Prepare for the #LodanRespawn2024 Existing characters may choose to be displace from/have memories of different timelines, thereby allowing returning members the option to retcon their whole character. These changes are the result of the "Unnatural Fog" plot device that is running between now and the Respawn. The plot is simple: no matter where your character is, that place is shrouded in a thick fog that suspends time, but not thoughts or memories, so even if they're repeating the same day over and over again, they continue to remember, so each time feels like a new day. For those retconning OCs; this is where new versions of themselves have the opportunity to replace the old versions. Official lore and tree updates will be announced asap
Some might say Skye was crazy for showing himself inside the city again. Perhaps some of them were right, but he wasn't one to stay locked up indoors. Besides, he had a handy bandage covering half his face and was dressed in clothes typically worn by dock workers or merchant sailors. No one was likely to give him a second look, and if they did he wouldn't be recognizable as the man he was.
After Caitlin's revelation, he just needed to be anywhere else but cooped up on that ship, in that particular cabin. He needed fresh air, and the sight of other people. The Theater District was the perfect place. Even with Martial Law the area hustled and bustled with people trying to forget their woes. Most were heading to the Casino's welcoming entryway, while others sought the sights of the street performers or the distraction of a theatrical production. It was an easy place to get lost in, if he needed to, and somehow, today, getting lost seemed the best of ideas.
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Sept 10, 2015 23:17:41 GMT
Edelweiss was being careful with how the District was running. Not that she had ever been really careless about it before, but Martial Law added on top of Lodan's usual ticks posed a threat to a considerable percent of her workers and business. Did that mean the Theater District would be closing doors? Certainly not, Skye was right on that. Just a few tweaks had been made here and there. Nighttime events that could suffer a time shift were pushed into the day hours, and things that better worked at night gained implements - special offers, discounts at bars or even free lodgings for whoever passed the full night at the casinos and only left by the morning were amid those changes. Half of her business was related to people having a place to relax and drown their sorrows, and she'd been making sure they would have it.
At the present time, however, it was time that she relaxed as well, so she took an hour away from work and went for a walk, glancing at the things around and red hair swinging in its ponytail as she wandered by and glanced at everything. She'd been mentally pondering about passing by a bakery and buy a few sweet treats when her eyes caught someone familiar passing by. Someone whom she only met once personaly, in fact, but it was hard to forget the image of someone being shot in the eye. Faolan Skye... That was a face Edelweiss had not seen in a while... well, half of a face, since the other half was hidden under a series of looping bandages for very justifiable reasons. He didn't seem happy, also for justifiable reasons - even though she didn't dare guessing which of them. He was passing by close anyway, so she figured it wouldn't do any bad to go ahead and greet him. Perhaps he'd recognize her voice, if nothing else. "You seem to be healing well." She said while offering a small smile, a hand lifted in a still wave.
"All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." - John Dalberg-Acton
Skye nearly jumped out of his skin when Edel spoke to him. He'd been so lost in his own thoughts that he hadn't noticed her, and he'd been focused on spotting EIRAL threats. His first reaction was to run and hope to lose the person in the crowd, but there was something familiar about the voice. He'd heard it before, and upon examining her further he realized why. She'd been right next to Caitlin when he'd been rescued. She'd been one of the people who helped get him out. It was something he'd be eternally grateful for, to all the people who'd risked their lives for him without even really knowing him.
His demeanor relaxed as his body finally realized what his mind had already determined. He was among a friend...he hoped. Who was she though? Although she'd risked her life, he had no idea who she was. What was her name? What was her place in Lodan? He turned his head to look at her, since he could only focus with the one eye. It wasn't something that he needed to do, but there was a psychological element to being completely blind to anything happening on his left. The red hair was certainly a very distinctive trait, though it wasn't styled in any particular manner. He wasn't sure what that spoke of her, likewise her clothing was rather androgynous. Yet she was undoubtedly attractive. It was a strange, or perhaps unfamiliar, combination.
"Healing, yes, well, perhaps not." he finally responded, absentmindedly touching the bandages with his left hand. He knew quite well that the missing part of his ear or the bridge of his nose would never grow back, and certainly he would never see again. Still, he was alive, and he had that to be thankful for.
"But my problems are small in comparison to what's been going on. I'm very glad to be walking around and since you're here, I want to thank you for your part in it. I know it was not a small risk to take." He bowed his head in deference for a moment before returning his gaze. "However, I do not recognize who you are, or know your name."
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Sept 11, 2015 0:11:44 GMT
'Healing, yes, well, perhaps not.' The redhead sustained her smile at that response. It was the reply of a strong person, as others would have been glad to just being able to stand up again and take a few steps under the sun. Although the bitterness in it all was hard to miss. "Perhaps a sweet treat may soothe the bitter. Do you care for doughnuts? I was planning on getting some for myself anyway." She offered as she watched him gingerly touching his own bandaged face.
"There's no need to thank me. I know enough to see you didn't deserve being in that place." 'That place' being prison, of course, but mainly solitary confiment for 10 months without a due trial. Besides, the redhead had done her own research too before helping. A pirate Caitlin may be and therefore dealt with dishonest things on regular basis, but Edelweiss also knew there was no no need for Cait to lie about Skye's innocence. Although the man who took Skye's post after he was arrested probably meant the plight he gave Skye, with everything he'd been doing up to then, even drowning the Hovel with the screams and blood of Anders.
One thing to be sure though: she knew Skye's name, but that didn't mean he knew hers. He had probably been focused too much on healing to know that frivolous kind of detail up to then, and she only realized that small detail now. It was fair to introduce herself then. "Edelweiss Fjäril. Most of my friends or workers call me 'Edel' though." She replied simply, before adding a moment later: "I'm sorry for refraining from using your name up to now, but I hope you understand." 'Faolan Skye' was a dangerous taboo now. "Is there anything you wish to be called?" If not, she'd default to calling him something shortened from his name, like 'Fae' or 'Lan'.
"All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." - John Dalberg-Acton
Did she know enough to know he'd been framed by Alistair? Well if so then she was a good ally to had. As to where she fit in all of this he still wasn't sure. "Edel" he said, trying on the name for size. It seemed fitting to such a vibrant individual. Then there was the matter of what to call himself. She was correct in the fact that no one should be saying his name in a public setting. He might not look like himself but someone saying, 'hey Skye' was sure to attract unwanted attention. So what should he go by? His name was so ingrained in his identity that it was hard to think about himself as someone else, and that brought about question of who he actually was now. The military had entrapped him and defined him. Was there an identity outside of all that? It was a lot to take in, but for now he only needed to think about a fake name.
"Just call me Val", he responded, trying on the name as one might try on a blouse or a new hat. It didn't seem to fit him all that well, but it would do for now. Once his name was cleared he could go back to the familiar. "So, I'm not quite familiar with doughnuts. Not that I don't know what they are, I'm not completely clueless, I've just never had one." He didn't see any shame in the answer. The EIRAL diet was not big on sweets in general. Protein was more important.
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Sept 11, 2015 1:18:22 GMT
"Val it is then." She nodded. It might not be the most beautiful or complex name out there, but it was what he chose and she'd already seen some way worse before. No objections would be made on that. She couldn't help but think his claim of never having had a doughnut before was kind of sad, but oh well. That would be fixed soon anyway, since she knew basically all the bakeries and cafes that sold those in the vicinities. "Seems like a good time for trying on new things then. Maybe you'll like some of them." The doughnuts and other things too; if he had been a soldier for a long time maybe it was a chance to see things in general from a new point of view.
"Is this your first time coming alone in the Theater District?" She could remember EIRAL soldiers who came in at times, mainly events like the Festival of Hearts and other festivities, but they tended to come in groups.
"All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." - John Dalberg-Acton
He shrugged at the offer of joining her and followed along anyway. It seemed like a good course of action. With both of them to keep a lookout, it was less likely that one of the military patrols, or anyone else looking for his head, would give chase. Besides, it might be helpful to try new things, especially if said things could lift his spirits.
"I've been here before, during the festival of hearts a few years ago." Remembering the night brought a smile to his torn face for a moment, "Back when the Queen had the ridiculous idea of hiring a PR person to make the EIRAL look better. I had this ridiculous uniform on. It was either really red or extremely pink. I thought I was going to be a laughing stock but some of the other men must have found out and came dressed the same. I believe the night ended in a brawl with some drunken fellows." Yes it had been a great night for comrodery and team bonding, yet even then Alistair had been plotting. He'd stood right there and given a toast to Skye, but it must have been an empty one. How could he not have seen the callous evil behind the man's eyes?
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Sept 11, 2015 16:26:15 GMT
"Sounds like an amusing time." The redhead nodded with a smile at his response, then guided them both into the nearest bakery. A quaint little place with lights installed on the ceiling - the electrical kind, it didn't do much to increase the illumination while they were there in full daylight hours, but it did shower the place with soft colorful speckles like the stained glass windows of a church.
"Each District has its perks. If you what you're looking for is a moment to relax and have something fun to remember by, I hope you can find it in mine until it's time to return." They had good watching eyes in the Theater District too. As much as the eyes Caitlin kept on the docks, and Amon's by the Merchants District, although they all had different styles. If the EIRAL walks in, she should know in time. "Or is there anything else you're looking for?" An escape route from the world, perhaps. There were people who came to there for that as well. Edelweiss leaned over the bakery's counter and placed an order of two simple doughnuts with a bit of sugar glaze, then a packaged box of assorted types to take home. Once it was ready, she held out one of the glazed doughnuts to Skye.
'So she's the leader of CAEsaL,'he considered as he took the offered doughnut. Of course he knew nothing of the shadier side of the organization. To him it was just a guild of outcasts put to better use in society. Being a former EIRAL had a way of blinding one to what was really going on. Never in all his years would he have guessed that Cait was the Queen of the Brotherhood. That had come just as much a shock as her other admission. He wasn't exactly sure which of them he was willing to forgive.
Returning back to the doughnut in his hand, he sniffed at it. It certainly had a pleasant odor. He took a tentative bite as one might with any foreign food, and his eyes lit up. For a moment all the other issues didn't matter as his taste buds exploded with joy. He immediately took another bite, and then another, until he was staring at his own sticky hand. What else could he do but lick the sugary sweetness off his fingers, and then look to Edel to see if she had another. To have missed out on so much as an EIRAL. It was like a microcosm for what he was presently dealing with. He was blind in one eye, but he'd been blind for so long to the realities of Lodan.
"I think right now, the only thing I'm looking for is another doughnut, but to be truthful I'm just trying to figure out where exactly I fit in anymore, or how I can work to fix things. I know, a bit of a deep thought for being in a pastry shop." He offered the redhead a smile.
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Sept 11, 2015 23:11:09 GMT
'Wow', Edelweiss thought as she watched Skye's reaction to trying on his first doughnut, first a bird-like bite then eating it almost despairedly like if it was the last piece of food on Earth. And was his eye sparkling a little? He was even more eager about sugar than the redhead was - and from her point of view, the man discovering his sweet tooth was much similar to a toddler tasting candy for the first time. It was both really amusing and a little impressive.
"Alright, I'll order another one." She agreed with a laugh at his statement that he was just looking for another doughnut. The ones in her packed box were for being taken home - and some to the guild kids too - so she called the waitress over and requested two more doughnuts, one for each of them. Jam-filled this time. Once the woman turned and left to fetch the ordered treats, Edelweiss focused her attention back on Skye to respond to his remaining comments. "You were... the best in your old role as we could have hoped for, this recent turn of events proved that. Perhaps that's why even if things can't go back to how they were, all guild leaders still made sure to have a hand in assisting you out (besides each having our own personal reasons or ideologies)." Not counting Alistair, of course. He was the one giving all the trouble instead.
She sighed. "As for finding where to fit now, I'm sure you'll figure something out. How much did Cait already update you regarding things happening while you were away?"
Skye was about to respond, when he bit into the Jelly doughnut. Perhaps he should have been as tentative as his previous foray into the world of sweetened pastries. Expecting the same as his previous encounter, he took, perhaps, a larger bite than he should have. The jelly inside, happy for a chance to escape the confines of it's doughy prison, exploded half on Skye's face and half over his hands. The look of shock on his face would have been one worthy of framing in a picture. The explosion would have been bad enough, but what followed was Skye attempting to eat all the escaped jelly which looked more like a dog trying to bite at the wind as it rode on a steam powered buggy. When he had finally finished devouring the treat, he looked more exasperated than happy, though his sweet tooth had been quite satisfied. Perhaps a bit of caution in sampling these new treats would be prudent in the future.
When he had finally managed to clean up most of the Jelly. Most, because there was still quite a bit of jelly still remaining on his bandages. He proceeded to look around for a rest room. "If you'll excuse me," he said with a smile to Edel, before disappearing into the gentlemen's room. It was a few moments before he returned, but when he did, he had cleaned up the mess on his face and gotten the sticky sensation off his hands. He wasn't sure he liked that part of it.
"Hmm, what were we discussing before," he said, more to himself than to Edel as he returned. "Oh, right, Cait. Well I think she didn't want to tax me too much during most of my recovery, or she was afraid I'd run right out the door if I really knew what was going on out here. Not sure on her motives, obviously there was something else she wanted to tell me first concerning...well it's a private matter. Needless to say, said private matter came up and, well, now I'm here. So I really am a bit clueless."
Last Edit: Sept 12, 2015 3:50:19 GMT by Faolan Skye
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Sept 12, 2015 16:03:01 GMT
The look on Edelweiss' face was priceless. She wasn't even sure what she had just witnessed, but currently she couldn't help but think she had just watched a man have a sexual encounter with a jelly doughnut.
"Are you alright?" She asked, not sure if she should laugh or not as she now watched Skye looking around for a restroom to get rid of the strawberry jam that was stuck on his bandages. No, probably shouldn't laugh. She could still remember getting dirty in the couple first times she had one of those - given it was not dirty in that degree and she was much, much young but so be it... So when he excused himself to go clean that tasty strawberry sugary mess in the washroom Edelweiss just nodded and waited on her seat.
Once he was back, the redhead listened to his explanation first then pondered on how to reply for a couple seconds, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Hmm... Well, those are things you'll have to be aware of soon or later, mainly if you're staying at her guild." She stated first and called over the waitress again to pay for their tab and stood up. There were things better explained while they walked so that they could both have some privacy in talking and also so that he could see things around for a better reference. "The EIRAL probably know this too - Sveden is slowly enclosing Lodan's borders. I guess I don't need to explain to you what will happen when they actually reach us. All guilds are aware of it already, well perhaps not all workers, but the leaders and seconds-in-command are. Martial Law has put a strain to our plans, but we're still working on minimizing the damage of what will come then." She made a small pause, both for him to have some time to assimilate the information and for her to gauge better his reactions to it.
"All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." - John Dalberg-Acton
As before, Skye followed Edel as she moved out of the pastry shop and began to walk down the street. He gave one more look at the pastry shop in somewhat longing and to remember it for future doughnut encounters. then he turned and caught up to Edel.
Her words were a lot to take in. He was aware of martial law from all the flyers posted around the city, yet the rest was somewhat different. What plans? Of course he knew Sveden must be close after the time he spent in that hole in the ground, but he had always considered the problem a military matter. To now here that the other guilds were setting their own plans in motion was something new. Skye knew that Alistair would never accept their help. He would fight against anyone he saw as a threat to his grand plan, whatever the heck that was.
When she finished speaking, he was silent for a few minutes. He watched the surroundings and the people they passed in the street. He noticed the buildings, the scents wafting through the streets, the random piping that did god knows what. It was all worth fighting for. "Whatever it is you plan on doing, I want to help, as long as it is helping that's being done. I was tossed in prison for daring to think that the military and the Anders could fight as one, to defend this city. Now Alistair is destroying the very thing that will turn the tide in this war. We don't have fancy tanks or siege weapons, we don't have giant walls to keep out intruders. I plan on joining Cait's organization, but I will not stand for anyone taking advantage of this coming war to benefit themselves."
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Sept 12, 2015 18:59:31 GMT
Hearing that response she couldn't help but smile a little. "On the more basic lines, we are assembling workers and slowly stockpiling supplies. Through varied means... some are more legal than others, but as things are it's an unavoidable measure. I'm assuming you know what war looks like: it's not pretty, in an understatement. And you're right that we can't siege Sveden, but they can siege us. Even in relatively safe areas the prices of everything will rocket up and their quantities will plummet into underground. There'll be little food, little medicine, little fabric and materials in general, until the city is dry and squirming. So we're gathering those - not 'just because we want to', but to be redistributed when Lodan actually needs it."
She crossed an archway and headed to a building with tall fenced gates in front of it. Similar to the guild dorms, but that one was used for practice by the workers in their varied trades and by the younglings on their free time. It wasn't visible from outside the gates, but once they reached close enough to the proper building it was possible to see the group of kids playing and running close to the windows. 'Normal' humans or black-blooded, winged ones, children with glowing eyes - running around all mixed up like a colorful fruits salad. "Look at that, it's not so daring to think we could fight as one, is it? We share the same thoughts on that matter... You just need a different approach for it to work. EIRAL won't ask for our help, but fighting alone there'll be a point when they won't have a choice. That's when we all will jump in, and for the time being we're doing our best to guarantee we'll have the strenght to offer that help when the time comes."
Faolan just watched, and walked, and listened. There was no need to comment. She spoke eloquently and made sense in what she was saying. He had indeed seen war and the consequences of it, but that had been small in comparison to what was coming. The EIRAL had been driven for so long to train for fighting Anders and other threats to the city, like shadowbeasts. Their training and tactics would fail them when it came down to the actual battle. His view had seen further than that, and it had cost him everything to try and change it. There was no place for him there anymore, even if Alistair was brought to justice. His view was not narrow enough to qualify for membership.
He watched in silence as the children played together, Ander and human. None of them were ashamed of who they were, or harbored any hate for their playmates, but they would grow up soon enough into a world where their differences were insurmountable. It made him consider the future. If he and Cait could work this trouble out and move forward as a couple, what would their children's future be? Half-Breeds in an unforgiving world? What would he do to banish that reality. "Help or not, this Lodan is broken. Indifference, hatred, intolerance. How do we as humans have the audacity to decide the fate of an entire race. Yet if rolls were reversed, we would never accept the conditions we've placed other's in. Maybe this city is beyond our ability to save it." he said, turning away from the children to look at Edel with his last words. Was she human, or was she Ander? Did it matter? To have his eyes opened and yet be blind in one eye. The irony was not lost on him.
Shoutbox
Welcome to the Shoutbox - If You Have Discord, Ask to Join the Discord Server