revivalproject | New Arrival

Entry tags:

New Arrival

Who: Lerith & whomever
Where: Next to the fountain
What: Lerith realizes he’s not in Thedas anymore, let alone Haven
When: Mid-November
Warnung: Possible mentions of slavery

There had been a dragon.

Smoke, flames, and Lerith remembered coughing as he was helped from the burning tavern, The Singing Maiden by Inquisitor Trevelyan. Well that had been gone. Then, as he had been escaping with others to the Chantry, the elf had tripped and everything had gone dark.

When he had woke, Lerith had no idea where he was. He had seen cities before. This was nothing like the Imperium, or any of the cities he had seen between it and the Garrison in southern Orlais. He sat up, looking around with bright yellow eyes that contrasted the dark teal tattoos on his heavily scarred face. Quickly the tall elf pulled up the orange scarf as a hood before noting a bright orb of light. As much as Lerith wants to ignore it, his hands move to touch it —

A few minutes later he stared at his hands in horror. He knew of magic, felt it’s pain through electricity and blood, but this was nothing like that. It didn’t hurt? He pulled off his scarf to wipe his face. Still here. Strange city. The scarf was looped around his neck, hiding a strange looking metal collar that was right around his neck.

Standing up and looking around, what could he do? The city seemed empty. On the positive side, his owner wouldn’t be able to find him here. His work boots scrape against the strange stone as Lerith begins walking, trying to figure out where in Thedas this is. It’s very difficult to call out for someone when you can’t speak, too. It hasn’t occurred to him that there was a new device in his pocket, even as he picked up a worn leatherback journal with a stick of charcoal in it.

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A dragon attack... Given the situation, Felwinter was surprised that being told such a thing could still sound unbelievable to him. He let this sink in. There could be worse than dragons, he thought as he considered the Risen warlords back home. But that was neither here nor now, and to lose one's home in such a way, to lose anything so violently, well it was understandable that this sudden instance would be more preferable.

He read, nodding as he looked towards the orb again, if only to glance back once the elf tapped at the journal that now bore something to call him by.

"Lerith." He lifted his hands as he dredged up perhaps centuries old knowledge from another life, his signing somewhat clumsy, slow, but the improvements were quick for the repetitions of words once he had them down.

It is a lot to take in. This situation is not permanent, but uncertain. We have been called to help, and help each other while we are here.

He paused, wondering if any of his motions were off, but he felt confident that he remembered them correctly at the very least. The Sidartha Golem had been created to interact with people, to gather samples of human culture and art. Perhaps he had picked up this hand language some time during the Golden Age.

"I am Felwinter," he spoke, spelling it out with succinct gestures.

His journal was his communication lifeline, since in Thedas it was rare for people to understand Sign. Trevelyan had been learning, but now… would she even notice that the mute was gone? Hm, Varric might, if only to miss calling him the ironic name of ‘Mouthy’. Once it was read, the book was pulled back to his chest so it could be written in once more.

Those yellow eyes watched Felwinter for a long moment before they widened. He… he knew Sign? It looked like the other was remembering how it worked, what signs went where but…

Felwinter knew.

The journal landed on the ground with a loud plop, the charcoal stick breaking in two.

[You know sign?!] Lerith was absolutely floored by this information.

Maybe this city wouldn’t be so bad after all.

It is an old language, Felwinter signed. I have not made use of it in...a long time.

He would probably pick it up faster the more he saw Lerith use it. At first he wasn't sure what to make of this reaction, and he paused, looking down at the things that had been dropped. So shocked by such a revelation. Was it so rare? But then perhaps it was. It was so easy for people to take things for granted.

There was something almost cathartic in communicating this way. There was an odd comfort in silence, but then he knew it well, and he knew that some found his manner of speaking somewhat strange, like something was off, a disconnect with emotion, but he could not help what he was.

It was enough that someone could actually understand what his hands were saying. It was rare enough in Thedas. It had been somewhat common in his owner's villa for them to communicate with him. At this point, the elf wasn't even sure if the sign language he was taught in Tevinter was prevalent everywhere in Thedas.

But here, in this strange place of ruin, there was one person that could understand.

[I can hear your words. I cannot speak in return. Are you very short Qunari?] And the word for Qunari was just the word for 'horn', though he put more of a curl into it. Then gestured to the back of his own head to indicated Felwinter's own.

There was obvious hesitation as Felwinter parsed- or at least tried to parse whatever Lerith intended by his curling gesture. It was clear what he was referring to, but the context implied that it was something very specific than just horns. The warlord shook his head.

"I am not sure what you are referring to. I assume it is something that pertains to your world." He paused. "It is a helmet. I can remove it, but I would ask that you try not to be too startled."

So Qunari didn't exist in this world then. Hm. He held up the [wait] motion again and brought his book out again. 'Qunari,' was all it said before he motioned for horns again. Apparently his word for Qunari, or what he had been taught. Maybe if he ever met one, he could ask them what their sign was for their race.

[You do not have to remove it.] Especially if he was going to be startled. There was already so much to adjust to, Lerith wasn't sure how much more he could take at the moment. [A lot to take in right now. Is this city safe?]

He wanted to ask if slavers were in the city, but why give that info to a stranger? Especially if he didn't know if Felwinter was a slaver or not.

Tapping his knuckle against the chin of his helmet, Felwinter peered at the word that had been written there before shaking his head. "No, I have never heard this term. Some sort of people..?"

He nodded, signing that he understood. The warlord certainly couldn't blame Lerith for wanting time to process things, especially if he was suddenly pulled from a very pivotal situation back home. The next question asked was given some thought.

"The city itself is fairly safe. No one comes from outside and the only other known settlement has long since been abandoned. I have heard something of a few infestations of large insects but they have been taken care of and nothing has caused trouble of that sort since."

Lerith straightened up just a little, feeling ease at the moment. This person really didn’t seem to be a slaver, or a Qunari that might turn him in. Hell, if he wasn’t even on Thedas anymore, that meant his possible slave bounty (because he had to have one by no) didn’t follow him here. That little sliver of hope that had nearly been suffocated by this change of place brightened. If only a little.

Insects? He could probably handle that, but Felwinter mentioned ‚large‘. [How large insects?] Were they the same size as nugs? Or maybe as big as halla. Or worse yet, as big as bears! Dragons!

[Also where is there a place to stay? I don’t think I have my gold.] Lerith patted his pockets and nope. No gold pieces here. Damn.

"I believe the local spiders that silkweb is gathered from are about the size of a dog," the warlord noted. "They do not seem to venture outside of the factory, at least. Some other type of insect that seems more aggressive has been described as smaller. I believe those entries are in your tablet. You have received one, haven't you?"

He wondered at that. The elf had been writing in his journal, so perhaps he had not yet gotten one? Felwinter reached into his belt pouch to pull his own device out, a sleek rectangular and very flat object as long as if not perhaps a little longer than his hand. "You can use this to communicate with others over a distance," he explains. "It also provides information and a map of this city."

Demonstrating, he brings the map up on the screen, pointing out the central square. "This is where we are. As for where you can stay, you are free to choose any place that is vacant. There is also a hotel just across from us," he says, turning to point to the building in question. "You need not worry about payment."

Silkwebbing, that was usually gathered for fabrics. He heard the Inquisitor talk about making clothing from them, but if it happened, Lerith never saw it. Not that he actively went looking either. Too many eyes, too many suspicious people lurking about in Haven.

Wait, a device?

A frown and he checked his pockets. Nothing in there. The yellow eyes observe what Felwinter showed him and a tilt of the head. He didn't have anything like that, did he? The elf looked around and then spotted it on the ground. It must've been tucked into his journal without him noticing. Picking it up and comparing it - yes that was the device.

He moved a little closer to the other to watch him work the device. How strange. Fingers moved to imitate, bringing up the map. Tucking it under his arm, Lerith signed again. [I can use to write maybe? Brighter than journal, easier to see in dim light.]

If the elf was using a journal then perhaps such technology was uncommon to him. This was not an unusual thing to Felwinter. Even where he was from, such novelties and tools were long lost and forgotten or rendered unusable from age and decay.

Lerith proved to be a quick study however, and Felwinter nodded encouragingly as he brought up the map on his own device once he had located it.

"This will be faster than writing, once you get accustomed to the layout," he said before showing with his own tablet how to get back to the main menu of colorful icons that corresponded with the specific functions. He tapped on the icon that opened up the program entitled Mass Sages. "The Agrii are not good at translations. Their attempts to use our words often turn out to be constructed of multiple ones with similar sounds. But this is the messaging program, usually to send private messages to someone else's device. The keypad will show up like so- and you can make your words by touching these letters. This will space them."

They had noting like this in Thedas. Well, maybe they did but Lerith didn't want to listen to Solas drone on about the Dalish elves again. The bald elf was nice but Lerith looked to him more like a teacher than a friend. He focused on the device.

He could use this to communicate! Skinny fingers hit buttons, marveling at the letters that popped up. Eyes bright with excitement, Lerith looked to Felwinter and the device. The device moved from Mess Sages to the home and then other places as clumsy fingers hit other sections. No, he didn't want that.

Back to Mess Sages.

'this si net i like strang book'

It looked like it would take a bit to get used to the typing.

'i can messge anyon like this' He frowned, tapping around until he found the '?'. It was so strange to be writing like this!

Felwinter nodded. "It is. Convenient too, for how much information it can potentially store." For a first try he didn't think Lerith's attempt too bad.

"You can. If you wish to address everyone, you go to this icon," he said as he showed how to connect to the network. "This will also show you other messages from whoever else is here in the city- and on occasion, the Agrii. Just be certain that what you wish to write is something meant to be seen by all."

He went back to the more private messaging option. "To send directly to someone's device, you use this one. The names will be here. You will see mine, for instance." And since he knew Lerith's name, he could quickly locate it and tap out a quick message that would send to the elf's device. [It will come up like this.]

It took longer than writing to work out the keyboard, but it was legible, and he could erase what he didn't need anymore. Efficient! He played with the keyboard more, hunting and pecking the little keys with minimal knowledge. Such a strange yet useful device.

He peered over at the demonstration and tried to mimic it as well. That's how he learned sign language after all. Mimicry. He could write things to people without having to go to them? Oh that would be so much safer! The list of names was far longer than expected, and scrolled quickly through the list. No one stuck out immediately, but the elf was scrolling too quickly.

Eyes widened at the incoming message. He got one from Felwinter! A point at the device, looking excited and so surprised at the technology! 'amzing ! muchbeter than writting in book!'

He felt himself smile at that. He was actually being helpful to someone, and the look Lerith had on his face as he received the message from him, no, as he eagerly soaked up this new method of communication- it seemed to lighten some sort of weight from the warlord's shoulders. It was a simple thing perhaps, but he was able to offer someone knowledge to have an easier time of doing things. He could help in ways that did not involve death or violence after all.

"It is quite convenient, and will hold more words than pages can. Perhaps I can come up with a program so that you will not have to open up one of these message windows to convey your words to others when in person."

Lerith continued to explore the new device with eager hands and eyes. He wondered if the Agri sent him back, he could take the thing with him. He'd save so many notebooks this way! He didn't notice Felwinter's smile, since it was difficult to read emotions on someone wearing a helmet. A cool Qunari helmet at that.

'it is much easier. sometimes my handwriting is not the best when i am excitd about somthing.' A tilt of the head. 'wht is a program? and what do you wan t it to do?'

"You are a fast learner. Already you improve," Felwinter noted as he read Lerith's words.

"A program is such as like what you use now. This works well enough, but it runs the risk of being accidentally sent to someone if you were merely just using the first window to come up to speak through. If there was a separate program, it would not send anywhere. The words could be contained to your screen and device."

'i had tobe fast learner where i came from.' So it was a program making his words for Felwinter to read. It made lists and messages that didn't even need ravens! He gave it an inquisitive little shake, wondering how durable it was. Well, it had already fallen out of his journal so there was that for a test.

He nodded at the program described. 'like the jornel!' Eager taps against the device, but not the screen. 'can we ask the agri for it?'

Wait, no, the Agrii weren't even here anymore. 'or maybe you can make the program ?'

Felwinter nodded, and again after the redirected inquiry. "I just need some time to do so," he said. "It should not be a complicated matter."

He was quite confident that he could work it out. Between the communications data point and his own familiarity with coding, it wouldn't be difficult to say, copy the messaging program and tweak it into something new.

It sounded complicated. Technology like this...

What Lerith would've given for something like this in his own world.

Tucking the journal under his arm, Lerith took to the device once more. 'you said that ther is a hotel ?is that an inn? but free?' Lerith felt the weight of the day heavy in his body. The elf wanted to sleep, or at least go and lay down. Maybe get a bowl or soup or something.

Edited 2021-11-26 03:21 (UTC)

Having a unique relationship with technology as Felwinter did, it was still not lost upon him that not everyone would be able to grasp it as he did. But he was well aware of the advantages it could bring, and even this place was not so far gone as Earth when it came to technology lost.

"Yes," he said, turning to once again gesture towards the large building just beyond the square. "That building. It has rooms that are already prepared for people, whether they mean it to be temporary or decide to stay for however long we may find ourselves here." He turned to gesture towards a different building. "There is the diner where one can find a meal. There is a bar as well, but it is not so centrally located. You can find everything on the map."

A bar? Oh, tavern. And the hotel was just another name for inn. He felt bad for not having any money to pay for it, but maybe this was just good fortune. This entire situation was good fortune really. He survived the dragon attack, had a better way to write to people, and there was a free room for him at the inn?

Nice.

He nodded at the information. 'i wil go to the innfirst and then dine hall' Lerith would have to make sure to come up with a good sign to represent his new acquaintance. 'thank you for your help felwinter' He did look grateful for aid help, not knowing where he would've ended up if the other hadn't helped.

"You're very welcome," Felwinter replied, bowing his head in a nod. "I will contact you as soon as I have worked out the typing program. But if you might have any other questions, do not hesitate to ask. I have not been here as long as others, and most of those I have spoken to have been more than willing to help with those who are newly arrived, so do not be afraid to make use of the network for such needs."

All in good time, of course. The warlord suspected that the elf could do for some rest and food as he processed this situation. "I shall let you go, then."

Right, Felwinter was going to make a typing program. That made him excited again! The scariness of this world seemed to diminish in the wake of that reminder.

'i will use ths if i ned to talk to you.' The device was given a little shake before the elf waved with his other hand and headed to the hotel.

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