fruithats | [ log: winterstrike; an empire falls in just one day ]

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[ log: winterstrike; an empire falls in just one day ]

[ it's cold. freezing, in fact, to the point where it could be life-threatening to stay out in the open for too long without wrapping up warm against the bitter cold. Iria was a beautiful city, in its time, and there are still echoes of that beauty even now, among the rubble of shattered houses and theatres scattered among the tiles of the city's streets. the wind's chill cuts through any available opening, and sheets of ice hang suspended between the gaps of buildings, or coating the surfaces of bridges, windows, roofs. snow eddies around corners, and occasionally children use it to have snowball fights; there are still fleeting moments of merriment to be found even now.

Astor breathes on his hands and stamps his feet to warm them, loitering outside a museum. the fledgling ironbird perches on a ledge nearby, alternately watching him and keeping a lookout for anyone approaching, as if guarding him. nice of it to do that, Astor thinks. he's still not sure where the creature came from, or why it's so attached to him - he's never seen anything like it during his time spent as an envoy-cum-spy in Iria, or in any other system he's been shuttled off to, for that matter. but it already seems bizarrely affectionate towards him, and in a place like Iria's become - well, that's no small thing.

idly, he ponders what to do now; he can hear the sounds of a riot a few blocks away, probably over smokewater again, and frowns; no doubt the Ocular Guard will be there in a few minutes in an attempt to "keep the peace". Astor is not fond of the Ocular Guard. not that he's fond of the riots either, but the guard seem to care less about the well-being of Iria and its people and more about their own agenda, or so it seems to him from what little intel he managed to gather before the Winterstrike hit.

maybe he should make himself scarce. he was supposed to meet up with a contact from the Society later, anyway; it wouldn't hurt to get there early. ]

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[If it wasn't safe then Eley would certainly need the assistance. It was bad enough being in an alien world but knowing there was danger surrounding him, he had to admit that staying with a native would be a wise choice in maintaining his own safety.

Still, he seems reluctant.]

The shelter is a public place, yes? I... do not mix well with others. It would suit me better to stay somewhere more... private.

[ after a moment, Astor nods. ]

It is public, yes. But I fear you probably wouldn't like my current lodgings much. It's in one of the less damaged buildings, but you can still feel the cold if the wind blows in the wrong direction. If that wouldn't bother you, though, I suppose I don't see any reason why you can't join me until you find a place of your own.

... [Eley ponders this a moment. It would still be cold but he could probably deflect the wind if it got that bad. It was still better than standing around in the snow or trying to explain himself to several people rather than just one.

He gives a nod.]

If you are sure it would not be too much trouble then I would like to come with you for now. Perhaps you can teach me more about this place. If I can better survive here then I can concentrate on returning home.

Of course. I was once a stranger to this city as well, so I know how it is to be in your shoes.

[ so saying, he begins to walk at a leisurely pace towards a left turn, a few hundred feet away. he can pick up his pace once he's sure his new companion is following. the ironbird chirrups and flutters its wings until it's perched on Astor's shoulder; the man barely flinches, as if this is something that he's accustomed to. ]

If I may ask, are you sure you have no idea how you came here? As far as I'm aware, there's been no space traffic in or out since the city became winterlocked, and venturing in or out by foot is madness right now if you believe the rumours.

[Of course Eley follows as he starts to head off. So he was an outsider of sorts too? Interesting... he had obviously adapted to some extent here. He watches the bird as it flutters onto his shoulder, still wondering about it, but still thinking of it as nothing more than a pet. After all, this stranger didn't seem to care much for it being on his shoulder.

His question leads Eley to think over his situation again. Something in particular catches his attention.]

Space traffic? There is nobody on Aether who can travel the stars. In fact, my people believe that to be the fate of their continent when the end of days arrives. [He shakes his head.] I made no attempt at travelling that far. Yet... I did not walk from elsewhere either. I simply awoke to this strange environment.

[ what the man is saying makes no sense. how could he have gotten to Iria from this Aether place (a name Astor has never heard said or seen written on any starchart) without the use of a starship? he doesn't feel like the man is lying; Astor's dealt with enough two-faced politicians in his time to be able to spot all but the very best liars. amnesia of some kind is seeming increasingly likely. ]

I wouldn't mention that to anyone if I was you. [ people are on the lookout for any kind of scapegoat these days. and the Ocular Guard would be far too interested in the arrival of a stranger from an uncharted world, whether or not it turns out that he's connected to what's happening to Iria. ] Still, I can't see any way you could have arrived from your own world if it wasn't by starship.

[ he shakes his head. ] I'm Astor, by the way. It's a pity about the circumstances, but it's a pleasure to meet you nonetheless.

...why not? [His words seem to surprise the Spirit. Is this place really that dangerous? Do they have cause for suspicion? Looking at the state of it, he realises that the people here probably aren't all as friendly, at least not towards strangers. Still, he has to wonder about the finer details.

He's also adamant that he's never even heard of such a ship.] I know nothing of a ship that can sail the stars. There is no such thing in Aether. I have never heard of Iria either... there must be another cause.

[He gives a nod at the offer of a name. Maybe he'd offer a hand if he had a clue about social cues.] I am Eleytheria. What... exactly has happened here?

[ Astor sighs, answering the last question first. ]

If you believe the Ocular Guard, it was an attack of some sort. [ Astor's tone does the talking for him. he clearly doesn't believe it. from what he knows - and he knows more than most - no one had any reason nor inclination to attack Iria, unless this is some new, previously hidden faction that no one knew about. in which case, everyone would have reason to be very, very worried, not just the Irians. a pity that all communication to the outside has also been cut off thanks to the winterlock. ] I don't think that's true, or at least, if it was an attack, it certainly wasn't a conventional one. But about a week ago, Iria was suddenly hit by a very destructive winter.

[ he waves a hand in a small, troubled gesture. ] I can't really describe what happened, but when I came to, the city was completely changed. Entire buildings ruined, people lying frozen dead in the street... even the starships fell from the sky. No one knows what happened, and not many people seem to care.

[ which is reasonable enough; people have more immediate concerns, such as finding loved ones, or not dying, for instance. but the lack of care from the more organised factions of the city troubles Astor a great deal. ]

But you see why you should probably keep the story of your origins to yourself. The way things are now, people will look for any reason to create a scapegoat.

[The Spirit nods. He knows humans often lash out when they fail to understand something. They always look for something or someone to blame.]

All right. Still, I know nothing about Iria. What answers can I give if someone decides to question me? Surely it would be just as suspicious for me to feign ignorance?

[He didn't want them to think he was hiding something just because he genuinely didn't know what to say. He knew nothing of starships or how the society worked here... or even how it would have worked before this winter came. He was completely lost at this point.]

It shouldn't be too difficult to pretend that you arrived here just before the winterstrike hit. Or you could say that you lost parts of your memory during the chaos. [ he gives a small shrug. ] I can coach you on the more general or well-known parts of life here, but you shouldn't need more than the broad strokes.

Yes, that... sounds like the best course of action.

[Maybe he should pretend he lost parts of his memory. That way he didn't have to make up anything if he didn't want to. He just forgot that's all! Perfect.]

Since I am here, I would certainly like to hear more about this place and how the people live here. Or lived... I suppose it would be far different now to how it was before.

There is much I do not know about humans. If I am to live among them then I should try to adapt as best as I can.

Well, you'd be far from the first non-human in Iria, so I wouldn't worry too much on that front. Even some insectines have come to live in the city now, though I don't like their chances if this winter continues for long.

[ insectines don't do well with cold, after all, much like their smaller insect cousins. and that's even without the prejudice that they have to deal with at the hands of the Ocular Guard or the more xenophobic of Iria's citizens. at least the foxfolk and catfolk and people of that sort have fur to ward off the cold somewhat. ]

But I'll tell you as much as I can. [ pausing, he motions down a side street. ] This way will be faster.

[ the ironbird screeches out a wire-scratch squawk of agreement. ]

In...sectines? [What a strange name... was he implying that humans were living alongside some kind of insect? Humans always seemed to dislike them back in his world.

Well, anyway let's not try to think too hard about all the differences he might find in this strange place. It was likely to make his head hurt. He hesitates a moment as Astor changes direction, following him down a side street with the bird seemingly communicating in its own way.]

You have a very unusual pet. Is it some kind of machine?

Yes. You might see some of them around during your time here, though they're relative newcomers to this system.

[ at Eleytheria's question about the ironbird, Astor pauses briefly, glancing sideways at the creature with a look of puzzlement. ]

The ironbird? To to tell the truth, I'm not entirely sure myself. [ the ironbird certainly has mechanical parts, that much is certain, but it also seems undeniably alive. ] I came across it down an alleyway shortly after the winterstrike hit, but I've never seen its like in Iria before.

[ he's not even sure he'd call the fledgling a pet, exactly, although it certainly seems to have imprinted on him in some fashion. ]

Are they friendly?

[He has to ask because... well quite frankly if they are some kind of sentient insect he's certain they could be quite dangerous if hostile. Then again so could humans... perhaps they wouldn't be so different after all.

As for this 'ironbird', the creature continued to fascinate him. Something that seemed partly a machine and partly as alive as any other feathered animal of the same ilk... Eley had never seen anything like it.]

Could it have flown in from another land? Or perhaps it came here in the same way I did... however that may be. It seems... strange that you have found two unknown entities so shortly after this 'winterstrike' apparently happened.

Friendly enough. They mostly keep to themselves, for which I can't really blame them. But they're perfectly polite as long as you treat them in kind.

[ Astor's not had many dealings with them, but the ones he has had haven't been of much note except for what little scraps of interesting information had come out of the conversations. ... well, the extra legs and the faces were sometimes disconcerting, but as a people they weren't as bad as some liked to paint them. ]

As for the ironbird... [ he frowns a little at the bird, which tilts its head back. ] I don't think it could have flown in. It's only a fledgling, it can barely fly two feet on its own yet. But your other theory... it's possible, I suppose, though I can't imagine how. You're sure you don't have any memory at all of how you arrived here?

[ neither the stranger - Eleytheria - or the ironbird seem to bear any ill will, but if they had both shown up, somehow, thanks to the winterstrike... being linked to that calamity doesn't bode well for anyone. ]

Then we should have no trouble between us.

[Eley was a being who held respect in high regard himself. He expected they would both be polite enough to one another and their would be no need for conflict.

He looks a little uncomfortable at that question again. He was sure he didn't remember travelling here at all. He certainly knew nothing about starships and space travel. If he did he would have left Aether himself many years ago, along with his people.]

I am certain. I was in Aether... and then suddenly I was here, in this human form. I cannot imagine how it happened.

Aether... [ Astor repeats the name thoughtfully for the first time. ] This Aether, that's the system you are from, I presume?

[ he doesn't mention the "human form" comment yet, but files it away, keeping it in mind to ask about later. ]

It is the... world I come from yes. The planet. I am not sure exactly how you would define a 'system'.

[He assumed a network of planets and stars but he had no knowledge of anything outside of Aether. He couldn't know what the system was called if anything.]

I had not realised there were other living worlds beyond my own. [He adds. It really was strange being here... like a dream.]

Really?

[ there's true surprise in Astor's tone that he can't quite hold back. he knew, of course, that there must be some planets, or even entire systems, that still thought themselves alone in the universe. and if this man were telling the truth about not knowing about star travel, he must be from one of them. but the knowledge of other worlds and even other galaxies is so commonplace by now that it still begs a moment of disbelief. ]

Forgive me, it's just strange for someone like me to consider. Travel between planets and even other star systems has been common for so many years now that to hear someone say such a thing is almost unheard of.

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[ log: winterstrike; an empire falls in just one day ]

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