video;

[ladyspitfire]

[There's a certain dog snuffling at the communicator when it turns on. In fact, his nose actually turns the device off and onto audio for several moments, the sound of his heavy breathing filling the microphone.]

Off, you lush. I need that.

[The mic is covered by something - fabric, actually, in an attempt to clean off the device - and then it switches back to video. A woman with red hair can be seen looking over the communicator critically, looking for scratches and cracks. The dog is gone and she settles back. It's easy from this angle to see the Warden-Commander's crest on her armor, even if it's partly covered by a curtain of hair.]

I wish to speak to whomever's in charge of bringing recruits here. They have no authority to conscript a Warden in any way, not without first making an appeal to Weisshaupt. If I cannot have an audience with the leader of this outpost - [or whatever it is] - then I would speak with anyone else who carries a position of authority.

[She knows her stuff, clearly. She frowns into the camera, tapping it once. She sighs, glancing at her dog. The commanding aura nearly vanishes, replaced by exasperation.]

...I'm speaking to myself, aren't I?

[Elissa glances back to the device, fussing with it once more. It turns off.]

Comments

[noble_nate]

[Maker, are they transporting all of Thedas?]

You're not speaking to yourself, Elissa, but unfortunately it won't do you much good. The people in charge here aren't usually inclined to respond to our questions.

[ladyspitfire]

[There's a very long pause on her end before she responds to him. All of that formality goes right out the window.]

Nate? What are you doing here?

[noble_nate]

Fighting in a war that I don't really want to be involved in, mostly.

[itase]

[A whosie what? Whatever.]

Nah, reading you loud and clear.

[ladyspitfire]

[Ah, there it goes.]

Is this the only method of communication here?

[passive]

Another Warden? My, they must really like our kind here.

I doubt you'll be granted any sort of audience, I'm afraid. They don't listen to us much, as far as I understand. [Bethany, who is also easily identified as a Warden by the blue and silver armor she has on, trails off while she gets a good look at the woman. The brand on her chest, in particular, is very interesting. Could that be...?] Welcome to Exsilium, in any case, Commander.

[ladyspitfire]

Another? How many are there?

[Ah, so she's one as well...and in the new uniform. She must be a fairly new recruit, if that's the case. Elissa gives her a nod, something that could be akin to a bow were more of her to be seen.]

Thank you. I wish I could say that this had been a willing trip on my part. Has no one been able to speak to anyone in authority here?

⇁ video

[scintillates]

Well, they brought me back from the dead. I don't think they're really concerned with appealing to higher authorities.

That is an adorable dog, by the way. What's its name?

⇁ video

[ladyspitfire]

From the dead? And you are unharmed?

[She bites her tongue before she dares to mention anything like 'Abomination'. Instead, she gives a faint smile to her war hound.]

Atticus. He's been my faithful companion since I was small.

[At hearing his name, he starts barking happily.]

video;

[twiceadays]

I've always wanted a dog... [All she has are dead fish. Pretty sad.]

As for the Initiative, they don't really care who you are or what you're doing. [Shepard sighs and rolls her eyes.] They're not accommodating on that front.

video;

[ladyspitfire]

He's a noble thing when he's not raiding larders and frightening people.

[Her smile is more of a grimace, try as she might to hide her displeasure.]

And they expect people to blindly go to war for them without answering any questions? That is absurd.

Video;

[woahwoahawkward]

[Remember that time you saw your Alistair eat really, really old cheese and spent most of the night upchucking?

Well, he's looking even more pale than that night.]

I -- Lady Coulsand?

Video;

[ladyspitfire]

[Oh. No. No, no, don't give her that face.

She's equally as surprised to see him, confusion all over her expression.]

Alistair? You're here too?

[Formality, what's that.]

[video]

[selfloyalty]

[that's. a mabari. Maker it's been a long time since she's seen one.

and that's...

oh.

oh.]

So the dead do rise again in these parts.

I bid you welcome, Warden.

[video]

[ladyspitfire]

[Oh. Her.

Great.]

Yes, I've heard from someone about being resurrected. Frightening prospect, really.

[Yep, that comment just went over her head.]

I didn't realize you were brought here too, Anora.

[constantsarcasm]

That is one ugly dog. No offense, lady, but good god. Uh, but I don't think we're actually allowed to leave, or else nobody would bother sticking around.

[ladyspitfire]

[excuse you, her mabari is a beautiful creature

oh, and he's growling at the device]

Be careful. Should he find you, he might rip out the tendons in your ankles.

[Voice]

[uncalled_for]

[More Fereldans, it sounds. And they've brought a dog this time. It's amazing that it took so long.]

There are several other Wardens here, as I'm sure you're aware by now. Unfortunately those bastards didn't really seem to give a damn about bringing any of us here to begin with so I highly doubt they'd start now.

[Short pause]

I'm Fiona of the Greys of Orlais.

[Voice]

[ladyspitfire]

You're one of them, then?

[Yes, she is. Fiona of the Greys... Has she heard of her before? She doubts it. Riordan never mentioned her.]

Elissa Cousland, Warden-Commander of Vigil's Keep. It's a pleasure to meet you.

permavideo

[birdhousesoul]

[On the screen appears an Anders older and more worn than the one Cousland used to know. Also, sans blingy earring, and much more conservatively dressed in black coat under black feathered pauldrons, with nary a bare patch of chest to be glimpsed. Where are the Chasind robes of yesteryear?]

Hello.

[He doesn't even know what to call her anymore. He doesn't know whether he's happy to see her, or how she'll feel about seeing him.]

[ladyspitfire]

[Ah, well... That's a sight to see. Last she heard, Anders had left the Wardens after the Circle called on him. But he looks older, tired, and not at all like the whimsical man she knew in Vigil's Keep.

But then, Nate looks older too.]

Anders.

[Carefully, she smiles. They did say there were six Wardens here.]

So you're the only other Warden unaccounted for.

voice;

[confesses]

That's... [A careful pause, and she finishes, politely:] A very noble-looking dog. [She smiles - a brief, fleeting expression - and then gets serious again.] You've likely figured it out by now, but this is a two-way communication device. I've been told it's some form of advanced technology. This isn't an outpost either. [Her eyebrows knit together.] I'm sorry, but you're very far from your home.

voice;

[ladyspitfire]

Thank you.

[He's not ugly, okay :|]

Yes, I've been told. I can't even begin to wonder how to make the blasted thing work outside of these few functions.

[She sighs.]

I appreciate the information, though. My name is Elissa Cousland.

video;

[godofshawarma]

You are not, my lady - many hear you. [ He smiles into the camera amiably, as he generally is. ] Be the Wardens some manner of warriors' guild?

video;

[ladyspitfire]

It's astounding, this...technology.

[She smiles back, taking it in stride.]

It is an order made up of men and women of all specialties and walks of life. But we do fight, yes. We are protectors.