[video] Open to both courts.

[chaoticwhimsy]

[When the locket turns on, it shows Lumina perched on the edge of her bed in her quarters, with a large, unpleasant looking dog thing dozing behind her. Just because the shadow beast things seemed to have calmed down doesn't mean she trusts them in the least, after all. She's bullied one of the castle imps into holding up the locket while she addresses it, and it dips or swings from time to time as the little creature gets restless.]

[She just watches the locket for a minute, as if trying to decide what to say before she just smiles and lifts a pale hand to give it a wave.] Hey everybody, I'm Lumina.

I figured I should probably say hello on these, since everyone else seems to love doing it. [Her hands settle on her knees, and her smile turns into more of a grin as she starts to get into the swing of talking.]

I mean, I was going to earlier but then those shadow things decided to eat everything that wasn't tied down. That was fun, wasn't it? I never thought I'd miss the monsters back home, but...man.

At least they were everywhere, right? Attacking everyone? No choosing sides, no fighting in a war we don't really understand, just crazy monsters for everyone to team up and slay! Or...make their dogs slay them. [She reaches back to give the beast behind her a scratch on the neck, and it makes an deep, unpleasant, but vaguely happy growl sound.]

It won't always be like that though, huh. [The kid trails off for a moment, shaking her head.] I mean, it won't always be so black and white. That's why we're here, right? Get recruited, join the army, go kill some total strangers who got recruited for the other guy's team. It's all a bit...mm. Ridiculous, huh?

But from what I'm seeing, everybody's getting into it! I just got here, but this war's obviously been going on for ages and ages, and everyone who shows up picks up their sword or magic or something and runs off to kill the other guy.

[She leans forward, reaching out to pluck the locket from the grip of the imp and bring it closer.]

Which has me really curious. Why is everyone going to get involved? I mean, we're all told what the stakes are, but they could be lying. Everybody lies, no matter how bright and shining their armor is. [She giggles softly, covering her hand with her mouth.]I mean, those people always seem to lie the most, from what I've seen...

So! What's your...mm...motivation? What were you told, if that helps? Are you taking our glorious new leaders at their word? And if you're trying to stay out of it all, how come?

[With her question asked, she waves again, smiling cheerfully, and closes the locket with a click.]

video / action (?) | open to all

[caditquaestio]

[ It's all misery footage, Caer Glaem in paltry glory: rammed gates, scratched walls, torn stone, upturned soil, roughened up trees. The locket's coverage pauses on each 'tourist attraction' from a high vantage point, briefly stumbling on hands that are exceedingly worn, blistered and bitten. ]

What has... what's... wrought this? How many dead does the court mourn, how many supplies were lost to - to enemy unknown?

[ A pause, then less startled, slightly cold. ]

...how do they wish us to make war upon each other, if they give siege first? Not the finest general, not the most accomplished tactician can devise strategy against Anaximander's unknown. Not Caesar - Caesar, who had little gain from the Gauls without paying the blood price, but at least he knew what enemy lay in wait.

And we? Look here. Remember this next you think the time is nigh to fight well and fight fairly: we are not armed with weapon or knowledge. We are played for puppets, and when our masters go without their laughs, our strings are cut.

[ Muttered. ]

'Lawkamercyme'. Hah. We do not even know what the word means, or who gave it to us for the telling.



[ ooc: ...and lo, a much belated, for RL KO'd, APOLOGIES! wild intruder appears in the Seelie court! He's given up his war declaration in favour of sheer horror at Ariadne's mad interior decorating skillz. Those who'd like to run into a Borgia need but look for the 'worker' who's... probably... holding... the tools by the wrong end. ]