video; dated to about an hour after everyone returns

[brightdawn]

[Koltira just doesn't know what happened. One minute he was sitting down, taking a break, peeling an apple--and then, suddenly, abruptly, he was here. He had not even heard someone mutter a spell, though he could see Merriel practicing on the lawns just beyond the temple's terrace. Perhaps something had gone astray. Something had definitely gone awry.

He's in some kind of woods, that much is clear, but he has no sense of them as he does in Quel'thalas. The trees feel foreign, damaged, sick. The dark sky roils with clouds, and the wind is a sharp, cold bite on his neck. He takes a few steps in one direction, then a few in another, and then he finally notices the other Koltira's tablet--blinking and murmuring on the ground. Koltira picks it up, presses some buttons.

The video eventually clicks on. The face it shows the network is familiar, but still markedly different than what anyone might remember of Koltira Deathweaver. His skin is healthy, sanguine tone; fair and free of cracks. An easy smile (albeit somewhat bemused) marks his handsome features, and while his eyes are still blue, they lack the cold fire of undeath. This is the blue of summer morning, warm and inviting.

His armor is something else, too. The video shows part of it--it's polished plate, pale blue and worked with ornate gold filigree. He has a broadsword strapped to his back, and the jeweled hilt mimics a stylized set of phoenix wings. A far cry from the dreadplate, from the ominous Byfrost.

When he speaks, his voice is friendly and smooth, lacking any of the guttural scratch it suffered from in undeath. Because, of course, this is Koltira before all of that.]

I have to say, this is the strangest scrying device I've ever seen. If it even is that; I suppose I could very well be talking to myself. But it does seem like something is transmitting.

[he shrugs. Well, anyway.]

If anyone can hear me on this, could you let me know? My name is Koltira, by the way. I'm usually guarding the temple An'owyn, but I think my friend Merriel may have tried a teleportation spell on me and gotten it a bit wrong.

[He beams, winningly.]

I'm sure it will all sort itself out eventually! But, in the meantime, I need to find my way out of these dreadful woods. Any help would be most appreciated.

[ooc: PRETEND HIS EYES ARE BLUE in these icons ...

ALSO LIZ TOLD ME TO POST THIS. SO I DID.]

Comments

[brightdawn]

[Confusion reigns. Perhaps this human mistakes him for someone else? He just shrugs it off, still smiling, though his tone is obviously puzzled.]

I'm so sorry, but I don't believe we've met before.

[moralperil]

Oh. [That's a lot of smiling. One can almost hear the soft clicks of gears moving into place.] I guess we haven't.

I'm Mahdi! Are you doing okay? Did someone explain to you what this place is?

[brightdawn]

I'm definitely catching on. Don't worry about me--like I said, I'm sure this will all right itself soon enough.

[No doubt Merriel is working hard to bring him back. Right? Right. Anyway.]

Is this your home, Mahdi?

[moralperil]

It's not exactly my home. I've been here for... four months, I think, so it's been my home since then. The people here are really nice even if it's dangerous sometimes. But you're a warrior, right? You'll manage!

[In retrospect maybe he shouldn't reveal how much he knows about Koltira. Thinking that Koltira was once this sunny person is pretty heartbreaking, but Mahdi vows to focus on making happy memories now.

He doesn't know if this is an entirely new Koltira, or if he's been transformed, but either way, he's happier now, and that's good.]

[brightdawn]

[He taps the hilt of his sword.] That I am, and that I will.

[somethin about that response, though ...]

Only four months, you say? Were you also the victim of an ill-managed spell?

[moralperil]

No. We were all brought here by the Initiative. As far as I know, it was kind of on purpose. The Initiative brought us here to fight to save their world.

You'll have your own room and place to stay while you're here, though. It's just sometimes they send us on these missions that are dangerous.

[brightdawn]

[The who in the what now? At least all this confirms that he's no longer on Azeroth.]

Save this world? From what?

[moralperil]

The United Earth. The humans here have nearly destroyed their own planet, to the point where they can't even support themselves anymore. Azeroth, the Above Realm - it's not just this planet that's in danger, it's everywhere, because they have spells that can take them to other worlds and steal away all our resources. This island is the home of the only resistance, and they're using their own spells to bring us here, and send us other places to stop them. Sometimes this place is attacked, too.

[Mahdi pauses thoughtfully, fussing with his hair.] Even if it's for a good cause, and it might protect our own worlds in the end, right now, it's a human war that's drafting people like us against our will. They're pretty desperate.

[brightdawn]

So--Azeroth is mixed up in all of this, as well? [Most spellwork is beyond him, honestly, so he just frowns thoughtfully. He supposes this young man has no reason to lie.]

I think I had better make my way to the town. Can you tell me the way out of these woods?

[moralperil]

There are some people from Azeroth who've been brought here, yeah. Not all of them are good, though. [Mahdi frowns a little.]

Um... I'm really bad with directions... I think you need to head South?

[brightdawn]

South ... hmm ... [He starts wandering that way, but his mind is stuck on Mahdi's other remark.] Others from Azeroth, you say? Can I ask who?

[moralperil]

Um, there's a bad guy that everyone says I should stay away from because of lit- lie - leeches?, and an elf who likes religion. And some other people, but I haven't gotten a chance to talk to them.

There's lots of pointy-eared folks here! I don't know if they're all from Azeroth, though.