

Pink hair? Alright, then. Not a color he's seen before, but it suits her, somehow.
He smiles, inclining his head in a slight nod, to confirm her observation. ]

It would be remiss not to take advantage of the information provided, wouldn't it? Someone went to quite a lot of trouble to organize it, after all.

[ He raised his shoulders in a slight shrug before adding- ]

It may not all be true, but having what's available makes it more likely to glean the truth from the whole.

[ He placed a hand on his chest, a motion of indication. ]

Dorian, of House Pavus, and I'm rather used to interruption, though you haven't. There's no need to apologize.

[Action]

[sonicosuper]

*That was a clever observation, and one which made Sonico smile a bit more genuinely now. She appreciated that he had taken the time to look*

You know, that's the first I have heard anyone say such a thing. Usually, people get too impatient and demand questions from others straight away.

*The way that he spoke and the way that he held himself suddenly made her feel a little out of her depth. Still, with a smile and a bow of her head, Sonico placed a hand on her own chest*

Sonico. Of...no particular house. I just...live where I live.

guess what its ACTION

[acheat]

I never thought I'd find anyone else here with good taste, honestly.

[Because he'd just got done bar hopping, that's why he was even in Genessia City right now. No such thing as a good bar in Fayren. There was like... the one. And no one there was pretty.

So here he was.

With a smile on his face and an appreciative tone.]

Where on earth did you get those, I haven't had cause to be jealous of someone in ages.

ACTION

[tevinteraltus]

[ Academically, when he turns and regards this elf, he notes the skin tone. There are many elven slaves in the Imperium, and he's met several free elves since traveling further south, but...none who looked like this one. Questions spring to mind, but Jarlaxle was kind enough to appeal to Dorian's robust ego.

He runs a hand over the finely woven cloth draped over his shoulders and belted at his waist, a smile teasing up the corners of his mouth. ]

How kind of you to notice. The robes are Nevarran silk lined, imported and extremely rare given our current diplomatic relations with Nevarra. You should be jealous.

[ Of the quality of my robes, and my ability to accessorize. Whoever told you quantity of jewelry over quality was preferable should be burned at the stake. ]

[Action]

[the_fractured_heart]

[Khloe sometimes takes strolls by the Bay. She had hoped to see someone she'd recognize, hells, she even hoped for a temple knight to walk out of the Bay. At least she'd have something to play with. But no, no sign of anyone he even looks like they'd come from Eorzea.

She spots Dorian studying the pamphlets, noting his robes and thinking he's probably some noble. She was about ready to pass on by and ignore him but, she guesses a bit of kindness wouldn't hurt.]

Them's 'bout as much 'elp as a Goobbue givin' directions, mate. Ye be bett'r of 'splorin' on your own.

[Khloe, just because everyone isn't as impatient and irritable as you, doesn't mean the pamphlets are useless.]

[Action]

[tevinteraltus]

[ It was something in her tone, maybe, or her inflection, or perhaps how she utterly butchered the Trade tongue. Whatever it was, it only served to fray Dorian's already unraveling nerves all the more and he turned from his pamphlet reading to regard this...woman...?

She was striking, that was true, but strange eyes and...feline features? Maybe he wouldn't be so prickly as he'd originally intended. She was certainly interesting. ]

I suppose they are quite useless, if you've a lax reading comprehension, or lack of attention to detail.

[ He rolls one shoulder in a shrug as he holds aloft one of the papers and motions in the direction of the archway leading to Feyren. ]

For example, I know that the 'archway', which I assume is some sort of portal, possibly akin to an Eluvien, leading to the land of Feyren is in that direction. No exploration required. Truly, the power of the written word knows no bounds.

VOICE

[sarcastass]

I mean I could always lie and say yes.

[don't be a prick, Szel. The voice over the communicator is both smooth and smokey, a strange, vague discordant rasp just barely in the back of it.]

But I think currently your life is complicated enough.

VOICE

[tevinteraltus]

Assuming I'm naive enough to simply trust you, it might have even worked.

Oh, you have no idea, but if you'd like to add to my growing list of complications, please, do go on.

[Video]

[shy_mage]

I-It is really nice, isn't it?

[He completely missed the sarcasm. It was totally nice of people to give them something to start with. It was more than what he'd started with at home.]

Y-You're a mage, too? Fayren is good for m-mages, and it's the prettiest city.

[No bias there. Nope, that was his completely objective opinion.]

[Video]

[tevinteraltus]

Yes, nice, and not suspicious in the least.

[ His expression, though, is rather deadpan. ]

Appearance is, indeed, important, isn't it? [ He smirks. ] Aside from being the prettiest, what makes it so appropriate for those with a magical inclination?

audio;

[whiteas]

As far as responses to being kidnapped go, I'll take relatively tame sarcasm any day. Before I recorded that message there it used to just have a sheet of paper that said "Don't panic," so you're welcome to criticize as much as you see fit as long as you don't damage anything.

audio;

[tevinteraltus]

By the sound of your voice, it was a carefully constructed recording. Why damage it?

[ He pauses. ]

If it's any consolation, Ms. Schnee, I'm screaming on the inside.