video, un: ardenbury

[sighsheavily]

Greetings, fellow outworlders. You may address me as Miss Ardenbury, if we are not yet acquainted, thank you.

[Cecelia is seated facing the camera, within one of those ever-so-similar rooms folks have been initially shacked up in, neither a dirt-covered ballgown disaster nor a puffed-up and pissed-off masquerader. still, she sits in a bit of a regal, this-is-business kind of fashion; this is not an off-the-cuff query or network bungle.]

While the good king is abroad on political business, I would like to bring to attention a happening that may be of value to some -- by which I mean to speak to those of the more skeptical variety, such as myself.

It is wise to test and doubt, especially when details are given only second- and third-hand, yes? That is wisdom that has done me quite well over my years, and it goes to follow here, as well. With that said, after a frank meeting with the aforementioned king, I have been elected to a new role on behalf of this wayward, fluctuating community.

[she pauses briefly, going over what she's rehearsed one last, quick time before speaking once more.]

I have been granted the means to witness the calamity affecting our worlds firsthand. It is neither simple, nor sustainable for much longer than a day at a time, and it is certainly not safe. It is, however...real. It can be seen and felt with your own senses.

With that being said, I am now the acting ambassador for this particular issue -- that is, the matter of providing the tactile proof of the king's claims of our shared plight. May it serve as assurance...and, perhaps, to those with the knowhow with multi-planar disasters, some insight on how to better mitigate this and even resolve it outright.

Others shall be given this task in the future, as they are deemed fit and worthy. For now... [exhale. she lifts her chin a bit higher.]

If you wish to see it, you will speak to me. And we will see about getting there so you may become one of many witnesses...and may this reminder continue to linger, as...distractions crop up and throw you off-balance.

[a beat.]

Hailing me from this device, under this handle, is acceptable. Encountering me within the confines of Camelot, too, will suffice. Know that I cannot accommodate every single person at once, for the strain is...substantial, and the destination a risk in of itself. I must be discerning in who I can ferry, you understand.

With that said... Any questions?

Comments

VIDEO | un: sparklythings

[patchricide]

Yes, several.

But first, I must offer kudos for achieving such a role! I would never have suspected that asking about your reservations would lead to such a boon. You may have just proven yourself to be one of the most insightful people here.

I think the most pressing question in my mind is... how you're able to go and view this calamity. Reaching other universes with a river boat seems difficult — does the ferry take you to some sort of gate or viewing portal?

[sighsheavily]

[she pulls a thin, grim smile at the praise, but doesn't speak to it. not really the focus here, is it?

she nods at the questions. mildly, patiently:] I have used the word ferry only as a verb, not a noun, Allura. I have been given a talisman with which to help transport myself and others to the source itself. No orrery, no portal...the edge of the calamity itself.

video un; Olvia

[blushing_beauty]

Err...

[Olivia hesitates to ask this because Cecelia seems like a rather irritable person, and this is the kind of question that tends to just make people like that more irritable but...]

Are you... okay? I don't mean it to sound rude or anything, you just sound very weary, and rattled by everything you've gone through, and I'm more worried that you might be having your morale crushed under the weight of the task you've been given.

[She's a dancer, and she's often asked to dance to relieve people of their fatigue and rejuvenate them, so she sort of worries when she sees people that might be pushing themselves.]

[sighsheavily]

[her eyebrow quirks. she was looking for questions about the calamity, not her own state of being...

but now that it's been brought up, Cecelia mindfully shifts her expression to something more neutral. it's a little hard, since she's not all elf, but she's elf enough to give it a fair shot! for a while.

with a slight nod:] It is a weighty task, yes. However, this is not a burden I was forced to bear. I accepted this role freely. If you fear I am incapable of managing it, I assure you that in time, you will find such worries needless.

video; un: selcouth

[sulit]

What sort of discernments do you intend to make with regards to who gets to view this calamity, as you're calling it?

[A hello might have been polite, but Klaudia's particularly intrigued, and she's skipping the niceties.]

[sighsheavily]

[her eyebrow arches just a bit. tiefling? or something adjacent? hm. not one for propriety, in any case...

with an airier note than her total-business demeanor:] I'll be relying on intuition to discern if I'm to find myself in danger with the company who requests my service, of course. I won't be bullied or ordered around, because that's only indicative of fouler features of one's character.

As for the rest...I'm not here to show an oddity at a fairground; I'll need to believe that the one who comes to me, does so with an earnest intent to learn and help solve this problem.

Not the most clear-cut or standardized of rubrics, but who among us is so clear-cut, mm?

voice; un: stranger

[eightfoldfiend]

You will show me the Calamity.

[sighsheavily]

[yyyyeah she was anticipating this.

after a beat, she sighs:] Will I, indeed? Who is it I will be escorting, then?

voice, UN: MadeinHeaven

[cameprepared]

Hey, Miss Ardenbury.

[Did you miss this cheerful voice?]

Arthur gave you a way to visit the Calamity, then?

[sighsheavily]

[give her a moment to place the voice (she's known lots of cheerful voices).]

Mm. Yes. Hello, Claire. I was fortunate enough to be given audience at all, let alone the task.

video

[dragongrrl]

Barbara want see.

[sighsheavily]

[slow blink.]

You seemed quite convinced of the state of affairs as they've been previously expressed, Miss Barabara; was I wrong in my assumption? Or do you, perhaps, have some knowhow with multiplanar catastrophies?

video; un: silver.rose

[thepattern]

If I ask for a peek from the Ambassador serving in her official capacity, is that exempt from our usual game of keeping scales balanced?

[ He's kidding. Mostly. ]

In all seriousness, though, is there anything I can do to help lessen the strain for you?

[sighsheavily]

[her expression softens a bit.]

I would be in the wrong to consider this something that comes at your expense. Though...[she tilts her head and smirks for a moment.] I suppose if I were put in a foul mood, I could very well do that.

But no: No, you accrue no debt with me for this favor. My payment has already been rendered. You need but ask, and I'll see to writing you in. [eyebrow quirk:] There's already a list, as you may imagine.

Video : Un; Caster

[colchismagecraft]

[Perhaps the best way to open up negotiations would be to not show up on video cloaked in a long robe, with a hood that conceals most of her face. You know, try maybe not looking like an evil witch for once?

...but evidently that nuance was either lost on Caster, or she didn't care for it.

She didn't necessarily appreciate this person's tone, or trust her, for that matter, but this offer definitely intrigued her.]

A pleasure, Miss Ardenbury. I go by 'Caster', here.

I am relieved to hear that I'm not alone in my skepticism of the King's claims... I've made no secret of the fact that I believe this entire farce is a ploy to thanklessly exploit us for their own gain.

Yet you say their claims of an imminent disaster to our worlds have some truth to them?

[sighsheavily]

[gods at least she's not making demands outright in that getup! she swears, some people have no self-awareness... but then, this is a collective of so many worlds and times, so...y'know. enh.

in any case:] Well met, Caster. Your sentiments echo those I held right from the onset, and so I am glad to be of service in this way. And as for the matter of those claims... [she pauses, then exhales with a nod.] ...Yes. Insofar as my own senses bearing witness can corroborate. Hence the role I now have: For many, seeing...and...sensing, as it were...is more believing than simple pleas and free lodging.

video; un: stargazer

[leicesters]

Ah, so that's what you look like under the mask! The flowery look suited you, but you look lovely without them, too.

[Oh, right. Serious business time.]

As for the calamity, I'd like to see it too, but only when you're feeling up to it. I'd rather you didn't strain yourself too much just to satisfy my curiosity, and it seems like you're already very much in high demand.

[sighsheavily]

[there is a slight twitch of an ear, the only outward tell that the mention of the mask is irritating.

...well, that and how she kind of holds the unmoving, unblinking stare. kindly never bring it up again.]

...Mm. Curiosity alone is hard to appease at this time. Not until other ambassadors can be enlisted. I'm certain you understand.

[a beat. again the slightest twitch of an ear.]

Well met, Fodlan stag. Is Stargazer the true name, or...?

Video, un: wolfkissed

[raven_sage]

[Since Claude's post, Eivor has been... mulling things over. Perhaps seeing it for herself will give her the final push to decide what she wants to do about Celliwig. The video flips on, Eivor sitting at a table all braided hair, furs and tattooed face,rubbing her chin in her hand.]

I need to see this myself. I am most often at the docks. Can you find me there?

[sighsheavily]

[Cecelia nearly does a double-blink of surprise, not expecting to see a barbarian on the other end this time. thankfully, she tempers her reaction, simply lifting her head briefly.]

Who is it I am finding, exactly? [not to say that face isn't...distinct at-a-glance, but...y'know. names. they matter.]

Video

[serpentinthegarden]

Yo. Crowley.

[ This was what passed as an introduction for the man apparently known as Crowley as he lounged quite relaxed in his temporary greenhouse based office with his feet up on what was being used as a desk but was really a planting table. ]

I was wondering how you intended to take anyone to see this, whatever it is... Is it a magical spell, secret portal, amazingly bad luck, what?

[sighsheavily]

[she shifts her posture, straightening up and then relaxing her shoulders with an exhale.]

Passage by way of a talisman, not unlike the stones one can obtain to quickly teleport from the city to the shore. This one is far hardier, however, and only meant for that one unpleasant destination.

[Voice]

[littlemissgvirus]

..What's it like?

[Sherry is smart enough to know she doesn't want to see it, but she's curious enough to still want to know something about it.]

[sighsheavily]

[Cecelia doesn't outwardly react, but quietly she is a little disturbed by the young-sounding voice. not everyone with a childlike quality is, in fact, a child, but still. one can't be too careful, and she knows of at least one little girl trapped here.

so, she'll be vague:] It is unpleasant. The details are neither here nor there until I can succinctly write and convey them, and that will come with time and exposure.

video; un: wolfcountry

[impostorsyndrome]

Damn. You actually did it. I'm seriously impressed. I mean, I knew you meant business, but I wasn't convinced you or anyone else would be able to get them to play ball.

. . . Of course I'm interested.

[Unsafe, a strain—none of those things matter to Kadoc, especially as applied to himself, as setbacks to power through. He's done that plenty. It's more than worth it now if he can get a look. He's restrained in his fascination, but it's still there in how keenly he's watching his camera.]

I'm not gonna claim I'll come up with some brilliant insight about it as soon as I get a look. Brilliant anything isn't really how anyone would describe me, including myself. But I do at least have experience in—multi-planar disasters. Yeah. That covers it.

[sighsheavily]

[her tone hints at some amusement, though her expression remains stony:] As much as I set my mind to something, it only matters if I can get some kind of result. I could lie and say it took quite the effort, but truly...I simply asked. Whether it was my wording or the good timing, it is what it is, and now we have us a way to see.

In any case-- brilliance or lack of it, experience can be valuable in of itself. If you say you've got that, I'm inclined to see your past experience be put to some use by comparison.

voice, un: c.silverberg

[thirdwisestar]

Because it's so useful to place access to the reason we've all been dragged here in the hands of one person alone. Great.

[ Not that him being immediately sarcastic about it will get him anywhere close to viewing it himself, right? He sighs. Maybe he should be a little more diplomatic. ]

It's all a little frustrating, Miss Ardenbury, that's all. I'm sure you understand. Is there no way to use one of these phone things to record what you're seeing out there instead?

[sighsheavily]

[well, if he's going to shoot himself in the foot on the very first impression, it's good of him to be aware of it and tone it down without her having to ask.

in any case, her expression is unwavering, simply speaking in the same patient, mild tone as she's taken with others:] Possibly, but I will say that the devices may not be able to provide much detail. It is a very distant view. As far as recording goes...putting impression to paper works well enough so far, and we could stand for more of that from different viewpoints.

video; un: 0123

[scension]

[Another response, another weird kid. Sagi's expression is serious and a little tired when he starts recording, which helps him look his sixteen years of age for once, as does the fact that he's not being bullied by a rabbit today. That said, there's not much he can do about his face.]

Miss Ardenbury, did you see it "affect" any world in particular? What did it look like?

[His tone is polite and deliberately measured. Sure, he recognises her, but he doesn't think there's any point in bringing it up compared to that slim chance of - well - knowing.]

[sighsheavily]

[ah. the migraine rabbit-catcher. there is some recognition that plays across her features before they water back to neutrality.]

I did. I saw tears. Not dissimilar to, mm... [she pauses to consider the easiest way to describe it that doesn't require previous experience with celestial scrying equipment.]

...Say you dropped a book in a pool of water, and in retrieving it, you reached and accidentally plucked just a page instead. The sogginess of the page makes the tear different, makes it stretch...

Something to that effect.

[voice] un: geddoe

[trueltning_fury]

[late to the party but ALL EARS YO]

If it's that much of a problem for you, I'll hold off for a time and let anyone with less sense go first. Merely offering such a thing is proof in and of itself at some level.

Is there anything else your position provides us? That is, do you have quicker access to either people or information that could aid anyone attempting to form a plan?

[sighsheavily]

Ha.

[it's a humorless sound, a bit accidental in how candid it is, really. she follows that up with a soft clearing of her throat.]

No, I don't believe I'll be seated at the council's table for this one, I'm afraid. This role is as much a means to provide insight to our little community as much as it is taking the burden of proof off the King's shoulders to a degree.

video, private; UN: JustLuke

[faithfulson]

I want to see.

[ The moment Luke's call is answered he's blurting that out. Instead of the casual and slightly airheaded demeanor he's had so far, the desperation on his face is clear. ]

Please.

[sighsheavily]

[an eyebrow quirks. there's an expression she'd not seen on this boy's face before.

levelly:] Did you not already believe it? I admit, I'd be surprised to hear you were skeptical.

video; un: mr. priest

[mycrosstobear]

[At least with video, she can't smell the cigarette hanging from his mouth, even if she can see it.]

So you got through to see him?

[sighsheavily]

[she is silent for a beat longer than need be, if only to help acclimate to the sight of him. a slow inhale, a slower exhale, shoulders tensing and relaxing just slightly as she gently lifts her chin.

she thought he took her advice to disregard her.

then again, this is a rather important matter, isn't it? she can't fault him in this case.]

I told you I would, did I not? It was not as difficult as it could have been, in any case.