video

[altarwolf]

[Hello Wonderland. You may have noticed a black cat wandering the grounds and within the mansion. Maybe staring at you, but running off if you turned your attention toward it. Whether or not you saw this cat, it is now human, and it is not pleased with what it's found.

The feed comes on to a young dark haired woman with piercing eyes. It switches off, switches to text, switches back to video and she stands back, apparently unsatisfied with what she has discovered of the device.]

I was under the impression this infernal contraption has the ability to send messages, but I do not see how. What magic it employs is beyond me, like much of the magic of this place. [Which is frustrating, to not know something she's meant to, something she's supposedly an expert in.

She takes a closer, disapproving look at the device. It's certainly no Eluvian.] 'Tis meant to speak to me now, yes? Rather, the voices of those it reaches. Or am I speaking plainly to a little box and looking the fool for it? ... [She'd growl if she were the sort to growl. But she's clearly exasperated. When she speaks again, her tone makes it clear she is on her last bit of patience.]

Tell me now, residents of this place, of where I am and, also, what sort of place leaves rooms strewn about its grounds, books among the leaves as they are. I am no architect, but it seems a poor choice of design.

...Well? Speak now!

Comments

Re: video;

[thesamurai]

[What the hell.]

You can't leave. No idea what or where or who Ferelden is. But once you're here, you're here. Someone explained it to me like walking through a magic portal to another world, and it closed behind you. This is it. We don't leave until the place is done with us.

[Note: do not ever put Michonne on the Wonderland Welcome Wagon committee.]

video;

[altarwolf]

Nonsense. There must be a way. If not beyond the sea or through the forest, then by opening another portal. All magic can be replicated, it takes only the right mage. ["And I'm the right mage, obviously," goes unsaid, but implied. No one tells Morrigan she can't do something.] Who opened the portal that brought me here? 'Twas certainly not I.

Re: video;

[thesamurai]

Well. I'd say good luck, but that implies success. There are a lot of...mages here. Whatever wants us here isn't letting us leave. You think you're the first person who wants to leave?

[Her expression shifts to one of patience, trying to get he to understand.]

All you can do is learn about this place for now. It's crazy, even more than a little terrifying. No one came here of their free will. None of us.

Re: video;

[altarwolf]

You imply there is no person responsible, no one mage entrapping so many here. That the spell was cast by its own will? 'Tis unbelievable.

...Not so unbelievable that I find it to be a lie. If all there is to do is to learn of this place, then so I shall. [There's a pause between that resolution and the following question, a pause of one who is not accustomed to seeking knowledge from others. One who does not want to ever be accustomed to such a thing.] What else can you tell me of it? Of... Wonderland, as you called it?

[thesamurai]

There's a queen. Queen of Hearts. Look, I can explain everything; as much as I know. Might be easier in person. What's around you? We can meet.

[She wants to help, because honestly, the best thing you can do for a new arrival is try to guide them through this shit. Even the stubborn ones.]

[altarwolf]

So very helpful. [She pauses before giving up her location, unsure if she wants to trust this random, apparently helpful person. But the want for information gives in and she says:] I am in the garden.

[thesamurai]

[Michonne gives a nod, making her way out. Her katana is strapped to he back,her body language as non-threatening as she can make it as she walks forward.]

You figure out in this place, it's better to have people on your side, than not.

[altarwolf]

[She notes the sword, but does not see it as a threat. It's pretty normal to see people walking around armed where Morrigan's from.]

I am not looking to make enemies, nor was that ever my intention. [She just has a smart mouth.] In fact, I will believe most anything you say. Within reason.

[thesamurai]

[Well, good to know that it's within reason at least.]

This place isn't...within reason. It's crazy, and far as anyone can tell? It mostly runs on magic.

[But she backs up a bit, trying to at least be friendly.]

I'm Michonne. I've been here about half a year. I think. Time doesn't move here like normal.

[altarwolf]

Then 'tis not unlike the Fade. A magical place that does not operate by the same rules as the world we know. I have walked the Fade, and though I know less of this place, I will not falter to something so small as inexperience.

Half a year is quite an amount of time to spend trapped in one place that is but one mansion. You may call me Morrigan.

[thesamurai]

At least you're familiar with magic. Most people, it's an entirely new concept.

[Well, maybe not 'most.' She's actually met more people who know about it than not.]

You can get what you need most of the time from the closets. Pick a room, any floor, it's yours. And whatever you want, the closet will give you. Unless something's wrong with the magic.

[altarwolf]

You imply more than a simple inability to use magic. There are those who have never beheld magic here?

[Magic is kind of her whole life. She can't imagine just... not knowing about it.]

I have witnessed the power of the closets. There is something wrong with the magic now, correct? Wardrobes expelling all manner of items, rather than simply what is asked after.

[thesamurai]

Never. Magic doesn't exist where I'm from. At least, if it does it's not visible.

[She nods though in confirmation.]

It's not usually like this, and we don't know what the hell's wrong. Usually the closets are pretty decent.

[altarwolf]

Then truly different worlds are worlds apart from one another. Magic has been in everything I have breathed since I was but a child.

And there is no mage to go to, one who cast the spell, to see what mistake he has made, if I understand rightly. What higher power is there? I speak not of gods, but the forces behind this world. Who or what decides who to summon to this place, and when?

[thesamurai]

All we know for sure, is a queen rules one side of this place. It's on the other side of the mirrors. There are duplicates of us over there, usually...whatever your personality is here, it's the opposite.

[Get it? Like a mirror. She never wants to meet hers.]

The Queen of Hearts controls them, and far as we know, the magic is sourced from that side. This place feeds on our memories. Every now and then the whole place might change. Or threats might seep in. Just depends on the person's memory that week.

[altarwolf]

Opposite duplicates? Now that does sound like fantasy. But I said I would believe what you say, so believe you I shall. [She's fought images of herself before, thanks Andraste, but those were simply apparitions. A world full of doubles on the other side of a mirror... Well, it's appropriate, if a bit far-fetched.]

Changes how? We live the memory taken from the victim? [Please let that not be right, she doesn't want anyone experiencing her memories. Or anywhere near her head, thank you.]

[thesamurai]

[Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but.]

Yeah. This place has been bizarre as hell. Dangerous, too.

[Speaking of memories no one should have to experience: zombie apocalypse.]

When the closets work, stock pile weapons. Food too, because you never know if that'll go away for a while.

[altarwolf]

[Ugh. Displaying her memories for all to see -- this place is already sounding terrible.]

I have weapon enough in my hands. [Which are empty, but that's what she means. She's armed even if she doesn't look it.] But as for keeping food -- your advice seems sound.

[thesamurai]

[Her eyes glance down at Morrigan's hands, then back up. Magic. She said she was magic, and Michonne has no reason to doubt that.]

This place can be enjoyable, too. Don't get me wrong. But it's better to just...be prepared.

[altarwolf]

It does have a pleasant atmosphere that belies the danger within. Perhaps a simpler person may find comfort in that pleasantness. I, however, do not find comfort so easily in false hospitality. [She hardly finds comfort in true hospitality.] What is there to enjoy in a prison?

[thesamurai]

[Michonne likes her already.]

For some of us it can be a reprieve. Some home realms...worlds...[Whatever.] have gone to shit. So this is less terrible on most days.

[altarwolf]

I can see your point. I know nothing of other worlds, save for the Fade. Mine is no paradise, but it could be worse, I suppose. What of your world, then? Tell me of it.

[thesamurai]

[Her hands go to her hips in a comfortable position as she shifts her katana on her back.]

Fucked. That's what my world is.

[Michonne honestly has no idea if that's a universal expletive, but oh well.]

There's a...virus. Sickness that everyone's infected with, makes it so that when they die they don't stay dead. They come back. They're just not human anymore. All they do at that point is tear into people. The people left alive become the food. Only way to kill them, destroy the brain. We didn't know in the beginning, everything got too bad, too fast.

[Her shoulders drop a little as her hands fall back to her sides.]

There's not a lot of the living left.

[altarwolf]

[Don't worry, Morrigan knows what "fucked" means.]

I suppose this is a marked improvement, then. Even the worst my world has to offer is not constant; there are reprieves and presumably parts of society that do not suffer for it. Things are improving, in fact -- we had just ended the Blight, after all.

[Michonne likely doesn't know what a Blight is, but Morrigan continues regardless,]

In my world, there are those who suffer more than others. Mages must choose between a life of secrecy and fear and a life of imprisonment. Elves either live separate from society entirely or as little more than the dirt below humans' shoes. Many of all races live in poverty. The Blight was unkind to much of Ferelden -- towns were destroyed, people killed. But they will recover, as people do. There have been Blights in the past, and there will be more in the future.

The dead do walk in my world as well, occasionally. I have seen it myself. But they are but puppets commanded by demons, nothing more.

[thesamurai]

[That's a lot, and every place has something. She doesn't understand everything, but she understands enough to know that both of them, in their own ways, are fighters.]

I hope this place can be good for you at least some of the time. It won't always be, but if you can get something out of it, you should.