tushanshu_logs | EVENT | LANDFALL | KITHIKA

EVENT | LANDFALL | KITHIKA | BOTTLE

Characters: ALL!
Date: February 12th - 28th
Location: Kithika, inside the bottle
Situation: The discovery of an artifact from the first war against Malicant reveals the land of Kithika within a dimension of the Death Plane... and just happens to be contained inside a bottle.
Warnings/Rating: Please indicate content warnings in subject headers as applicable.

OOC INFORMATION ♦ CITY OF KEELIAI ♦ INSIDE THE BOTTLE ♦ THE WORLD EATER
Arriving in Kithika is unpleasant for the most part. Transport through the glass vessel deposits you in the middle of a thick and murky swamp, with air so hot and humid it feels as though one is breathing through a wet towel. This is a place of perpetual night and there are no celestial bodies visible overhead through the twisted vines to break up the blackness, making the only light visible that which comes clumps of marsh fungus that emit a steady glow in a variety of muted colours: pale blue, whitish green, watery mauve. The only other light comes from those who can generate it themselves and that will reveal numerous broad-leaved trees, in some places standing too thick to move through. Below, knee-deep water laps in swirls at their legs, accompanied by the occasional slithery feel of something moving in the bracken against wet limbs, gone before it can be identified. A variety of strange noises from creatures of the swamp fill the air with buzzing and hoarse croaking, interrupted by the screech of mosquitoes the size of hummingbirds darting past and hungry for a meal.

---

OOC NOTE: Characters will not be able to progress past the Temple and the Grounds for 48 IC hours after which point, the way to continue onward to find the dragon will be discovered. The second log will be posted on the 17th, to help spread out the tagging. Thank you!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Someone new was coming. Xiang's gaze snapped up, ruff flaring a little as he searched the clearing for any sign of who it might be.

He heard the approach well before he heard the cough, and his heart dropped a little--he was well attuned to the sound of his companion's footsteps by now, and whoever was coming was certainly not Napoleon--but at the very least, this newcomer might hold some answers. He, at least, did not seem interested in saying he had traveled in time, or call Xiang by the wrong name.

"But you know where he is," said Xiang, leaning forward with an eagerness which would have been very nearly doglike, save for the intent gleam in his eye and the slight flash of serrated teeth. "Where is he? Why has he left me here?"

Marius realized with much haste that maybe approaching a perturbed dragon might not have been a wise decision.

Upon catching a glimpse of Temeraire's sharp teeth, he leaned back an inch, forcing his nervousness down with a gulp as he stared back at Temeraire with eyes wide with uncertainty and a touch of confusion. Marius certainly knew where Napoleon was during certain instances in the day, but he did not keep an eye on the growing turtle at all times.

The query made him the slightest bit concerned, however. He glanced to one side, as if Napoleon would somehow emerge from the settling dust. Seeing as that did not happen, he returned his gaze to the dragon.

"Oh," he started, then paused for a moment as shallow ridges formed on his forehead, "I suppose that is because he had not been allowed to come."

"Allowed?" said Xiang slowly, as if it were an unfamiliar word. "Why should Napoleon not be allowed to accompany me here? Why should the Emperor be denied anything due him?"

He rose up on his hind legs, glaring down at the young man: of course he did not wish to squash him, or hurt him, at all, but surely a little intimidation would not go amiss.

"If I am here," he said, his voice equal parts confusion and outrage, "it is because I have been sent on a mission for the good of France and of the Empire, and I will not tolerate obstruction. You will explain yourself at once, and tell me why my companion has been prevented from coming with me."

The surprised yelp escaped Marius before he could push it down, and he staggered a few steps back when Temeraire stood, his eyes round and his complexion pale. One hand drew over his mouth to keep himself from making any further alarmed sound, and for a moment the ability to speak left him completely.

But he quickly forced his senses to recover. "E-Emperor Napoleon?" The nervous fear he was currently subjected to still did not mask the befuddled look on his face. "You... You speak of Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France? But M. Temeraire, you told us all that—"

And then he cut himself off. He was not entirely sure what was taking place, but he discerned that pointing out that the dragon had battled alongside the British would only agitate Temeraire more. Instead, he asked, slowly and cautiously, "Do you know where you are?"

Xiang dropped heavily to his feet again, flicking the tips of his wings in annoyance. "Of course I am," he said disdainfully. "As if there were another Napoleon worth talking about! And you will call me Monsieur Tamerlan, or Lung Tien Xiang, as is proper: I do not know who this Temeraire is you are all calling me, but rest assured he is no acquaintance of mine."

Although, he thought warily, he was very probably a relative, if the resemblance was so close as to make three people mistake him for the same dragon, now. It occurred to him that he knew very little of the lineage he had left behind in China. He had a mother, of course, named Qian, and a brother named Chuan: could there be a third? He found he did not know, and the thought worried him.

The second question, at least, he could answer, after his conversation with the boy Teddy, and he snorted. "I am in a realm within a bottle, or so I am told, and there is an enemy I must fight before I return. The other details matter little, if the enemy threatens France, and my Emperor besides."

Marius blinked, his head canting almost imperceptibly to one side, eyes round and questioning. He too had begun to wonder whether there was another dragon with Temeraire's striking likeness on the other side of the war, for this could not be possibly Temeraire himself, given how much his language teacher antagonized Napoleon. Perhaps a twin, then? He wondered if the other dragons knew that M. Tamerlan had arrived in this odd world, and whether the inevitable conflict between them could be prevented, or at least postponed.

"Then, Monsieur Tamerlan..." He braved a step closer to the Emperor's dragon, meeting his eyes and keeping his gaze steady. The Emperor's very own dragon! Abruptly, the fear had cast itself aside to make way for admiration. "I am afraid that we will remain not only within the realm of the bottle, but within the world of Keeliai and Tu Vishan, until we have defeated the enemy of whose name we do not speak of."

The young man's bearing had abruptly become less tense and more--intrigued? Respectful? Xiang could not account for the change, but nor was he inclined to complain about it.

"So it is true," he said musingly, almost to himself: "a great foe, greater even than the ones which have ranged themselves about France. Then it is not my companion who has sent me here, after all: but I will fight to protect him, nonetheless, if he cannot fight by my side.

"And you, monsieur?" he added, his expression turning curious. "Who are you? What role do you play here?"

"I? Oh!"

Marius, flustered, made a hasty, but still very much polite, bow. "I am Marius Pontmercy of Paris, although I have been pulled here from the year 1832, which is years after yours."

He straightened again and raised his awe-filled eyes at the dragon. "I am to fight as well, as they say, which is why I am here at present. But oh, I know we are from different worlds, yet I must tell you that my father has served under General Napoleon." He knew he was blabbing but he could not seem to stop himself. "The Emperor gave him the title of Baron, in fact, for his loyal service. He passed away several years ago, however."

At that, he cast his gaze to his feet, shifting awkwardly, the faintest hint of sadness and guilt pricking at him. "Um. But I have read much of Napoleon's conquests myself."

Temeraire's expression became by gradual degrees both surprised and intrigued as he listened. By the time Marius had finished, the look he was turning on the young man was very nearly fond. A son of one of Napoleon's soldiers, and a distinguished one besides!

"Well, now," he said approvingly, "different worlds or otherwise, your father must certainly have done well, to be named a Baron by my Napoleon; I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, M. Pontmercy, and I am sorry to hear of your father's passing. You must have been very proud of him."

He raised his eyes at that, a delighted smile crossing his face, honored beyond words that Napoleon's dragon had just acknowledged him and his father. "That I am."

And he might not have known his father as much as he'd like, but even so, the pride at being called his son swelled within him. Now more daring than before, he took another, more eager step towards Tamerlan. "If you do not mind my asking, monsieur, what is Emperor Napoleon like?"

Oh, now this was more like: anyone wishing to hear about his companion could never be a bad sort. Xiang settled back on his haunches, his expression unmistakably pleased by now.

"Why, he is the bravest and grandest of men," he said, his chest visibly swelling with pride. "If only everyone might possess the same passion, the same verve! He is magnanimous as he is absolute in victory, and the kindest and wisest companion anyone might ask for. It is his vision alone which has struck down England and Spain, and brought glory to France.

"With my help, of course," he added hastily. "I daresay he should have had a great deal more trouble at Madrid, and Barcelona, if I had not been at his side."

"Oh, certainly." Marius gave a vigorous nod. There was no doubt in his mind that M. Tamerlan contributed greatly to the victories of Napoleon—and then he wondered whether he was even more powerful than Temeraire.

His eyes were round and filled with awe and respect. Everything he imagined Napoleon was to his comrades had been confirmed beyond doubt. It was no wonder that the Emperor had obtained his father's loyalty, and that he would have followed the General to the end. He smiled, almost timidly, and said, "How wonderful to hear of him from his very own dragon! I only wish that I could have gotten a chance to meet him, as well, if only to thank him for what he has done for France."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

EVENT | LANDFALL | KITHIKA | BOTTLE

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject