one ☓ cutting teeth

[shamanism]

[audio --> video]

Attention, [intones the deep, rough, and rich voice of a newcomer.] I was told that I could contact other-- [the barest pause] -- transports with this device. This is a test signal. If you are able to hear me, please respond.

Or perhaps there is another way—?

[Without any warning, the video feed switches on, showing a green blur at first. At last it evens out, centering on a wrinkled green face possessing two startlingly blue eyes... strangely gentle, despite his otherwise beastly appearance. His hair is black and braided in front, and some of it leaks out of his beige hood. His expression is grave, concerned with recent events and things yet to come.]

I appreciate any information you can give me regarding the nature of missions and the history of this center. If I am to fight for my freedom, so be it, but I will not fight blindly.

[Another pause.] Thank you for your help. [He fiddles with the netbook for a second, then the transmission ends.]

Comments

video; JUST LEAVING THIS HERE before bed

[deadelfwalking]

[OH SHIT IT'S THE (former) WARCHIEF AND (current) WORLD SHAMAN. Koltira's eyes widen with respect and surprise when he sees this face on the feed.]

Throm'ka, World-Shaman. You have been brought to a wretched place.

video; JUST LOVING ON YOU WHILE YOU SLEEP NOTHING CREEPY OR ANYTHING

[shamanism]

[Thrall recognizes that face, the cool voice and manner. Didn't Koltira try to form some kind of kinship with Sylvanas? It's none of his business. Still, Koltira is an ally, and Thrall is happy to see him in one piece.]

Throm'ka, friend. [He uses the word without hesitation, and yet there's some weight to it. Thrall does know the difference between a friend and a foe.] Even a wretched place may conceal good company. I hope you have not been here too long.

[video]

[skirtcladgunner]

[Oh look, it's a big green guy.]

Can hear--and see--you loud and clear! [She doesn't seem to be intimidated at all.]

[video]

[shamanism]

[Oh thank the spirits, a school-age girl who isn't screeching like a banshee at the sight of him. It's so weird. By the time that Thrall had contact with humans, they'd already seen orcs for a while. Not that he doubts that he can scare a child, basically, but... ugh, it just brings back bad memories for him all around.

He bows his head in acknowledgement.]

Well met, stranger. Thank you for responding. I'm... not very familiar with these machines.

video

[totallytrustworthy]

[What the hell. She's seen less human things here, sure, but considering Chloe's only a week in, she's still having trouble coming to grips with all the...weird.]

My, what big teeth you have.

video

[shamanism]

[Excuse you, Chloe. He looks away, frowning.]

I'm sorry if I startled you, miss. That was not my intention.

[bratworth]

[ seriously how many sentient species does this universe and all its realities hold

He doesn't even bother to try and hide the look on his face. ]

The missions entail travelling back in time to past events and changing them to positively benefit the Initiative's future.

[shamanism]

[Thrall would like you to know that his orcs are different. Anyway, Edgeworth did give him a decent answer, so there's that. Thrall frowns at that look, though. He's not TRYING to scare everybody here, he's just...

It's not easy being green.]

It seems foolish to give strangers that much power...

Have the transports endured any missions so far?

[voice]

[bloodsnap]

[OH GOD. ORC.

OH GOD, SHAMAN.

OH GOD FORMER WARCHIEF. She is officially outnumbered. But hey, Koltira put the faction barrier at rest, maybe she'd get lucky. Not that Thrall needed to know, but her love for the alliance only surpassed her love for the horde by a small margin.

Which was to say that she loved neither all that much.]

Well then. That's certainly a plot twist, isn't it?

[permavideo on this end until Thrall learns how to turn it off.]

[shamanism]

[Thrall has no idea who's speaking, and due to the somewhat muted accent, he can't be completely sure if it's someone from Gilneas or otherwise.]

Greetings, stranger.

[He sounds a touch puzzled.]

video;

[ardor]

[Kallen does look a little startled, but it's not as much as she would have been a while ago.]

I'm sorry I can't answer those, I just recently arrived, however I'd be interested in hearing what answers you get.

video;

[shamanism]

[That's good, at least.]

You are welcome to browse the responses. If I learn anything of value, I won't hesitate to share it.

video

[healplz]

[ what the shit that is totally an orc, you don't just talk to orcs


...except Koltira is doing just that, and seeming pretty friendly about it?

SORT OF GUARDED: ] I can tell you at least that these missions we've been brought for do not come often.

video

[shamanism]

[What are you talking about? OF COURSE YOU TALK TO ORCS. Unless you don't speak Orcish. Then, you know, that's another matter entirely.]

That is some small relief. It gives us time to heal, and to plan.

Thank you for your response, stranger.

Video;

[studieswaitressing]

[She's pretty much right up against the screen when her feed flips on.]

You know, that's the smartest first post that I think I've seen in a while. There's been people excited to fight this place's war without knowing much about it.

video;

[shamanism]

[Thrall isn't surprised to see someone with a blue face, textured or not. It's less surprising than all the humans around. Not that he has a problem with either.

Thrall is a little further away from the camera he can barely hold the netbook in his lap comfortably. Alas.]

There are always warriors eager to prove themselves. [He thinks of Garrosh. Many a stern word has been exchanged between them because of the other orc's impatience, brash attitude, and willfulness to engage in war.] All we can do is show them alternatives. We cannot change them forcefully, nor can we chain them for long.

[whatsupcroc]

Hey, I had a blindfold all ready in case someone wanted to try fighting blind. Where's everyone's sense of adventure!

[ She winks, though her expression is more excited and awed than anything else. ]

You got to us, that's for sure. Who are you? What species are you? I'm Collette! ... And I'm human, if humans aren't something you've seen before.

[ It was kind to offer what she was asking after, probably. ]

[shamanism]

[Thrall... does not smile at that. She looks way too young to be here. Rather than playing Debbie Downer, he just shakes his head.]

You may call me Thrall. My people are the orcs, who did not see humans until they crossed over into the world of Azeroth. I was-- [the barest pause] -- raised among humans, so I'm accustomed to them.

Thank you for being considerate, however. [A shadow of a smile.] Throm'ka, Collette.

Video;

[onemoredeath]

This is the center of a rebellious force that wish to turn back the tides that made the United Earth rulers of this crippled planet. To do so, we go back in time and correct things that had led to this point of the future.

Do you have specific questions?

video;

[shamanism]

Thank you for responding. I am curious about mission specifics. Do they guide the forces remotely, or do they send a representative commander? Is there a military hierarchy in addition to the formal ruling one?

I am also interested in the mission history so that we may map out our progress.

video

[wrexy]

Hah, you talk sense at least. Gotta aim your gun before you fire it.

video; HI HI HI HI HI HI HI HELLO

[shamanism]

[Thrall doesn't comment on "OMG HEY NOT HUMAN DUDE", just nods.]

I have my own share of conflicts to deal with, but this... organization has better ideas.

video

[fintastic]

[ Cue one wide-eyed fish girl with her face all up in the camera. ]

Okay, I don't get to do this often, so I have to take my chance now!

What are you?

video

[shamanism]

[Oh, hello bug-eyed gray thing with glasses. She's cute, whatever she is. Wow, what tact! What amazing manners! Yet she is young and obviously spontaneous, and Thrall's warchief-like demeanor softens into something that allows a soft chuckle.]

Greetings, stranger. I am an orc.

[video]

[vestigiaflammae]

Hi! What kind of stuff do you want to know? I've been here for a couple of months, so I might be able to help.

[Pause -- oh, right, manners!]

I'm Lea. Where're you from? You're not human, right?

[video]

[shamanism]

I have questions about the battles, but I do not know if you can answer them. What do you know of the world outside?

[HOW IS ASKING IF HE'S HUMAN MANNERS? That's like -- oh well. Thrall expected it after his new roommate shrieked in his face.]

Throm'ka, Lea; I am Thrall. You guessed correctly-- I am an orc. My people originated from a world called Draenor.

[Video]

[theconsummateconman]

[By now Sully's almost used to the idea of all the ...interesting... new faces. This one definitely seems like one he wouldn't want to piss off. He takes a swig from a beer in hand for a little liquid courage and decides to respond.]

I really wish I could be of more help pal, but I'm pretty new here myself. Our "hosts" are pretty good at keeping us all in the dark... Some call this place a prison, but I've been held in much worse places. Really it sounds like you know about as much as I do.

Pal, for what it's worth... I like your gumption. You seem like you've got a good head on your shoulders. I think I can understand why they picked you.

[Video]

[shamanism]

[Poor Sully. He didn't expect Hippie Hulk to show up.] A prison with luxurious trappings is still a prison. Some of us can't afford to stay longer than needed.

[The compliment makes his lips curve a little bit in something vaguely recognizable as a smile. It's brief.] I am no stranger to the likes of battle, but I prefer honorable combat over fighting as a puppet.

The longer we are here, the more we will discover. I won't hesitate to share what I know when that happens.