[ Video; Seelie Locked ]

[knightscode]

[ Lancelot looks tired, dishevelled, but determined. He's at least free of injury now, and making an attempt to look some degree of... serious, collected. In control. He's also in the company of John Grimm, who while not exactly looking pleased probably looks a few degrees less wrecked. Lancelot takes a deep breath, and manages to force a small smile. Behind them appears to be the training yard of Caer Glaem, which is being slowly set up by a few soldiers milling around.

Lancelot's tone is quiet as he speaks, quieter than perhaps people who know him may be used to, but it is measured and firm still. Controlled. ]

For those who do not know me, my name is Lancelot. I am Field Marshal here in Caer Glaem. Those of you that do, however, may recall I ran a training session a month previous. John Grimm --

[ -- and Lancelot glances sideways to the man with him. ]

-- and I have been asked to run them as a regular effort henceforth.

[ Your go, John. ]

The both of us have experience fighting both at home and in the Drabwurld, if you’re worried about qualifications. If you don’t know how to fight, even to simply defend yourself, then we ask that you absolutely come. If you do know how to fight, we ask that you come anyway; if nothing else, this is a good chance to practice your skills and maybe learn a few new ones. The same applies if you use magic.

[ A pause and, though it looks like saying this pains him, John adds: ]

Though we do ask that you not use lethal force. Training weapons will be provided as needed, and we will have healers standing by at each session.

[ Lancelot hesitates, nods approval finally as he tries to work out other things they need to cover. Right. Be encouraging, sound like you know what you’re talking about Lancelot. You just declared yourself supposedly in charge. Try to seem like you deserve that. ]

The training yard here will be set up to allow any who wish it to come and go as they please. We will try to attend every day but if we are not on hand some of the soldiers will always be here. Even the strongest of soldiers can benefit, fighting styles are different here in the Drabwurld. The shard that sits inside your chest can be used to amplify your strength and speed, and I will happily pass on the art to any who ask. As much as that, you are of course welcome to help us train if you have the experience. We will not turn away help.

We know that many of you do not want to take part in this war. That’s fine. But the Drabwurld is dangerous, and it’s not just the war that makes it that way. We can help you learn how to keep yourself alive in the event that something happens.

[ A pause, and he glances sideways at Lancelot, then nods slightly to himself. ]

[ Lancelot offers John a tiny smile, than turns back to the locket and inclines his head a little. ]

Thank you for your time.

[ Will that do? That’ll do. ]

[ OOC; Log if anyone wants to play out training! ]

Video - Seelie locked - Forward-dated to the 3rd

[kingsdaughter]

I'm back!

[Sigrid has bathed and washed her hair and polished her skin and everything is braided and tucked and in place as she sits before the locket, sitting like a lady instead of a girl.]

I'm in Caer Glaem and I have presents for a lot of people. Treun is a wonderful city and I will go back, and not only for business. Let's see...

[She looks at something off-frame, ticking each item off on one hand by tapping each fingertip against her thumb.]

Sansa, Gendry, Arya, Jon Snow, Lancelot, and Fili, I've got presents for you all from Treun and I want to see you. But!

[She smooths herself out and looks a little more formal.]

I am Sigrid of the House of Dale. We didn't get any new alliances in Treun, but we've got something just as important happening.

[She can't help the smile that breaks out.]

Before the envoy was sent, Treun was struggling to trade with Caer Glaem. You and I, shardbearers, can use the fairy rings to travel safely from here to there and back, but those without shards cannot. Treun is a hub of trade--traders come from round the world and their goods ship along the Road of Eithne to Cothromach, and from there across the mountains to Caer Glaem. As you know, most of the major battles of the war in the last few months have taken place along the Road of Eithne, making it very dangerous to travel. We have been on the brink of losing trade not only with Treun, but with all those who come by the Road of Eithne--the eastern world, more or less, and a great many by sea.

With the Council of Treun, it has been agreed [her smile splits into a grin] that a new road is to be built south of the fighting that will allow merchants from Treun to travel safely not only to Caer Glaem, but to the western world.

Trouble is, I need people to help build it. I've got three lovely earthbenders who'll work it through the mountains, but we'll need as many as possible to help make this safe path happen for the merchants. The monarchs will supply most of the laborers, but I need foremen. People who know what looks wrong, mostly. We don't even have roads in Lake-town, so I'm not much good there. Oh--there will have to be a bridge over the river.

...Thank you. For listening, even if you can't help.

( 004 ) mourning // voice // both courts.

[artem]

( the voice on the other end of the locket is that of clary fray, who has been traveling. she's out of caer scima, has spent most of her time with gale hawthorne, and discovered today that in no act of coincidence has he disappeared. they always talked about what might happen if he did. clary fully intends to start research, immediately, on how she can leave from this place and follow him to Panem like she promised she would. in the meantime, however, she is grieving the loss of someone who has become so very important to her. her tone is thick with emotion and every so often, she tries ( with little success ) to stifle a sniffle. it's clear she's been crying, but she figures she ought to let people know. in case he has friends that aren't with him who would want to, who would miss him later. )

Gale Hawthorne isn't here anymore. In the Drabwurld. At all. His things are here - but he's gone. That's -- that's how I knew he wasn't just out doing something. His jacket, all of his weapons -- everything. It's all here. Everything but him - it's empty... It's --

( she breaks off and it sounds as if she's trying to muffle herself and the locket at the same time. she swallows down the pain as fast as she can, because she doesn't want to appear weak or vulnerable to anyone who might be listening to this. but it hurts to say it out loud. it hurts to confirm it publicly. gale is gone. )

I'm sorry.

001 ♖ [video] | both courts

[writeswrongs]

[Castle appears on the locket network looking concerned. It's been 24 hours since he followed faeries to the place, 24 hours since his car went off the road into an embankment and he had… died? Maybe. It's his assumption, based on the faeries, which makes this some kind of afterlife. It isn't what he was expecting, but he's pretty pleased with it. Who knew heaven was one epic renaissance festival?

One problem remains though, and that's the location of Kate. Of course, if this is the afterlife, she's not here. As far as he knows, she's alive and well, possibly mourning his death on what was supposed to be their wedding day. He feels guilty, but hopes that he made the right choice in coming here.

He's spent the day searching the castle and asking whoever he comes across whether they've seen a woman matching Kate's description. No luck so far. Castle is finally taking the advice of some and asking over the locket network.]

Hi there. My name's Richard Castle and I'm new to your land. It's awesome, by the way. I've got no complaints, really, except… I'm looking for someone and wondering if she managed to find her way here too. Her name is Kate Beckett. She's in her thirties, tall, thin, long brown hair, really beautiful. [He smiles in a way that makes it obvious he's describing his lover.] But also really stern. Like… probably waving around a badge and barking that she's NYPD and what the hell is going on. [That's Kate in a nutshell.] Anyway, if anyone knows of her or her whereabouts, please let me know. If she's here, I'd like to find her.

[Despite the odds, there's still a little glimmer of hope in him. He and Kate have a very odd connection and a tendency to find each other, even when it seems unlikely. She could be here, though Castle doubts that Kate would actually acknowledge faeries existing, let alone follow them to another world. But, he could still hope.]

Thanks.

fourth shot ☢ VIDEO (open to seelie & unseelie)

[mixcds]

[Coming to you straight from the Unseelie Library, is Kieren Walker, wide eyed and excited. He's got his locket balanced on books and out in front of him, open and scattered, are more books. Just to the side is a big map. There's a quill tucked behind his ear and a splotch of ink on his cheek, but whatever. ]

Alright? I've been meaning to get out of Caer Scima for a while, just to see what's out there.

[Read: I've been meaning to go the station and buy myself jeans and a hoodie. ]

Anyway, I'm going to head to the dead city of Quendi. I was wondering if there's anyone who's up for a bit of a journey? It might take a couple of weeks.

[Or like, a lot of weeks.]

I was thinking we could probably make our way to the station afterwards? If you're keen to get out of the castle's for a while, you're more than welcome to come along.

001 [SEELIE LOCKED | VIDEO]

[enjoymyatelier]

[Well, someone's experimenting with the locket's video function! Someone... smug. He's smiling about something, though his attention seems less focused on addressing the viewers than it could be at the moment.]

Quite remarkable, isn't it? Ah, I wonder if they have extras they wouldn't mind parting with? I'd love to see what sorts of enchantments are put on these...

[Then he seems to realize now isn't the time to nerd out, and addresses the locket a bit more directly.]

But that's for later --- for now, introductions are in order, I believe. I am Lord Kayneth El-Melloi, Ninth Head of the Archibald House...

[...he trails off a bit, looking a bit like he's forgotten himself again, and then shifts gears a bit.]

Of course, if there's anyone here who recognizes the significance of that, I suppose I'd like to speak to them more directly.

[NAILED IT.]

As for the rest of you... well, if we are to be allies, I wouldn't mind opening up discussion of anything that would make our victory more certain. In particular, I'd like to know about other worlds' magic, both yours and our enemies'. Admittedly, that's almost more for curiosity's sake rather than purely strategic purposes. This is a rare opportunity indeed, and I'm not one to squander it.

[His enthusiasm does fade a bit, though, as he thinks on it more.]

Though, really, I'm certain I'm not the only person here who was brought here while in the middle of something extremely time-sensitive, am I? Have they made arrangements for that sort of thing? I'm aware of legends of how this sort of thing tends to go, and I'd rather not return home to find out that a whole century's passed.

video ✨ seelie/unseelie

[gandere]

[ This isn't the first time she's discovered a powerful necklace capable of miracles beyond being a plot device, but as an experienced magus who is used to artifacts passing along messages over cell phones, it's no trouble to adjust to it. While she doesn't understand why it works the way it does (what's the purpose of keeping a conversation permanently), from what she gathers it is a primary tool used by many of the others here. Having met someone already from her world, there remains the possibility there may be others so she sits all prim and proper for her debut. ]

Good evening. I'm sure the lot of you are tired of hearing introductions, but it'd be poor manners to not announce myself. While it would be discreet to do this one by one, idle time is limited so I'll make this brief and as memorable as I can.

I'm Rin Tohsaka. [ Surname second only because she assumes Japanese mannerisms are frowned upon in this world. ] Though I've been called away from my studies in London to fight in a war, I must admit my experience in combat is limited. From what I've gathered, there are many like me here. What is there for us to do? How can we aid beyond training and letting our inexperienced manner add to the favor of the opposing side? Showing both intelligence and courage can only get you so far. It seems rather meaningless to have us younger adults throw ourselves into the fray.

So what is it that you do to be of use? Every person brought here must have some value to them and hearing of your experiences may be able to help guide me towards my own. Keep it brief and with as little bias as you can--I frankly don't care to hear about the war this or the war that. Thank you.