second rune; death; video

[deadelfwalking]

 [When the feed starts, the netbook's camera shows you a view of the forest floor.  A deer carcass lies among the grass and twigs, and it's obvious that the poor thing did not have a clean death.  It's in the advanced stages of decomposition, even though the blood around its body is red and fresh.  The camera does not linger on this image for more than a few seconds; it pans upward, to show Koltira's face.

 He's standing over the deer, holding the device in one hand, holding Byfrost with the other.  Agony creases his expression: his jaw is clenched, his eyes narrowed, every muscle in his pale, sallow face is taut with pain.  The guttural growl of his voice occasionally rises in octave as he talks, as though something is beating the shit out of him from the inside.]

Were we brought here to fight for something, or to waste time reliving the past?  Send.  Us.  On.  A mission.

[He stabs the tree next to him with Byfrost, and the sword glows sickly green; the tree bark begins to decay rapidly, as though it's practically melting.  Diseased fumes pour out of the bark, forming a nasty miasma around Koltira's body.]

I need a battle. [he hisses, and blood trickles from the corner of his mouth as he bites down on the inside of his cheek.]  Now.

Comments

[deadelfwalking]

I don't expect anyone to help me. I don't want help. I want the war that I was told we were fighting!

[grrnnhhh it. HURTS. Hang on one sec while another wave of pure agony rolls through him. There may be some horrible noises on the line.]

--it ... doesn't need to be death. It needs to be--agony.

[Worse? Probably worse.]

[totallytrustworthy]

They're not listening, love.

[It's said gently, at least. Jesus Kolt. You're a mess.]

Any chance this will pass without turning into some kind of a horror flick? We could always try drugging you.

[deadelfwalking]

They are listening. They just don't care to respond. [groans. Worst headache ever.]

I cannot think of a tincture powerful enough to quell this, but it will be -- it will most likely be fine--I just need to ... I need to control it. I need to build a tolerance.

[totallytrustworthy]

Well if that's the case maybe it's best I stop distracting you, yeah?

[deadelfwalking]

You are the first wise person I've spoken to all night, my lady.

[totallytrustworthy]

I rather like the sound of that.

If you ever manage to get things under control, you'll have to fill me in later.

[deadelfwalking]

Difficult to do, without a name for the face.

[totallytrustworthy]

Chloe. Chloe Frazer.

[deadelfwalking]

I'm called Koltira Deathweaver. I would say 'well met', but it would have little ring of truth to it ... [a sharp, hissing intake of breath.] .. through no fault of your own.

[totallytrustworthy]

Understandable given the circumstances. Good luck keeping a lid on it.