TEST DRIVE #6

[fairyfoes]

TEST DRIVE MEME

Considering apping to EACHDRAIDH? Why not give the setting a test run here! OPTIONAL SCENARIOS 01. ARRIVING IN THE DRABWURLD. The Seelie and Unseelie courts welcome you with mirthful revelry and hearty food. After you have been briefed on your purpose here, you will find an endless feast and a night filled with entertainment to placate your concerns. Mingle with new arrivals, sneak down the castle halls and make sure your eyes are always on your glass; fairies and imps have no bias when it comes to tricks! 02. THE STATION. Looking for a little slice of home? The Station gives you all that and more. Take advantage of the wifi, have a cup of fairy-brewed coffee (the one they didn't spit in) or sit back and relax on the patio. You can even move your things into one of the available rooms! 03. WILDCARD. Your own scenario! Explore the Drabwurld or simply take advantage of your Locket!

Comments

Ratonhnhaké:ton / Connor | Assassin's Creed III | Unseelie

[lifescratched]

1. FEAST

[There's a man dressed in a white hood, an 18th century-style military coat, and deerskin leggings, with a bow strapped to his back and a tomahawk and pistols at his belt. The expression on his face suggests he isn't at all happy to be here. He doesn't sit down, eat, or touch the food, merely watching the merry-making with a look of frustration. People here had been conscripted into an army not belonging to their own country, by monarchs that weren't theirs. Instead of showing any resistance, however, they're enjoying themselves.

He wonders, with silent anger, just how many of the people here know what war is really like. Because it certainly isn't this.]

3. WILDCARD

[Pick your own scenario! Connor can be found slipping out of the feast to explore Caer Scima, committing the layout of the massive stronghold to memory as best he can. Then, he'll be finding the quickest route to leave it.]

hi candace hi - FEAST

[digophelia]

[ If only the feasts could take more of a serious note to them. As far as she knows, Caer Scima is already making preparations and Alice hasn't seen it this lively since Celegorm was alive. How fitting, considering the majority of the Unseelie she knows tend to easily jump into the frontlines. This would be one of the few last nights in Caer Scima, until Alice was going to head back to the Barrel, slowly relocating there.

It's a tense atmosphere, but the Unseelie have their own bravado and welcome newcomers with open arms. Especially one that would be more misbegotten than most. But none of that was Alice's concern, frankly, she was only coming out of her room to have a look around for the newcomers, just out of curiosity.

There's only so much crowds she can handle before shrinking away. The good thing about the feasts is taking non-perishable food and running back to her room, nothing more. Alice is busy and her mind is racing. The plus about being this small is weaving in and out of crowds and gathering fruits and bread into one of her bags (not the one with bones for the Outsider) and slip out. Her small stature makes her seem like a child sometimes, in addition to her attire. It belays the Unseelie title of "battlemaiden", hilariously enough.

Alice has rushed through with her head low, only glancing to the side when she mistakes a call for her name. Who the hell can be calling her at the feast? Unfortunately, Alice doesn't see who she walks into and is easily knocked over as soon as she walks right into him with a small curse. ]

Ah!

[ God, at least she put the food in a bag, she would have been angry with herself if she was carrying a plate. ]

hey natalie hey!

[lifescratched]

[Connor stops scowling at everything long enough to look surprised, when he feels someone bump into him.]

Oh-- Sorry.

[He must have been standing in the way without realising, there's so many people here. He reaches and offers a hand to help her back up. She's just a girl, after all, and he's not about to take his frustration out on someone probably in the same situation as he is.]

Are you all right?

[digophelia]

[ How embarassing. Of course, Alice's first thought is to grab her bag. ]

Ow.

[ In Drabwurld, she's been in two major battles, climbed on a dragon's back, been kidnapped, stabbed, and knocked out, but just this once, she'll whine. Once Alice has her hair out of her eyes, she glances up to the man, her lips pressing into a frown. Apparently she has a habit of crashing into very large men, too. Rather timidly, Alice takes that hand back up, only because that was a pretty nasty spill.

It's not his fault, she wasn't paying attention. Alice makes the unconscious dusting herself off. ]

I'm very sorry, sir. I should have been watching where I was going.

[lifescratched]

It is very crowded. People bumping into one another is inevitable.

[He surveys her as she dusts herself off. She doesn't seem to be too badly hurt, whining or not, at least, although he is somewhat curious about whatever's in that bag she's carrying.]

I assume you are one of those here brought here to fight this war, as well?

[digophelia]

[ He's big, much like most of her friends and Alice will always be small. She hates it, sometimes. And just as she was about to make a disparaging comment at herself for not paying attention, as always, it's clear he's a newcomer.

A newcomer that'll ask all the painful questions -- she has the patience for it, at least. Well, only today. ]

Yes. It's been at least six months give or take. I take it that they haven't given you the proper introduction yet, have they.

[lifescratched]

Six months... That is a long time.

[A painfully long time, in a war, though it might seem a short time in any other situation. It can take only a week of fighting, a day, an hour, to be cut down in battle. It's impressive she's lasted this long.]

The imps explained the situation here briefly. [Very briefly. They seemed more interested in teasing him than explaining anything.] What more should I know?

[digophelia]

That if you do venture out far of Caer Scima, be careful.

[ Alice would argue that she has had dumb luck surviving this long and good friends. She certainly isn't the type for battles or armies. ]

The natives of this world haven't taken too kindly to people like us. Transports.

[ For personal reasons, she's still avoiding the word "shards" or "shardbearers". ]

Not that I can entirely blame them. There was a man here not long ago that tried to create his own court and he's had many sympathizers. He fed off their dissent against the Seelie and Unseelie court, including their transports. It's unfortunate he was a bit of a madman, but their dissent is starting to get very ugly. Furthermore, we're expecting a movement to Caer Scima by Seelie forces.

[ Such is life in Caer Scima. Maybe she shouldn't have settled so quickly. ]

The feasts typically belay that fact.

[lifescratched]

[Connor listens patiently, until her explanation is finished, when he interjects angrily,] Then why are we feasting, when we should be preparing for battle and rationing food? This is wasteful.

[He looks around, that frustrated expression returning to his face, then back at Alice. This court seems to be run by madmen too, in his opinion.]

What was the goal of the third court and its dissenters?

[digophelia]

[ Of course they are, everyone in this court is pretty mad. ]

Morale. A distraction. Or perhaps to play with your mind.

[ Although Alice is quick to add with a firm cross of her arms. ]

That would be the monarchs' aims, hardly the court members. I have many friends in this court that are good souls. Questionable people, but all around good people. Some of them have been off in neighboring territory or around Caer Scima perparing. Of course it's wasteful.

[ She grimaces, her lips growing tighter. ]

Reynard the Fox was the most notable. But his goal was to raise a third court for his own whims. His position was against the monarchs and from my understanding, they had wronged him and his kin in some fashion. I'm sure on the surface to the impoverished natives that he looked like a martyr- no, he is one to them. But he was willing to sacrifice individuals, allies, and even put his own child in danger for it. He was killed for it and all for the better. If he raised a third court, he wouldn't be that much different. He almost killed some of my friends, you'll have to forgive me if I don't shed a tear for him.

The dissenters may get aggressive, but I haven't heard anything about others taking the same route as Reynard. For now.

[lifescratched]

I see. No matter how noble your original intentions for claiming power, once you stop caring about the people you claim to fight for, you have already lost the battle.

[That... is something he's learned from experience. Luckily, despite this being his second time being pulled into a different world with mad kings, there is no Apple of Eden here to lead him astray as before.

It's a lesson he won't be forgetting any time soon.]

About the Seelie army we will soon face -- I assume their numbers and strength matches our own?

[digophelia]

Authority doesn't belong in the hands of one single person or persons of a higher status and court favors.

[ BOY does she ever have feelings on that. ]

Because it always wields the same results, over and over. They lose touch with the cause that they have originally fought for. It's better left to those who know the cause best and have lived the life.

And not unless you intend to join the others in battle against the Seelie. Not all members of the Unseelie court will raise their weapons unless it is a last resort. Myself, included. You have the options of relocating to neutral territories like Redgate, the Barrel, or the Station. There's already plans underway to help get natives and transports out of harm's way before they descend on us. Contrary to what the monarchs say, there's still a chance for transports to have freedom.

[ Just. No raising sundered courts and being very cautious about that. Because screw the monarchs and the courts. ]

[lifescratched]

Transports? [He raises an eyebrow beneath his hood. He thought at first she was talking about some kind of supplies convoy or the like, but now it's clearer she's referring to people.]

Do you mean us?

[He'll try to memorise the names of those neutral territories for later. He's done enough fighting battles for other people to last him a lifetime -- he has no intention of continuing, unless caught in the crossfire.]

[foraneye]

[His clothing is different from what she knows, but any white hood stands out like a beacon to Èlise. She isn't afraid, but she is wary—and curious, because it's clear that this bear of a man is not one of Arno's compatriots.

As she approaches, she can only hope that her own allegiance isn't as obvious.]

Are you lost, sir? Perhaps I could help if you need assistance.

[Total lies, she barely knows her way around this place at all, but it's enough of a pretext to speak to someone obviously uninterested in feasting or dancing.]

[lifescratched]

[Connor looks over to regard the woman. Her allegiance isn't obvious at a glance, but her clothes, at least, are a lot more like what he's used to compared to the way many people here are dressed.

Still, even with that familiarity, his response is blunt.]

I was dragged here by some of those... creatures. [He gestures to a group of imps causing mischief on an unsuspecting victim nearby.] If that is considered as being lost, then yes, I am.

[foraneye]

So were many of us, though I've heard rumor that some came willingly.

[She's not especially fond of the imps, but starting a fight by attacking them seems like a poor idea.]

I don't like it either. But here we are. I thought it best to familiarize myself with our surroundings.

[lifescratched]

Were you brought here recently, as well?

[She makes it sound as if she was, so perhaps she won't have as much information as he'd hoped. But if she came unwillingly, too, perhaps he can at least trust her, unlike those here who are likely more loyal to the king and queen.]

[foraneye]

Quite recently. I wish I could feel assured that my stay will be a short one.

[Yes, please trust her! She's a trustworthy sort. A trustworthy Templar sort.]

[lifescratched]

[COUGHS]

Unless this war is brief, or if there is a means of escape, I doubt it will be a short stay.

[He crosses his arms, not at all concerned about masking his distaste for the situation. If the Unseelie court is about freedom, not censorship, he doubts it matters what he says, either way.]

Where were you brought here from?

[foraneye]

[She nods in agreement, looking a little regretful. It would be nice to think they can take care of whatever business they're here for and leave quickly.

But life is rarely that simple.]

From Paris. I was born and raised in France; by the sound of your voice, I take it your homeland is somewhere else.

[lifescratched]

[Paris? That piques his interest. It's somewhere he's always wanted to visit, since meeting Lafayette.]

Yes. I am from what is now the United States.

[foraneye]

[He really, really doesn't want to visit Paris right now.]

Ah. I've never made that voyage, though I've always wondered what life was like there.

[lifescratched]

Colonial life is very different to life in Europe, as I understand.

[Not that he has any idea what Europe is like, aside from secondhand accounts, though he hopes he can make it there eventually.]

[foraneye]

It's nothing to boast about in recent times. It seems that France has looked to your countrymen as an example. We're in the midst of our own Revolution.

foods

[sworn]

[Vereesa really should be more suspicious of the festivities, but she's so tired of being wary and angry and brooding that she just lets herself enjoy it for what it is. Cautiously, of course. She won't touch any of the wine that's being passed around, but she's so far deemed the food safe enough to enjoy.

The human and his many weapons stands out among the rest. He isn't the first she has seen that isn't participating in the feast, but he's certainly the most... well-armed? As if he is ready to launch into war this very moment.]

There will be enough time for war in the coming days, I'm sure. At least everyone is having some amount of enjoyment before it begins.