ximilia | text | un; zewu.jun

[ one week into the mission, the orbers will have a video stream pop up on their network feeds. the footage shows the inside of a large dome surrounded by large structures which appear to be manufacturing machines.

there are people dressed in white, all wearing collars, working all around. it is difficult to see what the machines are making. ] this is what is going on inside the seventh circle, from within the dome.

[as the view pans, it's clear lan xichen isn't alone; wei wuxian and yennefer are with him. ]

[the feed of video continues until xichen arrives at a cell and then, well, it isn't quite as useful. still, one more message follows. ] the collars worn by anyone in the dome are set to detonate if they attempt to leave.

be careful if you are tying to go undetected and leave. we used invisibility talismans and were still detected immediately.

[ooc: based on this request here for what they see, but set before they're interrogated. more to come within replies from the trio! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

mine died near the border... we're at war on all sides. borders aren't safe anywhere. [ and if you aren't trying to cross the borders to get to safety, you're trying to cross the fold.

that's a fool's errand too. ] plenty of orphans back home though. i'm not so special. i'm not. just nothing special. one of say fifteen soldiers in the first army that's considered a reasonable loss if one grisha makes it out alive.

[The mention of war has him sighing softly. As horrific as the war had been, it had been quick and there had been one common enemy. If Mal's parents died in the war when he was young and the war is still ongoing—a war with multiple enemies—he can't even begin to fathom living like that.]

I understand the strategy behind valuing the people who have a better chance of bringing an end to a war, but does that mean that all other soldiers mean nothing?

Your wars would already be lost without those fifteen soldiers, I'm sure.

in the eyes of the king and his general, yes. [ there's a lot general kirigan doesn't value, though, and mal's not about to get into that right now.

wei wuxian does not have the hours. ] we'd be worth more if we had better weapons, i think. hard to fight when your guns don't shoot half of the time and you can only carry so many arrows. some enemies have guns that can keep firing a hundred rounds without being reloaded. a grisha can keep going as long as they can use their hands.

[One hundred rounds without a reload. He'd already known that guns were something to be wary of, but this...he closes his eyes and imagines the way weapons like this would change warfare. It's a horrifying thought.]

So guns versus grisha and every other soldier is only a human shield.

Your kings and generals need a new strategy.

i get a shot in sometimes. [ but, yes, basically. ]

i think the king's strategy is just stay in power.

Another commonality across all worlds. Those in power care only to keep it.

[But then, on a lighter note]Do you only use guns?

Not surprising. I can shoot a gun or use a bow and arrow. Arrows are easier when hunting for food in the wilderness.

[He blinks, surprised. He's so used to people here using guns.]

Are you any good with a bow?

Haven't missed a rabbit yet.

[Don't tell Lan Zhan about the rabbits!]

Hmm. You sound confident. When we get back to the Ximilia, how about a friendly match? There are archery targets in the training room.

You know your way with a bow too? When we get back then.

that's one way of putting it, yes.

I'll look forward to it.

text | un; zewu.jun

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