Open Log - Welcome to the Main Camp

[musoumods]

Moments ago, there was an earthquake. You might not have felt it, but it definitely happened. The collapsed tents and spooked horses serve as evidence that something unsettling shook the main camp not that long ago. The soldiers and citizens don't seem terribly frightened, as if they've gotten used to the ground trembling by now, but more than one stops to look toward the tall spires of rock separating the comfortable and well-ordered areas of the camp from a deserted battlefield. It's as if they wonder to themselves whether something deep in the pit on the other side might have caused it...again...

And then they realize that something else has happened.

You are here – or near here.

Prompt 1:

Immediately after the latest quake, people simply appear in and around the main camp. The residents don't actually see it happen, but they turn around to find a person where there wasn't one a moment ago. You might be that person! You might wake up inside a canvas tent, perhaps even lucky enough to be resting comfortably on an unoccupied cot. You might wake up on the open ground outside with an awful lot of gawkers standing around you. Or, you might wake up about ten meters down the road from the gates of the camp, in clear sight of the guards and the tents just beyond them. This is definitely the time and place to start grabbing strangers and asking them where you are, why you're there, and what the hell is going on.

Prompt 2:

Maybe it's not so right-away, but you've woken up all the same and had a look around. Maybe some of the soldiers have done their best to answer your burning questions. At least one thing is clear: the natives all dress in simple robes and tunics, the soldiers in similar plate or mail armor, making anyone in other garb stick out like a sore thumb. The women who run the Teahouse have noticed this first, and are doing a fine job offering the utmost in hospitality to the strangers in the off chance that they're allied with one of the lords of the land. They'll make sure you have a place to sleep, a good meal, and the best tea the Han Dynasty can provide. It may be a bit rustic for some, but it's comfortable and pleasant. Can it be worth settling down here for a while? Or is this place missing something crucial – like the ability to use your magic?

Prompt 3:

There's a lot to explore in and around the Main Camp. The various tents set up on different levels overlooking the middle area are open to be claimed, and some of them look a lot more fancy than others. As long as there's no famous lord laying his head there, why shouldn't you? The central ground of the camp contains the Merchant's stall, the Teahouse, and the Armory, as well as the stocks for the misbehaving. The bathing area is downstream from everything else, where the river passes under the rocks and empties out onto the plain beyond. There's a few areas of interest outside the camp perimeter, too, and none of the guards are stopping you from going out there. The main road looks well-traveled and vanishes eastward into the distance across rolling plains. On the west side there are high cliffs of cooled lava separating the camp from the former battleground where the Hydra was destroyed. It's rocky and perilous ground, but the adventurous can climb down winding, crumbling paths into a deep crevasse. There doesn't appear to be anything down here, but those of a magical or mystical inclination will sense the lingering aftereffects of great power.

If one were to travel a short distance northward, they'll find the Wuzhang Plains standing quiet and empty, the fortifications left in whatever half-damaged state they were in from the last battle waged here. There is also a temple along the southern ridge, looking decidedly like it doesn't belong there with more traces of mystical energy at its center. Here, the wayward traveler will be beset by small units of spindly, gray-skinned soldiers bearing spears and swords, no more than half a dozen at a time.

Prompt 4: Wildcard

Whatever floats your boat or isn't covered above! Refer to the Arrival page for details of what is and isn't to be found in the Main Camp.

In time, the Merchant makes an announcement. Not long after the Great Cataclysm, some of the mystic soldiers now guarding the main camp arrived with mirrors they claim to have enchanted so that the scattered warlords can speak to each other from a distance. He is under obligation to give one to anyone who asks, and suggests that they may try it out whenever they have the courage to do so.

Comments

[lendedahand]

At ease, at ease, I'm not your commanding officer. No need to be so formal.

[At least he hoped he wasn't his commanding officer, not that he didn't seem to be a good soldier, but he needed a break from being the cult leader of some human thing. Speaking of the whole cult leader thing, he wondered if it would be wise to give his name and rank out so readily just yet.]

Shu? I can't say I've heard of that. Is that up north by Tevinter?

[dragonrises]

[he shakes his head gently] It isn't as much formality as it is respect, and my lord would be disappointed if he ever found out that I failed to show respect to someone...well. I suppose I can't know if you are of rank, but I've rarely seen a foot soldier wear such armor.

Shu is...well, one of our holdings is west of here, but. That is harder to answer, since I've never heard of that place either. Te...Tevinter? [it really doesn't roll off his tongue easily]

[lendedahand]

[He looked down at the pile of armor he was in the slow process of putting back on. It was... admittedly not really foot soldier gear. Well, thanks for indirectly blowing his cover Ameridan. Could have at least tried to make it look more Dalish-y. Thrown some leafs on it,
toss some halla doodles, make it green, get rid of the shoes... no one would have any idea he was relatively important.]

...Fair point. [He stands, now that he's got the greaves on. Which does nothing to make him look more threatening given his spindly legs poking out of the bulky metal. He offers his hand to shake regardless.] Inquisitor Ladanelan Amelanen’u’vunen Lavellan, but since I have yet to meet a human able to properly say it, feel free to shorten it at your leisure. Makes for some creative nicknames.

[Though to be fair most of the "nicknames" weren't intentional. Humans had a tough time discerning where one name began and the other ended. Made for some very flustered Orlesians. Fortunately he was in a more forgiving mood today, and gave Zhao Yun an out.

After all, it wasn't often humans offered such respect to an elf, especially considering this one didn't seem to know who he was. Then again, he also seemed unfamiliar with Tevinter which had been the bane of Thedas since they rose to power.]

So not near Tevinter then. Rivain maybe? Antiva? [And on a more of a reach:] Par Vollen?

[dragonrises]

Inquisitor... [that sure is a mouthful, particularly for someone who thinks he's speaking Old Chinese] ...Lavellan? Well met, under the circumstances.

[to be fair, Zhao Yun wouldn't know an elf from a hole in the ground - to him, everyone is some shade of human unless proven a mystic, and those generally look like humans except for Sun Wukong. He'd be ready to believe the ears are yet another mysterious mystic characteristic, in which case the importance level goes way up.

His brow furrows and he mouths the syllables as if trying to test them out without saying any of them out loud, lest he be proven an idiot, and then shakes his head]

Nothing like that, none of those places are in the Three Kingdoms. If they are in Wa, I wouldn't know. I came most recently from our chief city, Chengdu, hoping to find some of our missing officers abroad.

[lendedahand]

Don't hurt yourself there, just Lavellan is fine. It's not like I'm going to turn into a big scaly monster if you don't put a title in front of it. Besides, the look of horror when people realize they might have to try and get the whole mouthful out never gets old... [And he laughs at that, then continues in a mock whisper pretending like it's some huge secret.]Just don't tell anyone I said that, it'll ruin the whole Elven mystique thing.

[Not that he didn't do a fabulous job of ruining that himself everytime he opened his mouth. That was how he liked it though, making an idiot of himself kept all the power from going to his head.]

Can't say I have heard of any such places. I'm from the Free Marches myself. North of Fereldan and south of Antiva. Maybe it's possible I made it across the sea somehow? As far as I know, no one's really been across the sea. [That was the only explanation left that would make relative sense. Though it would still be odd that there were humans but no elves wouldn't it?]

[dragonrises]

[Zhao Yun smiles gently, already liking this guy a lot. Whoever and whatever he is, he's far more personable than several mystics, to say nothing of half of Wei.]

Forgive me, titles come naturally to me. My position requires honor and diplomacy as much as wielding my spear.

[nope, really, they're at an impasse. Weird homeland names all over the place.] If I may chance a theory...well. Not that long ago, in the course of drawing our armies together, we stumbled across lands that were not there the last time we traveled past. For example, Lady Joan's native castle was suddenly at the base of Mount Dingjun, where it had not been before. She could not say how she came to be in this world that we had been in for a time, nor could we, but we simply accepted it as a quirk of Orochi's dimension. Perhaps it has happened again.

[lendedahand]

Ah diplomacy. Nothing quite gives one a fondness for cheap ale quite like diplomacy. I'm surprised I haven't wound up a tavern drunk yet.

[He squirms his way into the heavy coat, and started to work on the straps and fastenings as needed. He fumbled a little, still adjusting to only having one arm, but still stubborn enough to keep trying anyway. He could be a stereotypical bullheaded elf sometimes.]

And entire castle just... appeared?. I suppose that's a pleasant change from seeing things disappear, but I'm almost afraid of what might crop up from Thedas. With my luck someone will trip across an Archdemon in their wine cellar, or worse: Kirkwall.

[dragonrises]

Yes, appeared. Not before our eyes, mind - Mount Dingjun is not a fortress any kingdom keeps manned. But several of my comrades had encamped there once and would swear upon their lives that the castle was not there a couple of years ago.

[he watches Lavellan fumble and work, trying to restrain himself because clearly the man is quite capable with just one arm, but...] ...er, would you like some assistance?

[lendedahand]

Well, maybe I should starting asking around to see what else there may be. Good to know elves aren't the only thing being mysteriously transported to strange lands.

[He took the pauldron for the shoulder of his good arm, and puzzled over for a moment how exactly how he was going to figure that out. He made some attempts to hold it in place by pressing his head against it, and holding a strap in his teeth. It made it difficult to talk, but he tried anyway. He's got this he's tottaly got this!]

Oh this? No, I've got it completely... under... contro-

[And he don't got this. While trying to fasten the strap in place he fumbled it, and the pauldron clattered to the ground, causing the elf to wince. That wasn't a good noise, even if armor was something that was meant to take a beating, it didn't deserve that.

Lavellan gave a sheepish chuckle and ran his hand over his hair looking over the bits of armor he still had strewn across the ground.]

You know on second thought maybe I could use the help. I'm still getting used to this.

[dragonrises]

[excited to do a good deed! Zhao Yun leans his spear against the nearest tree and bends to pick up the pauldron, starting right where Lavellan left off]

It would be my pleasure. [especially since the armor really isn't that different from his own, and he knows his way around helping others into their armor.] Elves...you've said that several times. Is that...is that what you call yourself?

[lendedahand]

[He was a bit fidgety and unsure when the other went to help him. He knew he had no other choice really, but still, he didn't like it. The question got him off-guard, and distracted him from dwelling on the fact he was taking help from a strange human. He had taken for granted that the people here had at least seen elves before, even if he hadn't found any at the camp.]

Yes, I'm an elf what else would I- [And as he cuts himself off he gives a slow nod in understanding as pieces started falling into place.] You've never met an elf before have you?

[dragonrises]

Well... [Zhao Yun's quick look and little smile are disarmingly innocent, sincere] ...no, not that I know of. There are tall tales of beings other than humans living on islands in the sea, but no one I know has ever seen one. Here in this dimension, anything seems to be possible.

[even having seen the gods with his own eyes, there isn't much reason for Zilong to consider differences - at least, so long as no one declares themselves a demon. That might be a problem.]

[lendedahand]

Well, I suppose being from beyond the sea makes more sense, we've heard of lands across the sea as well, but we knew little about what dwelled there.

Knowing my luck it's not that simple what with all the sudden castles popping up, but it's a nice thought.

[He attempted to distract himself from the conversation a bit by helping stap on what armor he could without disturbing the other's help. He never did like the whole being coddled bit that leadership tried to force on him.]

[dragonrises]

[at least Zhao Yun works quickly, purposefully, with the practice of having helped fellow generals gear up before a battle many times before.]

You know, I had not thought of that. There is a great sea, to the east beyond the shores of the Wu territories, but no one has been able to venture out very far to see if other lands had been brought here. But, then, if that were true, I would imagine Orochi would have tried to conquer them as well, so if you have never dealt with him, then you're right - it is more like what happened with Lady Joan and the others.

[lendedahand]

[He laughed thinking of all the reasons someone would just not want to deal with Thedas. If whoever this Orochi was, if they were having trouble with a land made up of just humans, if they were smart they would have just taken one look at the state of Thedas and changed their mind.]

Oh he probably took one look at us, then saw the fifth Blight, the two civil wars going on at the same time, the eternal war between Tevinter and the Qunari, and two grossly powerful creatures with delusions of godhood, and had second thoughts.

Then he probably saw Kirkwall and realized we're a lost cause, and it's not worth the effort.

[Once all was properly fixed, and was relieved to take a few steps back.]

[dragonrises]

Ah...

[Zhao Yun withdrew his hands as he finished and awkwardly pondered the litany of problems Lavellan listed, and then shook his head]

When Orochi first brought us here, the Han Dynasty had just fallen and our three remaining kingdoms were still fighting amongst each other. Moreover, the officers brought from Wa confirmed that all of their lords - seven or eight at first count - were still fighting wars against one another as well. If anything, such powerful people among your land would only have made him that much more interested in bringing you here to prove his superiority over you.

[while not direct, that is a cliffs-notes version of why any of them were in this dimension at all, if Lavellan could read between the lines. Not even gods were safe from his grasp.]

[lendedahand]

[He hummed thoughtfully then nodded as if to say 'not bad'.]

Pretty tumultuous, but Kirkwall still wins I think.

[But that got him thinking on what he should be more concerned with.]

On a more serious note though, my world houses a plague called the "blight", if this Orochi fellow if as clever and dastardly as you say then surely he'd know better than risk bringing that here.

[dragonrises]

[not that it's a competition, but Zhao Yun takes it with a little chuckle. He likes this guy already]

Perhaps you're right. I don't imagine he would want to risk bringing in something that could decimate his own army or turn them against him. And, I must say that I would prefer not to have to deal with any blight on top of demon warlords.

[which reminds him...]

Have you an army of your people, then? Or is it just you alone?

[lendedahand]

The Blight would certainly throw off any plans for power grabs and world ruling.

[Or surviving. He hadn't ever really seen the Blight first hand, but he had taken a trip to the Deep Roads, and seen the devastation that the Blight had left in its wake. At the next bit he chuckled, well that was a bit of the story.]

I did but I disbanded my organization before I came here, and with it went its armies. So you are more or less looking at the full force of the Inquisition!

And as for my Clan- no, they're not with me.

[dragonrises]

Ah. Well, then, do feel free to make yourself new comrades to keep company, here. I wish that more of my own companions were around so I could introduce you, but...

[the fact that he made the journey with only a cadre of soldiers has nothing to do with it! Totally.]