exsilium | video;

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The only strange thing is that I don't feel strange. I remember dying, it wasn't particularly enjoyable. I don't suggest you try it, incidentally. And no, I have no idea how they managed it. I wouldn't mind finding out, though.

[She laughs in response] Well, we can't all be perfect. Obviously those people wouldn't have left those belongings in his reach, if they hadn't meant for him to have a look.

Strange indeed. I think I'd rather stay living for now, if that's all right.

[She chuckles.]

Oh, he'll get into anything. He could get into my family's padlocked pantry without breaking anything, strangely enough. Damnedest animal.

By all means, go right ahead! I certainly won't be stopping you.

Perhaps he has fairy blood in him?

Much obliged, Miss...?

[She shakes her head.]

If he did, it'd certainly explain quite a bit, though I've never seen a fairy before. I doubt they exist where I come from.

Snow. No Miss though, please.

[Snow looks thoughtful] I've never heard of a land without fairies. One the one hand, they are very good at hiding when they need to. But on the other - well, I never would have thought any of this was possible, either.

Elissa Cousland. It's a pleasure to meet you, Snow.

[And no formalities. Good.]

I've heard of woodland spirits... I suppose that might be similar. The Dalish are more familiar with them than I.

It's kind of you to say so. [She's smiling again. Snow likes it when people like her.]

Dalish? [Oh boy, here comes the nerd] I've never heard of them! What can you tell me?

Think nothing of it.

[So long as she doesn't turn into a creepy blood mage or a murdering psychopath, they should get along famously.]

They're the true elves, those who have reclaimed their heritage. They live in groups, constantly moving and living in the forests.

If you insist!

[It's okay she already did that! She's better now, honest]

Are there false elves, then?

No. Other elves have been turned into slaves, unfortunately. That, or they're living in the cities as servants, which is a meager and bare life.

Slaves? How did that happen? They don't have any magic?

Every race has magic somewhere and it surfaces in a select few. But no, they have forgotten the old ways and they live in cities because they can do little else.

It is a terrible situation.

With humans? It seems like your world is very different from mine.

[She leans forward, accidentally giving Elissa an eyeful of cleavage. She's excited, okay, knowledge is rad] What's magic like in your world?

[Oh my.]

I'm not entirely familiar with how it works or what it feels like, but three of my companions are mages. One is a shapeshifter and the other two are spirit healers.

Is that to say you have to pick one or the other, then? You can't do both?

I imagine it would all depend on your specific talents. Every person, magical or no, has their own unique strengths and weaknesses. It is just the same.

Yes, but-- [She breaks off abruptly, flushing slightly and leaning back] Sorry, I have this tendency to get...overexcited, when it comes to finding out new magical things. [Her expression turns thoughtful] Are any of your companions here? I'd like to meet them.

[She smiles.]

It's all right, really. I'd be happy to introduce you to one of them, who is here. I need to speak with him first, though.

I can tell you stories, though. I'm no bard, but I can tell a fairly decent campfire tale.

That would be wonderful! I wonder if it would be possible to learn magic from another world, or if we're stuck with the same techniques from home? Not that I mastered everything I knew back there, but it'd be worth trying to give something else a shot, I think. [She opens her mouth like she's about to continue talking to herself when she seems to remember that Elissa is still there. Moreover that, she's actually still interested in talking to the other woman.

Her eyes light up in delight at that offer, and she claps her hands together] I'd like that! And please, there's no need to worry about that - bards are usually far too up their own ass trying to make things fancy to tell the story right any way.

I'm not certain. It would be worth looking into...though I doubt it. If you aren't born with the capacity for magic, then I don't believe you can acquire it.

[Which is a shame.]

I actually knew a bard. She traveled with me. She had the most beautiful voice I had ever heard.

Well, that won't be a problem for me personally. I definitely have the capacity, although in my world it's more of a talent than anything else. Anyone can learn, but whether or not you're any good at it depends on a few things.

Really? Did she tell the truth very often?

Then he might be able to teach you some of what he knows.

[She chuckles.]

Oh, she did. She sometimes withheld the truth about her own life...but she would eventually tell those she trusted. She's a good friend of mine.

I'd like that! You'd be surprised at how much being dead and/or possessed can cut into your study time. [She totally mentioned the possession bit right]

Hmm. Sounds like someone I know. [and also herself] She'd sooner kill you than sing for you, though.

[She laughs quietly.]

Oh, she liked singing. She wasn't afraid to kill, however. That's what made her so proficient in her work.

You make her sound like she killed with her voice.

I think I met a fairy like that once...

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