video

[wickerman]

[It's taken some doing, but Cu managed to figure out the strange object that got in his pocket somehow. He walks as he talks, aimlessly wandering. His hood is up, obscuring most of his face.]

Look, I don't know how I got here or even where I am. There's a bunch of elves giving me the stink eye, though. Can someone tell me what's going on, if anyone's even out there? Is this another Grail War? [The fact he hasn't gotten into a fight yet is a small miracle. Normally, he's the type to fight first and ask questions later, but it seems prudent for now to remain neutral.]

...Can't catch a break anywhere, can I?

Comments

[wherenoonegoes]

I don't know what that is, so probably not?

[The person on the other end is a fairly tall, auburn-haired young man. Who has a dragon beside him.]

[wickerman]

[Dragon. He'd seen a lot, but not a dragon before. He ignores the comment and just points.]

Is that yours?

[wherenoonegoes]

{Hiccup shrugs, used to the question by this point.]

Eh, it's more of a partnership than a case of ownership. He's Toothless, and I'm Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, Chief of Berk.

[wickerman]

[Note to self: dragon is not food, do not kill.]

Hn, looks like you've got yourself a decent partner. You can call me Caster.

[A pause.] So it's not a Grail War...I don't know if that's good or bad, at this point.

video;

[loadme]

Wow, you just got here and they're already looking at you like that.

You didn't do anything to upset them, did you?

video;

[wickerman]

Does ignoring them count? They're real pricks if you aren't polite and especially if you're not like them, aren't they?

video;

[loadme]

Ah, that's...

I'm afraid I don't really know for sure. I'm stuck somewhere else, so I haven't been able to actually meet them yet!

Are you sure you didn't look at them funny first?

video;

[wickerman]

...What do you mean stuck somewhere else, kid? [He squints.] You're not making a lot of sense.

And I might have.

[loadme]

Sorry, sorry! Um... I'm stuck inside this kind of castle. Everything and everyone except for me and a couple of others are just frozen in place.

I've been here for a long time and I'm kind of getting tired of it. I'd much rather be with everyone else, exploring the world and having an adventure!

[wickerman]

[That's certainly weird. It doesn't seem like something he can help with, though.]

How'd you get stuck? You can't just leave? [He just has more questions than ever.]

[video]

[ofnovalue]

Forgive me if this seems rude, but... I've never heard of a 'grail war'. Is this something we should know?

[video]

[wickerman]

[He looked visibly relieved. There were different problems now, but enemy Servants weren't one of them.]

No, don't worry about it. If you don't know that name, it's not important, alright? [He didn't sound rude, but rather reassuring.]

[ofnovalue]

One supposes I've little choice but to take your word for the matter... -At least he didn't sound like he was pulling a fast one on her.-

I am Ovelia Atkascha.

[wickerman]

[He made a face. She's making him feel bad without meaning to.] Don't sound so upset about it, I just don't have time to explain somethin' like that right now, okay? [He sounded reassuring, more than annoyed.]

Caster. Nice to meet ya.

[ofnovalue]

Caster. Well met.

Though you may find you've more time than you originally thought.

[greyerrant]

You're in a war all right. And of course a bunch of haughty elves are giving us the nasty looks. They've done enough to humanity already, I'd say. Though their leader claims to have human blood.

[ He seems most disgusted at the idea. ]

[wickerman]

But not a Grail War, right? [The way he emphasizes the words stresses their importance.] I don't know what I've been pulled into this time...

[He doesn't seem to pick up on the disgust for the moment and picks on another point.] Human blood or not, he's still got a lot of jackasses under him, I'd say.

[greyerrant]

[ Loken picks up on it and smiles. ]

I can assure you, that's not why you're here this time. I'm uncertain, knowing as little as I do about them, but I believe someone else who has fought in one before is here as well, though she seems a most gallant and honorable sort, the kind I'd fight beside or follow into battle without a second thought. Truth be told, I envy her blade.

[ That alone might be enough to tell Cu Chulainn who he's referring to. ]

Yes, quite a few of what appear to be the exodite strain of Eldar here. I'm surprised they don't have their usual carnosaurs, nor are there as many warlocks as I'd expect.

[wickerman]

[Another one...The Saber from his Grail War had been corrupted and was certainly not honorable nor gallant, turning the other Servants into her puppets after their defeat. Perhaps her uncorrupted self was here, a thought that didn't seem to excite him.]

... So she's here then. Servants without Masters, what the headache. [He shakes his head.]

I'll be honest with you, I have no idea what you're talking about. I just know there are elves and I think I'm being followed like I'm a criminal.

[greyerrant]

No one ever does. Let's just say I've been a soldier fighting amongst the stars for the last hundred-odd years against all kinds of foes and leave it at that, then.

[ He chuckles. ]

They don't trust you. Well, that' all right, i don't trust them. And... my name is Garviel Loken, what is yours?

[coiledscales]

Trust me, I'm very used to the elves giving me looks that would kill a man at thirty yards.

[wickerman]

Can't imagine why on that one. [A pause.] Guessin' they're not fond of things that aren't elves, then?

[coiledscales]

Not fond of dragons. Or certain sorts of magic...

[ Look, necromancy is valid. ]

[wickerman]

[Another dragon? Also not food, he noted.]

... Specialize in shady arts, huh?

[coiledscales]

If one defines "shady" as specializing in certain sorts of magic that tap into death... then yes, I suppose shady counts.