REPORT 027.5 :: WALL // ACTION

[daisy023]

[Someone in full armor is at the village, going through the crowds with an ease she remains grateful for. Even though this situation is fortunately less hectic than the one with Kin'Corras, it still puzzles her to see as many.]

What is going on?

[But, it is still an opportunity. Standing taller than a lot of people, she tries seeking for anything that could be familiar -- old friends, faces, whatever.]

Comments

Lithna Shirens | OC / The Inquisition MUD

[swordandchalice]

[That happens to be a question the armored woman staring up at the giant metal bulk of Daisy would like to know the answer to herself.

She's never seen anything like this, and this doesn't look like Lithmore City. At all. The village could be a sleepy one like Lothos, perhaps.

The thing in front of her could be an abomination. She's never seen armor like that, not even among the Daravi. Instinctively, she reaches for her sword.]

Who goes there? [She tries to make her voice ring with the command of a titled Knight, but this is difficult when facing something disproportionately large... in a place she's starting to think can only mean magic. The skin on the back of her neck prickles, another sign.]

[daisy023]

[The Spartan immediately hears the sharp sound of an unsheathing sword. However, it stands still, her golden eye watching the knight. Waiting for a reaction.]

Chief Petty Officer SPARTAN-023. UNSC.

[The voice is solid. Female, young, but no alien to any wars or command.]

Who are you?

[swordandchalice]

[None of that means anything to Lithna, except for the vague recognition of an officer. Another knight?

She, like Daisy, stays alert but waiting. She identifies herself first.]

Dame Lithna Shirens, of the Knights Lithmorran.

[daisy023]

[She pauses for a moment as she studies the knight. She resembled the studies Deja would give to the Spartans of the Middle Ages, of the knights in plate armor of the various kingdoms of Europe.

SPARTAN-023 wasn't sure how permeated were the biases in the world of this woman. But she would take care.]

You're a long way home, ma'am. I'd suggest you found allies in here.

[swordandchalice]

I was in the city a moment ago.

[And this officer is the only person she's seen since then. Lithna's eyes narrow in suspicion. They say the first person you encounter after witnessing heinous magic may well be the perpetrator returning to the scene.]

[daisy023]

[She nods once. Her motions remain solid.]

We were all in different worlds. If you look around... you'll see things too different from what you know.

[swordandchalice]

[That's not even possible. The Lord of the Springs created their world, one world. Daisy is already close to heresy, Lithna notes.

And if somehow, this is an illusion - or even true - then there is only one source. Her eyes narrow.]

Magic.

[She says the word like a curse.]

[daisy023]

[She nonchalantly shakes her head.]

Not just that.

[Ripping off band-aids has turned into a habit.]

There are wizards here, but they should be different from those of your world. My universe could only use technology, but the laws of reality vary from place to place.

[swordandchalice]

[Lithna considers this: A strangely armored woman. A place where magic is at work, openly, and - evidently - permitted. (The knight would like to be able to believe, at least, that this armored woman would never tolerate a breach of the law of her land.)

This leads her to only one reasonable conclusion.]

The Daravi lands. [She had somehow ended up on the very wrong side of the borders, with... Wait. With a Daravi knight who spoke the king's tongue?]

[daisy023]

[Are you kidding? If it was possible in her world, they would abuse it to turn frogs into oranges, and his unlucky counterpart in another game is going to realize it.]

Ma'am? [She tilts her head.] What do you mean?

[swordandchalice]

[No, she has some questions first, Female Daravi Knight.]

How is it that you speak the King's tongue?

[daisy023]

[She shakes her head.]

I don't know. [She tilts her head towards a resident with the wings she has hidden in her armor.] The people set in this world have wings they understand eachother with. I think I understand your language, and I'm speaking in a way you understand me.

We're from too many worlds. It's the reason we can all understand eachother. If you listen closely, you'd hear my language -- English.

[swordandchalice]

[Wings-? She sees them then, as she takes a closer look at the giant in front of her.

How can that be?

She has heard, in that 'vague rumor because no one would ever confess to having firsthand knowledge of this except on the rack, but it sounds plausible' way, of spells that give speech to mages.]

Some talisman. [The wings must be some spelled object, somehow.]

[daisy023]

[She lowers her head.]

It's the nature of this world. We don't have talismans here -none magical that aren't native to this world-. They just appear... Even with those born in this world.

[Especially with the Third Party.]

It's strange that you don't have them.

[swordandchalice]

I would never! [These words are all but spat as Lithna tosses her head with a quick, fiery pride.]

I would never allow myself to be so tainted.

[daisy023]

With all due respect, ma'am, do you think anyone would?

[She nods to someone else.]

The wings serve no purpose save for language and flight. People set on this world grow them without surgery or magic involved.

[swordandchalice]

[This, in a much cruder way, she does understand.]

You are saying this is surgery. Like sewing a wound. [But how can they do this with an entire body part?]

[daisy023]

Surgeries involve a lot more procedures the higher the tech. But this was not surgery. It's... the way this world works.

[Tactically, the Spartan acknowledges it might be dangerous to tell her the wings are a weak spot, especially so when she has the attitude of a Covenant Elite.]

Everyone gets them. It's strange that you don't.

[swordandchalice]

[It probably would have been better to let her believe her non-magical explanation. Her eyes narrow, this time at Daisy.]

And you accept this? It does not trouble you that men sprout wings?

[daisy023]

Try spending two years with them.

[Her voice notes part knowing it happens, and part still hating it.]

If it was our choice, we wouldn't have them. [Her visor turns back to her.] And you still need to adapt to this world.

[swordandchalice]

There are changes which must be made.

[There are shortages sometimes, in a city like Lithmore. There is a changing political climate. There are new guild leaders, new guild personnel. New officers transferred to the city as promotion.

Unfortunately, this ranks as none of those.]

And there are those which cannot be tolerated.

[daisy023]

We are not in our worlds anymore.

[The most brutal truth.]

The faster you realize this, the better you'll cope. And more you'll be ready for those changes.

[Otherwise, you'll mentally and emotionally blue-screen much like Daisy did in her first week.]

[swordandchalice]

[She doesn't want to 'cope', or 'be ready for those changes'. Not when they involve something this foul, this evil.]

There is no accepting of this magic. It must be rooted out. [On the other hand, it gives her a wonderful motivation for any plots against the Malnosso.]

[daisy023]

Alternate laws of reality. Yours world's laws don't apply here.

[Damn it. She was worse than a Covenant Elite.]

If you're not for magic, fine. But don't bother those that use it and still want a peaceful life. I've heard enough of gods and heresy where I'm from.

[swordandchalice]

[That crosses a very clear and definite line in Lithna's world, and thus in Lithna.

She draws her sword.]

[daisy023]

[The Spartan takes a long look at the sword. She doesn't detect anything supernatural of the sort, and it moves the way the swords made by Sokka do. She doesn't move an inch.]

Put that weapon down before you hurt yourself.

[swordandchalice]

[This, Lithna takes as an insult to her own abilities.]

I know how to use it.

[daisy023]

So can I.

[Frederic taught her how to twist swords away from Elite Zealots, too.]

Put it down.

[swordandchalice]

I will not disarm myself. [Not in front of this...

mage-lover.]

[daisy023]

[For the record, Daisy is not a mage-lover. Lina Inverse left before they could start dating!]

Then I will. I won't let you hurt anyone here.

[swordandchalice]

[The sword does not lower, not even an inch. But Lithna considers, as much as she dislikes it, the practicalities:

She cannot kill this woman right here. She cannot even find an Inquisitor to see to the body if she did. And she has the certain feeling that there is no Cathedral in the square, not even a village church of the Order.]

I will harm no one good and true.

[daisy023]

[There is a church. An heretic Shinto shrine if that's Lithna's sort of thing.

The armor steps forward.]

Then hold up to it.

[swordandchalice]

I cannot say the same for those who cleave to wrong-doing. [Those, she has no mercy upon.]

[daisy023]

Then give me that sword.

[She unsheathes Lina's short sword, as her visor stares straight at the woman's own weapon.]

[swordandchalice]

[Instead of handing it over, Lithna keeps her grip firm. It's her weapon and Daisy is not precisely non-threatening.]

No knight would do so.