eighth rune; frost; video

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira's at his lake, sitting cross-legged in its center, on a platform of pure, glittering frost. Byfrost, his runeblade, is stuck in the ice beside him, glowing darkly--a black miasma crawls and leaps around the sword throughout this transmission, though it doesn't seem to bother Koltira much. Rather, his attention is fully fixed on the tablet, which he holds up with one gloved hand. He's wearing a black, high-collared shirt with long sleeves; no armor at all is visible. A collection of glass bottles, most of them empty, surrounds him.

It's been about a month since his blood frenzy, and several weeks since he and a few of the others handled Arthas. Aside from his night out with Bariyan for New Year's Eve, Koltira has tried to seclude himself from the population of the island, and definitely tried not to talk about all the terrible things that happened during his frenzy.

He is a creature of guilt and despair even at the best of times, but this most recent go-round on the misery carousel has left him deeper in darkness than ever before. He's decided that he needs to offer some apologies. Some explanations.]

Before I speak to you of the true matter at hand, I wish to thank those of you who assisted in dealing with Arthas and rescuing the Lady Proudmoore. Though he escaped, it will likely be some time before he is strong enough to trouble us again.

[He pauses. His expression, which had been entirely stoic, turns downcast.]

Important as that is, however, it's not why I'm talking to you. I mean to apologize for my actions of some weeks ago, especially to those unfortunate enough to encounter me in the forest. I am so terribly sorry for the harm I caused. I was not in full control of my faculties--that is why I tried to issue a warning.

[He shifts in position slightly, so as to pick up one of the fuller bottles and take a fortifying drink. All right. Pressing on.]

As some of you know, I am a death knight, of a world called Azeroth. I was killed, and then my raising into undeath was ordered by Arthas himself. My body is the product of the worst kind of necromancy, and the curses that bind me together extend beyond the flesh. All of my kind are subject to constant pain; barely tolerable to living senses even at its lowest levels. We were designed, quite literally, to be killing machines in the service of the Lich King--a name that Arthas has taken now, and that he will indeed eventually become.

[Another pause, another drink. This part of the explanation is his least favorite, but he knows he must tell it, in the interest of honor and transparency.]

Our essential curse is this: the longer we--the longer I--go without inflicting suffering on another living creature, the more we suffer in turn. If enough time passes, we fall into madness. We think of nothing but blood. Seeking it. Spilling it. Our pain becomes excruciating. Unbearable, wracking spasms.

I fight against this every day, as do all my brothers and sisters in death. But it is not easy, and I occasionally fail.

[He winces even as he talks. Almost through it.]

Again ... I am sorry for the pain I've caused. In the interests of the city, both yourselves and the general population, I've left the apartments. I shall remain here, and I shall limit my time among you, save as I must come and go in service of your protection against other threats.

It is all I can do.

[He's quiet for a moment, staring down at the ice. That's all, right? That's all he can say, he thinks. He ends the transmission.]

Comments

voice

[firstroar]

[THIS RESPONSE IS A BIT LATE TO THE PARTY, BUT:]

You told me, more than once, I was of help to you. Back before.

[deadelfwalking]

[quietly.]

That was a different time, and a different situation.

[private; permavoice]

[ghostling]

[She's without her helmet now that it's busted up.]

Y'shouldn'a let y'self get to that point. But y'know that...

[There's a long pause as this is the stupidest thing she could ever offer but seeing as she doesn't stay dead even without the aid of this place she might as well say it.] Will it no' help if there's someone willin' t'be a target in the case y'have no other outlet?

[private; permavoice// HACKED!!]

[vaudevil]

What are you doing?

[The clip in his tone depicts he's not happy about this at all.]

[deadelfwalking]

[As far as he's concerned, he didn't have a choice in the matter, and still doesn't. He's more perturbed by the rest of her remarks, though.]

What are you suggesting?

Video;

[gofortheoptics]

[...well, that isn't something you see every day. She's totally creating a datafile for Death Knights on her omni-tool, which is why there's clicking of the hard light keyboard and the faint orange glow of it reflected on her mask when she turns on the video feed.

There are darker thoughts of her own dwelling in her mind. Would it work if -- no, she didn't want to know whether it would work on an AI. She knew already that they had souls, in so far as she believed it, and that was enough to mean they could feel pain -- maybe not in the same way as living creatures, though.]

We ... don't choose all of the things visited upon us. I don't know you, but ...

[Wow, okay. What to say here that doesn't come off as incredibly condescending. She's started thinking more about the things that come out of her mouth! It only took her a few dozen months.]

Apologizing is more than most would do. People don't like to take responsibility for the things they've done unless they're good things.

If there are things you'd need brought out to you, I could offer transport for them.

Re: Video;

[deadelfwalking]

[What a curious-looking person. Human? He can't even tell. He appreciates her sentiments, nevertheless.]

It's kind of you to offer, but I would not ask even that. I require very little.

video

[healplz]

[ bro :C

there's some hesitation here, but... he's gotta try it. ]

Your lake looks lonely tonight.

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira averts his eyes.]

It often does, I suppose.

permatext;

[boughtabookstore]

I assume you've already thought of and tried magical means of assuaging it.

Your frankness is appreciated. I hope you will receive enough missions to keep you in as little pain as possible.

[deadelfwalking]

A correct assumption. [He shakes his head at the second part of her message.] I have little interest in missions.

[ voice]

[betterinthedark]

[ She's seen death knights before and even helped them out, not to mention she knew of what happened to him in Andorhal... ]

If you want, my blades and footwork always needs work.

[...]

Would you care for company?

[deadelfwalking]

Sparring will not do. Nor am I fit for company. [Not now, not ever. FOR ANYONE. Such an emo kid rn.]

text

[redheadcarrier]

Gee, sounds like we should put you down, just to be safe.

[deadelfwalking]

I would only come back.

video;

[crymoore]

[ Even if she's using the video function, she's hidden behind the shadows of her cowl, keeping her face obscure. ]

You are going through so much inner turmoil and yet you still managed to do what you could for me. Thank you, Koltira.

[deadelfwalking]

[softly.] Of course, Lady Proudmoore. Are you faring well?

video;

[arcanepower]

[The elven youngling stares at the message hard. He's got mixed feelings about Koltira. He's a hero... sort of. An unsung sort. One of the finest warriors to come out of Quel'thalas. But Koltira's not one of them. He wasn't right there alongside the elves when they turned to fel power.

But is this so different from the magic thirst?

He frowns down at the tablet.]

... You do what you must to survive. No one can fault you for that.

[deadelfwalking]

[His tone is gently wry.] I'm afraid they can, and do.

Voice

[totallytrustworthy]

[ It's not in her nature to say she's sorry, but it's certainly there in her tone when she calls.]

You shouldn't have to apologize to anyone, you know. It's not your fault.

[deadelfwalking]

[Ah, Chloe. He really did a number on you, girl, and don't think he's forgotten it. He murmurs.]

I'm afraid that I disagree.

video;

[lovesgod]

[Lucifer wants to take you apart and learn how you work so badly, Koltira. So, so badly. He has studied the post for a long time before deciding the best question to ask.]

Do you remember anything of being alive?

Have you.... defected from this King?

[deadelfwalking]

[Unfortunately, he's not particularly interested in the analysis.]

Yes to both.

video + text.

[combats]

[ Okay, he's figured out you can do video and write text at the same time! So that's what he does, turning on the camera to a sympathetic and sincere expression. ]

i am sorry, koltira.
you are a good man, you do not deserve such a thing.

[deadelfwalking]

That's kind of you to say, Jacquese ... but I have done many things that are not befitting of a good man.

[[ Video ]]

[thewhitepawn]

[He still has a lot of settling in to do and a lot to learn as a whole, but the first step to this for Anduin has been studying the network and the people therein. The video post catches his eye and he's content to listen for the time being - it seems to be a genuine apology and it isn't his place to pass judgement. He's not sure what he can say that would comfort Koltira, if indeed anything he could say would do such a thing.]

Is ...there anything that can be done, aside from this need for violence?

[deadelfwalking]

[He doesn't recognize Anduin--the child would have been hardly a newborn at the time of his death, and he hasn't exactly been welcome in Stormwind since then. He can't be entirely sure this young man is from Azeroth yet, actually.

But, nevertheless ...]

What do you mean, boy?

(voice; private)

[shortcaptain]

This necromancy... Is the source of its power black magic?

[deadelfwalking]

I suppose you could call it that. It's of the shadows, certainly.

voice;

[encourage]

I'm glad you got around to the explanation eventually. This, by the way, is what would have been a far more effective warning than what you did. The intent is appreciable, but the results...

( Just sayin', man. )

[deadelfwalking]

[THIS KID.]

I was not exactly in the right frame of mind for clear and careful speech.

video

[fintastic]

Can I come visit you, then, if you won't come here?

[deadelfwalking]

[He blinks back at her in confusion.]

I ... do not know why you would wish to do so.

video, SUPER LATE COMMENT WHOOPS ...

[ino]

[well, that explains what she'd been wondering about the other day ...

still, she doesn't appear disturbed, upset, or anything of the sort. more concerned, really]

How are you doing?

[deadelfwalking]

[That's not a question he gets asked very often, Ino, and it takes him a while to respond.

Finally, he murmurs.]

Not well.

[unholy_rebirth]

[This is interesting, and a bit unsettling, to hear. Because of concern for her fellow death knight, and because it touches on her own fears about herself.

She understands, but she's not entirely sure what to say about it.]

[deadelfwalking]

[He can't sense anything over the network, of course, so he's not sure who, if anyone, might be listening to or watching his message. He will wait for her response, should she have one.]

this one too!

[breakin_ur_lore]

...can I....can anything be done about it? What about holy magic?

[deadelfwalking]

Even holy magic meant to heal my wounds causes me extraordinary pain.