exsilium | I. Oh That's How. (video)

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I. Oh That's How. (video)

[The face on the screen is the one above. The image rotates a bit, then settles down.]

Greetings. I am Meliantha.

I managed to convince one of our hosts to explain to me how this device works. Where I am from we have nothing like it. Many things here are different. But many things are similar - perhaps universal things.

I would be willing to trade lessons in fighting for lessons in the devices used here, if it would be helpful. While my main skill is in the sword, I have used most weapons and-

[She pauses, as if interrupted, and then appears to address the sword hilt visible over her shoulder.]

-- no, I am not going to give you away, do not be silly.

[She returns her attention to the message, and continues.]

-- and have also taught basic tactics to arrange a successful slave rebellion. Hopefully these skills will be worth the time in trade. I hope to speak with others soon. I know there are a number of persons with skills in the blade - we may wish to gather and battle each other, in order to improve our skills and learn new tricks.

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Is that sword talking to you, somehow?

Yes. We converse quite often.

....could you not hear him?

No, but I have heard of such artifacts.

Ah. Hm. Useful to know that he cannot be heard through these devices.

I fear I'm no better off than you in the use of these devices. However, I will gladly accept the offer to cross blades. It's impossible to stay sharp doing nothing but going through forms.

I don't really do the whole swords thing, but I could probably help you out with learning how to use the tech.

Perhaps he is speaking telepathically, and not through actual sound.

It's always seemed to me that he is speaking; others have heard him and not reacted as if it was into the mind, but as if they were hearing it.

Perhaps the magic just cannot be picked up by these devices, or it is just the way of what allows him to be heard.

Indeed. I'm quite sure that we have things to learn from and teach to each other.

That would be helpful. I also am skilled in most weapons - just that due to circumstance, most of my practice is with the sword.

I've seen the guns that some people use; very different from what I am used to, I admit. No one seems to have lost a limb to them.

Ah! Good, another one with a sword. I was worried I might be outnumbered, at some point!

oh, a slave rebellion? Sounds like a tough one.

I had the advantage of arrogant masters who assumed there was no chance of a rebellion happening. It wasn't easy, but that helps enormously.

Also, having your cooks be slaves. And the cooks for your army.

It ended up being called the Nausea Rebellion by the bards. Thankfully, my part was left out of the tale completely.

[She remembers speaking to this man.]

Indeed. Amongst the warriors of Faerun, I am recognized for my skill in the long blades, but it is considered good to be familiar with as many weapons as possible.

...I am not terribly good with, say, halberds, and my skill at fighting from horseback is merely adequate enough for me to get off the horse without too much injury.

It's certainly an interesting question.

I should like to meet this sword at some point, such artifacts are very rare in my home.

As long as your blade doesn't take it personally. [A half smile.]

When do you like to train? Lately I've been doing it in the late evenings after clean up.

He keeps making comments about sharing, but I believe he is just trying to show how amusing he is.

I usually train when I wake - curse of the wanderer and all - but I have no troubles with changing that, or meeting people. Now that I've discovered the wonders of the rainwash, I can clean up any time I like.

We shall make arrangements to meet. He just told me that speaking to someone who understands the basics of civilization would be a treat.

He thinks of himself as, I warn, something of a wit.

That could be an interesting battle tactic. Make your enemies laugh too hard to fight you. You'll have to let me know if that ever works. I've never been good with the quips under pressure. [He lies like a dog.]

I don't mind early mornings, either. We can alternate if you like.

[He tilts his head curiously.]

The rainwash? Oh, do you mean the shower?

Consider me warned. If you make your way to the roof of a tall building, I should be able to find you with little difficulty.

I've always wished I was a better archer, but I'm glad for my sword. [He smiles.]

Horseback fighting has its merits, but it isn't always the best. Especially in battle, the horse could be cut down easily.

The easiest way to kill a man is through his stomach, it seems. [He laughs.]

It does sound like a pretty thing to see.

Well, I'm not really into the whole weapon thing, anyway.

Yeah, guns are kinda a different animal entierly compared to swords.

There's actually a spell I've seen that forces someone to laugh so hard they cannot defend themselves. Not very powerful - a reasonably strong will can overcome it - but still, it does work.

[She nods.]

I suppose. But it's like a strong rain that actually can be washed in. And it's not cold, like a waterfall. It's almost decadent.

There was some fighting, but with most of the army releasing their dinners from one end or the other, there were many free weapons, and I'd taught basic weapon skills to some, who then trained others. They'd managed to set up a reasonable government and a justice system when I left.

My faith has an order of knights attached, and they were going on and on about horseback charges, lances, and trampling. Even after one of them drowned from falling off his horse, on a bridge, into a river.

I wonder if it ever backfires? I think it might be difficult to kill someone doubled over in laughter.

[Unless they were particularly powerful and that was the only way to get an advantage.]

Yes, they call those showers here, from what I've been told. It's the nicest thing I've found in this place.

[He shakes his head.] I understand the idea behind it, but you should let them know how unfeasible it truly is.

Am I to take it you had nothing to do with that? [Teasing, sarcastic teasing.]

Well, if you can see the back of their neck...

[A chopping motion.]

Indeed, perhaps I might even call them decadent. There's stories of things like this in the royal palace in Cormyr.

They don't listen.

They go on their horses, they go off, and... well, the last time, they got there and half the force they were about to attack was down with the belly-flux, the other half talking to things that weren't there, and my note to them left behind.

I am very good with my sword, but when it's two hundred fifty to one, mild poisons turn the tide.

I left some books. The organization I worked for sent in some people to help with the law-writing and organizing later.

....they didn't expect me to win it, you see, just start it and let things go.

True enough, and if they had just been trying to kill you-

They might have something like them in Orzammar. If they do, I've never been treated to one. I'm not a dwarf, so that's not surprising.

[Nods wisely.]

It's unfortunate, but true. Even just a small bit of poison can be the one thing that devastates and wins a battle.

The law. I see. You would think it's different everywhere, but politics always remain the same.

You would have made a very good judge, back home, I am assuming.

I'm not sure. I tended to have arguments with the teachers about which was a greater criminal, a man stealing a loaf of bread too expensive for him to feed his family or the nobleman who burned a field of wheat, making the price of that bread so expensive.

I tended to argue against the nobles. That didn't win me friends amongst the noble-born.

I took no joy in it, except that by being ill good men did not die. (The reason for the entire fight was one man's arrogance, and good men following the commands of their lord. Everyone would have been weaker in the long view.)

I think that's what made the best of judges. I wouldn't know, of course, but they say so long as they can argue the law for more then an hour, you're able to wear the armor. Which seems to be another prerequisite for that group.

You have seen much, for one so young. [A pause.] You... are young, aren't you?

[A small smirk]

I've seen thirty-three winters, fifteen of them living by the blade. One of the few benefits I find from my heritage is that I do not seem to age very fast - another being that only weapons of cold-wrought iron leave me scars.

There's a need for law, but when the law is used to oppress instead of protect, and when justice is ignored over the rigid need for law...

...that is where I tended to be assigned.

I worked for a group, the Harpers, whose spoke of an ethos of respect for others and of the world around us, of freedom and justice, and of a world where things like slavery and tyranny were no longer fears. Dreams, perhaps... but I admit, that is a dream of a world worth dying for.

For some, perhaps. I prefer not dying, as only the leading man shouldn't.

I would certainly not use them on a woman such as you! [Why is everyone older then him? Sometimes that sucks.]

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I. Oh That's How. (video)

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