text || un: IAMNEDSTARK

[learned_to_die]

IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS SOME VERSION OF COMMUNICATION, AKIN TO MESSAGES RECEIVED VIA RAVEN. I CANNOT YET UNDERSTAND HOW SUCH THINGS ARE POSSIBLE, NOR CAN I UNDERSTAND HOW I AM EXPECTED TO SO ACCURATELY PRESS MY FINGERS TO SUCH PAINFULLY SMALL LETTERS ON THIS THING CALLED A "KEY BOARD."

[Ned is part of the Old Dads club; he has accidentally turned on his caps lock and has absolutely no idea how to turn it off, nor does he have any social precedent for understanding how hostile this makes him look.]

I AM TOLD THAT I AM IN A CITY CALLED WYVER, A NAME AS FOREIGN TO ME AS THE REST OF THIS IS. THE LOCALS HERE ARE NOT INCREDIBLY FORTHCOMING WITH ASSISTANCE OR INFORMATION, AND AS SUCH, ANYTHING THAT YOU MIGHT OFFER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU FOR WHATEVER YOU MIGHT PROVIDE.

-- EDDARD STARK, LORD OF WINTERFELL, WARDEN OF THE NORTH, HAND OF THE KING

Comments

[learned_to_die]

YES, I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT COMES ACROSS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS:

HOSTILE
ANGRY "AF," WHATEVER THAT MIGHT MEAN
SHOUTING
UNNUANCED
YELLING

-- LORD EDDARD STARK, LORD OF WINTERFELL, WARDEN OF THE NORTH, HAND OF THE KING

text > video

[verflair]

Ah, you've been given the gamut I see. Let us do this, instead.

[ After a moment, the feed switches to video, and Ned is treated to an image of X'rhun's smiling face. He has his hat on, so for now any clues about his species are left to the markings on his face and his slit-pupiled eyes. ]

Hello there!

[video]

[learned_to_die]

[Ned has, at the very least, learned how to access the video feature of this strange communicator, thanks to the kindness of a stranger who, as Ned suspects, took pity on him and his fumblings. He takes a minute to turn it on, taking a moment to examine the man's small face, noting how .. different he appears. But perhaps those differences are due to the video itself. It's hard to know.

Once Ned's video is on, he offers a warm but muted smile in typical Stark fashion. There is nothing threatening or intimidating about his expression, and he looks like a man who's been greatly weathered by the events of his life.]

Yes, hello. I am proud to say that this is at least one aspect of this device that I've seemingly mastered.

[verflair]

[ Well, it's nice to see a friendly face, if nothing else.

X'rhun chuckles lightly. ] Mayhap you had best stick with it, util you have mastered the others.

Ah, but forgive my rudeness. My name is X'rhun Tia. The locals are not very forthcoming with any of us, but I shall do my best to answer any questions you may have.

[learned_to_die]

I hope you speak out of wanting to protect me from making a fool of myself. [There's a slight teasing lilt to Ned's voice; he means no offense.]

Perhaps you mightn't answer that which you've already mentioned: why are the locals not forthcoming with us? It's not as though we've had a choice or say in being brought here, surely they can understand that.

[verflair]

But of course. We technologically inept fellows must look out for one another. [ Oh, thank gods. Someone who is capable of teasing. It makes him grin. ]

Politics, mostly, I suspect. We refugees were originally under the care of the neighboring nation of Olympia, with whom Wyver sits at odds. There was an attack recently on both nations by a third party, in which explosives were set off and a disease was spread.

Olympia had not the resources to keep all of us there, and so bartered our passage to Wyver with information on the attack and the like. I imagine many see us as Olympia's lapdogs at best.

[learned_to_die]

I will remember you deeming me 'technologically inept,' for some future, unnamed date at which such a slight will bear more importance.

Incredible to think that, even here, neighboring lands cannot see eye-to-eye on political matters. I suppose the universe is the same, no matter the part in which we find ourselves. [He considers this information for a moment.] Have Olympia and Wyver put aside differences to defend against the third party?

[verflair]

Lest you forget, I called myself technologically inept, as well. It is less a slight and more a fact.

[ It’s only thanks to a few people explaining things to him early on that he’s not typing in all capitals as well. ]

I think they are more concerned with the well-being of their own than working together in any longstanding capacity. They helped each other with the matter at hand, but that seems to be the end of it.

[learned_to_die]

It seems my attempt at humor has fallen flat. I can assure you, I will keep no record - now or moving forward. Not about this, at least.

How unfortunate, that they could not be convinced to continue to be united. It stands to reason that they were stronger and more capable as a cohesive unit, as opposed to being broken apart?

[verflair]

Oh, no, do not misunderstand. I am notoriously difficult to offend. I knew what your aim was.

Ah, I confess there is much about the history of this land- political or otherwise- I do not know or understand. But my experience with war is often that such chasms tend to run deep.

[learned_to_die]

Has that trait served you as a blessing or a curse?

Aye, my experience would confirm yours. Oft to the point where those involved can no longer remember the reasons why they dislike the other, only that they do.

[verflair]

It seems to have served me well so far.

[ Suffice it to say, when he gets angry, that means he has ample reason to be. ]

I wonder if such is the case here. Their mutual animosity seems to be as much a given as the need to breathe.