➶ tenth ( video )

[heroica]

Greetings. [ Inhale, exhale. They still have time. ] For those of you I've yet to meet, my name is Robyn Cousland, one of the Grey Wardens of Ferelden. You don't have to know anything about the Order, but know that I have... some experience in leading others, and a great amount of exposure to war.

[ Between Ferelden's civil war and the Blight... it was a lot, she thinks. ]

I know that everyone here has their own strengths to share with others, so I thought that I might make an offer of my own. Since diplomacy has failed us, we must be ready for battle. I have experience creating traps, some basic poisons, and, perhaps most importantly, healing potions and poultices. I am a practiced archer, and I fight with my mabari - a war hound - at my side. If any of these things would be useful to you, I would be happy to give lessons for whichever of the above you would like to learn.

[ Her jaw is tight, her expression strained. The Warden sighs, dropping her gaze. ]

It sounds a bit - bleak, really, but I wanted to add that... you may want to think about the people and things most important to you, and the lengths to which you'd go to protect them. There may come a time when you have to place yourself in harm's way to keep them safe, and it's easier to be ready before that time comes.

[ Speaking from experience? Definitely. ]

Comments

[forwearemany]

(Considering what's been going on with Legion and what happened the other day, their response may not be entirely surprising.)

No.

(They refuse to fight.)

[heroica]

Legion. [ She looks pained as she addresses him and shifts where she stands. ] ... Is there anything that I can do?

[forwearemany]

...Uncertain.

We are considering the possibility of assisting mirrors who do not wish to fight.

[heroica]

Good. I know there are some who don't want to fight, and they hardly deserve to be lumped together with the rest.

[ It's a good goal for him. For anyone. ]

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[gambolshroud]

[It's her first day here, and already there's talk of war. It's like whatever power that's responsible for bringing her here is determined to teach Blake that no matter how hard she might try, she can't outrun it.

The face that appears in response to Robyn's message is serious and reserved, lips set into a thin line for a moment before she speaks.]

It's good that you're offering to help people prepare to defend themselves. If you don't mind, could you tell me a little bit about this war?

[She frowns faintly.]

I'm... not from around here.

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[heroica]

[ "Not from around here" seems an admission that she'd just arrived, but Robyn doesn't ask to clarify. Instead, she smiles lightly and nods. ]

The Queen of Hearts lives on the other side of the mirrors with her - er, "Mirrors." That's what she calls them: the versions of us who live on that side. She has declared war on us, allegedly to come in the next few months.

[ sigh ]

I admit that I don't know quite as much as the others about Wonderland's history, so you may get more detailed information from some of the older residents.

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[gambolshroud]

[She appreciates that Robyn takes the time to answer at all, quite frankly. She nods to confirm. Well, that seems straightforward enough— though she wouldn't go so far as to call it simple. War never is.]

I've spent a lot of my day in the library already. There are a lot of well-kept records there.

[Which, given the absurdity of the situation as a whole, she's incredibly grateful for.]

It seems strange that she would give you warning so far in advance. I wouldn't trust her to be good to her word. It doesn't make sense— for someone to give their opponent fair warning and risk meeting greater resistance.

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[choosetruth]

[Georgia frowns under her sunglasses.]

Not all of us are ready to write diplomacy off. War has been declared. That doesn't mean we have to go through with it.

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[heroica]

Of course. I have no issue with pressing for diplomacy, if we have someone from their side who is willing to even speak with us.

[ If the battle begins, though, she'll fight to defend the people she cares about. ]

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[choosetruth]

[On that matter, they're agreed. Georgia is going to do everything she can to prevent this war. But she's not letting her people get hurt. Her pacifism only goes so far.]

There are plenty willing to talk to us. The problem is the Queen's the only one who can actually call it off, and she's clearly not interested.

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[screwedontight]

I'm still sticking behind the fact that we still haven't looked at who is really behind this. Someone set up the parties to piss off the psycho on the other side of the mirror, and I'm curious as to who it was.

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[heroica]

I believe it was the Red Queen, wasn't it? I think that she said as much to us herself. Do you have reason to believe otherwise?

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[screwedontight]

I heard, and the source isn't the best, but that whole Christmas party thing wasn't either of them. And if it was the Red Queen, why push the Queen of Hearts buttons. I don't know. Things just feel weird about it all.

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[normandysbest]

No chance you'd wanna be in on the guard, would you?

[Robyn's one of the people she trusts quite a bit. And with losing people left and right lately, being able to count on her would be useful.]

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[heroica]

Shepard. [ She smiles faintly. ] I would, if you'll have me.

[ Better to get involved as much as she can and to connect with the others who would be defending the mansion. ]

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[normandysbest]

Of course. I’ve seen you in combat. And if you’re offering these services, you already want to protect.

[All great qualities.]

Nathaniel Howe is on my roster, too. He told me you two were teammates back on your home world. Would you prefer to be working with him?

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[jivitadana]

[Minato knew that he could count on her for so many things. He did owe her a lot and knew that she was capable of lot.]

Thank you for offering.

[There was an advantage to having experience, but having that experience be actual war had to be hard on her as well.]

If there's some way I can help you too, then I will.

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[heroica]

It's the least that I can do. [ She smiles lightly, inclining her head. ] I know that you can fight, Minato, but I hope that you'll be careful, even so.

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[jivitadana]

[Minato nodded. He would have to take care of himself too while his priority was looking out for other people.]

I'll have to be. But I'd still like to take you up on some more of those archery lessons, if that's okay.

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[townwithoutme]

Are you offering for everyone? Or just adults?

[Just, you know. Asking. Inquiring for a friend. ...That friend being herself.]

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[heroica]

I'm happy to teach you whatever you'd like to know. [ She may be young, but Robyn's own mother taught her the crossbow as a child, so. ] What is it that you're interested in?

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[townwithoutme]

I'm...not sure. I didn't think I'd get this far.

[Blunt, but honest. A lot of the adults are against teaching children things like this, Kayo's noticed.]

Maybe traps?

[talesuntold]

A war hound? [She sounds genuinely interested, but that isn't actually the reason she's replying.]

I received some information on your Mirror during that carnival. I don't know whether you visited the donation box, but that's what it spit out in return for my donation. Have you ever encountered her?

[heroica]

Yes. Mabari are sort of the... animal of renown in my home: Ferelden.

[ She'd be happy to talk about them forever, too. ]

... Did you? [ Oh. That wipes the smile from her face. ] I - No, I haven't. I hope that you haven't, either.

[ From what she's heard from Nathaniel, her Mirror is. Something. ]

[talesuntold]

I love dogs. I'd like to meet yours.

And no, I haven't. It sounds like she'd be no fan of yours, given that Grey Wardens were on her list of dislikes along with people in general. It would presumably have gone poorly if I'd met her.

I'm Maggie Garcia, by the way.