outer_divide | [Video 001: Arrival] Tuesday, Week 37

[Zevran has been trying to ignore the fact that the book found with his gear upon his awakening has been talking. Given that it looks almost exactly like one of the mages' tomes that even he felt would be better not to light-finger, the sounds couldn't possibly be anything good. But the book would not shut up, and the strange place he was in was providing no answers. He turned to a page within it that seemed to be some sort of Fade portal made paper, and after tracing a few moving symbols with a wary fingertip, a blond elf appears on the network.]

Ah, this seems to be working at last and does not seem to have transformed me into a newt. Wonderful!

If you can hear me, I wish to introduce myself.

My name is Zevran, which I first thought would be foolish to share, but upon reflection I have concluded that, should you have been sent to kill me, you likely already know that I am here.

I must ask... does this strange country possess anything approaching a tavern? I confess that I am very lost, and would feel much better if I was considering my fate with a glass of wine in hand.

I am not a man without talents, so if the wine comes with a price... well, let us negotiate, yes?

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Into a newt? Is that a danger in your land?

[Because being transformed is a definite threat. Being transformed by something that, so far, she's only seen manifest as a phone, on the other hand...]

Edited 2013-05-29 17:36 (UTC)

In general, the mages with such talents seem to prefer more impressive animals such as giant bears. And I admit they seem to prefer to transform themselves...but I do not see why a newt would be impossible.

Of course I should not speculate too wildly, yes? My talents, as they say, lie in other areas.

[Thus proving that Zevran can only make it so many complete sentences without at least a mild flirt, he tips her a wink to go with a light emphasis on 'talents'. Given that he's new to this place, it's still a restrained one. By Zevran's standards.]

Oh, these aren't magic. I'm not sure they could even be accomplished with magic - not on this scale.

[She seems oblivious to any flirtation, and not even, at the moment, deliberately so.]

How interesting. You see, I seem to be in possession of a tome that I would swear a holy oath I in no way stole that looks like it belongs to one of the Circle libraries, and I am talking to you through what seems to be some sort of Fade portal in it. But you... are not in the Fade, no?

[As she seems to be oblivious, Zevran lets the matter rest... for now. His tone remains light and playful even as he disucsses something that's obviously got him on edge.]

Books must be very strange where you come from. [There's a hint of amusement there, but only a hint. Her recent return from wartime serves as a very strong reminder of just how disoriented she'd been when she first awoke.] I've never even heard of the - Fade? - so I don't think I'm in it. This land just uses technology where others use magic.

This? This is strange even for a grimoire, I assure you.

[The angle on Zevran's image shifts a little as he flicks the book with a fingertip, then pauses to see if it detonates.]

The Fade is the realm of spirits, dreamers and mages, so I suppose given that you do not appear to have floating furniture behind you or other oddities you are not in it. But please, my lady, explain what you mean by 'technology'. I suspect the word stands for rather more than what I am accustomed to.

[Her expression shadows a little, turning rueful.]

No, I'm in the same land you are, a short ways to the south. And technology is - it's the creation of machines to accomplish a task more easily than a person could alone. Electric light, faster travel...communication over long distances without having to wait for the post. These devices send signals - I haven't studied the whole of it, but they could function in a world where there isn't any magic at all.

A world without magic... what a truly strange concept, for all that the dwarves of my acquaintance seem to exist with very little of it. But I believe I take your meaning of the word, even if such things are limited to superior designs for crossbows and the sort of land irrigation projects that nobles enjoy never quite completing before being assassinated... or perhaps that is just my home country.

I thank you. Are you perhaps a scholar of some sort? You seem quite knowledgeable.

I don't think there's any nobility here. Maybe that cuts down on the - assassinations.

[She looks a little uncertain here.]

I suppose you could call me a scholar, though I'm more the amateur sort. I do a lot of reading.

No nobility? That is both refreshing and baffling. Outside of the qunari, and for all I have fought beside one I do not pretend to understand them, I do not think I have seen a land with more to it than roaming tribes that lacks an aristocracy either in name or in deed. This Verdana is a strange country.

[He looks considering for a moment, although the degree of quelled to his expression is exaggerated enough to suggest he's playing, and the quicksilver shift of his mood away from it all the more evidence for it.]

No doubt this leaves you with many things to study, milady scholar. My admiration to you! My own talents are all of a more physical nature, I must confess.

Well, there are still scales of power, it's just the leaders are elected or appointed, not born. It takes a little getting used to.

[Once again, she misses the innuendo, and with the sort of matter-of-fact cheer that points to a genuine sheltered upbringing rather than deliberate obtuseness.]

Most people are a bit more physical than I am. Still, I do my part.

And what part is that, oh amateur scholar?

[With two attempts at innuendo and flirtation not even managing so much as a ripple on the surface of a metaphorical pond, Zevran opts for simple curiosity for a time. There will be opportunities to tease later. Many, many opportunities.]

Is there much need to men, or women, at arms in this place?

Research and organization.

[She smiles, just a little ruefully - she's well aware how little learning is valued in many places.]

It does come in handy sometimes.

I've heard the city sheriff sometimes hires - and merchants and sailors frequently need guards, if that's not to your taste.

[Something about the idea of working for the city sheriff has Zevran holding back a laugh, but the notion of merchants and sailors gets his more serious attention.]

I have had good fortune with the merchant classes before. If I could do so here, it would certainly smooth the adjustment. I thank you... and I certainly would not be discounting the benefits of research. I have been a part of a number of great quests recently, with remarkable amounts of treasure recovered from them, and many would never have happened without the work of a scholar.

[Of course, half of them seemed to end up a bit hard on the scholar, or the scholar's servants...]

[Video 001: Arrival] Tuesday, Week 37

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