[network] Day 46; VIDEO @haurchefant; Why Can't We be Friends? [open]

[silverfuller]

[There are shifting noises and the big, dark outline of a hand. When the hand drops away it shows Haurchefant's smiling face. He's sitting out in the snow, leaning back in a sprawl and the tablet seems to be resting against one knee, aiming upward. It's not the best shot in the world.

People who have seen the collapsed wall might recognize his location. He's sitting about half way up it, precariously balanced...but that's not what he's here to talk about.]

Salutations!

[He waves.]

I am uncertain if anyone can see or hear me so I shall keep talking out of blind faith.

I've not been here long but the past few days of quiet solitude have afforded me the opportunity to reflect on matters. This place is truly terrible, it seems, but even the darkest places can be lit up through the puissant bonds of camaraderie.

[He pumps a fist in the air, his grin widening.]

Camaraderie is so important to morale that team building exercises are employed for training soldiers! It promotes cohesion! It brings everyone together with a singular purpose: Watching out for one another!

And yet...

And yet I do not know any of you! So dismayed was I to realize this that I am now endeavoring to talk into this curious "tablet" about it.

If you could introduce yourselves properly, it would do my heart some good... Though I may need you to remind again in the future. 'Tis not that I do not care, mind, but my memory...

[He squints and taps the side of his head.]

My memory is seldom able to penetrate through my recent bout of headaches and I would be lying if I said I were not still numb from the confusion of my arrival.

[Pause]

Anyroad...my troubles aside I think we should all give some proper introductions.

Allow me to start: I am Haurchefant de Fortemps, previously a Lord but currently a stalwart adventurer!

[His eyes twinkle in excitement at this thought.]

I am a knight above aught else and as long as I yet breathe I shall fight to protect those trapped here with me and I shall do mine utmost to see that you are able to return home. My dear friend Zack [Whom he barely knows and has only met once but that's all it takes, really] has already called for everyone to remember hope and why they fight so I shan't repeat his message but know that I endorse it wholeheartedly!

Now....

[He leans forward eagerly.]

Tell me more of yourselves!

Comments

video; @zd

[swatsflies]

[He's still not over this whole being able to talk to people live on video thing. It's super cool!

Zell was just in the kitchen of a house he was peeking over. Nothing distinguishing about it, though! It was pretty barren.]

You're a knight?! That's really cool!

[Unless he's a SOrceress Knight, then it's a little less cool.] Yo! I'm Zell Dincht. I'm a member of SeeD. It's nice to meet you!

[silverfuller]

The knighthood is a grand life indeed! I ah....suppose it is "cool" as well. Many things in Ishgard are.

[He's not sure he understands how this guy is using the word "cool".]

I've never heard of "Seed"...

[swatsflies]

Yeah? Tell me about Ishgard.

[And Zell doesn't get that he's probably taking it literally.]

We're an elite mercenary group from Garden. I'm from a place called Balamb Garden.

[silverfuller]

[He tilts his head. Balamb Garden? He wants to ask what that is but, oh, he's been asked about Ishgard. He feels honored to describe his home country to someone and his eyes slowly close.]

Ishgard is...

She is an ancient place, once looking over verdant hills and lofty mountains. After the Calamity came our once green nation was plunged into an eternal winter. The climate was not unlike the climate here...

[His eyes open and are twinkling and dreamy.]

But even in the wake of that tragedy, even with dragons setting upon them, my people never gave up! My countrymen have warred against dragons for nigh on a thousand years. This conflict, I fear, has shaped our society more than I care to imagine. But from the ashes of this war a new Ishgard will arise and everyone will see her for her beauty as I always have!

Much as our own scars might bespeak an inner strength-a warrior's will-so too can the scars of a nation, I think. I worry for my country but I am ever proud to be a man of Ishgard.

[Aaand he's gone, lost in another flight of fancy as he thinks about his home.]

[swatsflies]

[He's lucky Zell is pretty into learning about places. He props up the tablet against the wall. Then he plants both hands on the counter to sit down on the surface. Once comfortable, he's putting the tablet in his lap as he continues to listen.

This guy is pretty passionate! That's really, really cool!

Zell holds any responses and questions until he finishes talking.]

Other than the dragons, it sounds like a neat place. What was the Calamity that happened?

[silverfuller]

[A sigh.]

Out history is marked by Calamities.

[He waves a hand.]

The Seventh Umbral Calamity occurred when the moon Dalamud descended into our planet. At the Battle of Carteneau it finally came and released the dread wyrm Bahamut upon the world....

The results were...catastrophic. My people did not fight in the battle as we had national troubles of our own at the time but we felt the effects of the wyrm's wrath all the same.

[swatsflies]

[Wow. His world sounds like it takes a lot of beatings.

Something coming from the moon and Bahamut were things he was familiar with though.]

You're the third person I've talked with that has a Bahamut in their world. The Bahamut I from my world was tough but not catastrophic tough.

[Scratches the back of his head as he makes a note to ask more people if the name means something them.]

Do you have an Ifrit where you're from? What about Shiva?

[silverfuller]

Aye, both!

They are a beast of flame and a saint of dragons in my world. As I understand it the latter has some power over ice.

There is also Garuda, Leviathan and Titan and I've heard word of others but their names escape me at the moment.

[He rubs his chin.]

Where I am from they are called Primals. I've only ever seen one, myself; a flying, feathered whale.

So I thought I responded to this, and realized LATER I closed the tab without hitting post

[swatsflies]

They are called Guardian Forces, or GFs, where I'm from.

[It's pretty clear that Zell finds this all to be awesome. Seriously, how many places had these things overlap???]

Whoa. Wait. Flying, feathered whale? I don't think we have anything like that, unless you want to count Eden. [He's...not even sure what Eden is supposed to be though.]

Leviathan is another that's in my world. [He's tapping each of his fingers as he counts down.] We have Leviathan, Eden, Ifrit, Shiva, Quezacotl, Siren, Pandemona, Tonberry, Diablos, Cerberus, Carbunvle, Cactuar, Brothers, Bahamut, Alexander, and Doomtrain.

[silverfuller]

The whale, I believe was called...

[Oh damn it, what was it....?]

Actually, I am not altogether certain. 'Twas creature of myth to the Vanu Vanu. What the story around it may be, I know not.

[He hums.]

But 'tis curious... I have heard of Carbuncles. Where I hail from they are summoned by novice Arcanists as companions in battle. The Tonberry, too, live in Eorzea though I've never met one. Cactuar are in the desert lands.

The others you've named, well... They may also be in my world but if so I've not heard of them.