trans_9 | Meet and Greet

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Meet and Greet

The rest of the crew assembled on the Observation Deck to meet the latest editions to their numbers.

Several people are set up near the doors to provide the new people with omnicomms and comm rings. They are also told they must read information about their current situation and a survival guide with their new omnicomm. New crewmates might see a tall dragonish guy with wings (but don't call him that), a large afro attached to a smaller girl, and talking ponies among their number. There are also several authoritative-looking figures ready to introduce themselves.

There's a lot to tell the new people. It's going to be a lot to take in. But thankfully this time, there's a system that was set up to aid the new crew members with a few more experienced ones.

[ooc: Only new characters and Command Staff can start new threads for introductions, to limit the number of threads. Everyone else, just tag in and have your guys greet the newbies. Big brother/sister, there will be a thread for you as well!]

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Thankfully for Sabriel's blood pressure, Tarrant's magic obscures her death sight and as such, she has no idea that one of her Councilors is deeeeeeead.

"Sabriel, the Abhorsen. Gatekeeper of the Dead," she clarifies, figuring that since no one else has heard of her here Tarrant's odds aren't high - especially since she doesn't know where Merentha is. "I'm afraid I'm new here. How are we expected to go into battles against ships when we only have experience as ground combatants?"

He inclined his head toward her. "Mes Sabriel. As it happens, the Ohm don't just attack in ships. They also regularly make planetfall -- they've even come aboard this ship itself. Believe me, you'll get your chance to encounter one up close, even if you know next to nothing about piloting a spacecraft."

"If I may ask, what does being a Gatekeeper of the Dead entail?"

"Mm." She's not sure whether to say she looks forward to it, which would be something of a lie, or to be honest about the fact that this intimidates her. Instead she just sets her mouth into a line and nods. Her experience has largely been against fencing tutors, practice dummies and, of course, those that are already Dead. Fighting giant insects isn't in her wheelhouse. "I suppose it's something to know that I won't need to learn to pilot a...'space ship' to be of service here."

Yeah, things that fly in space? What the hellllll is that they barely have airplanes when she's from.

"I lay the dead to rest. It's somewhat like the opposite of typical necromancy. I undo that which would upset the natural balance."

He smiled. "Certainly not. Although if you want to learn, I'm sure someone will be willing to teach you. Most of the crew, however, is comprised of ground forces."

"May I take it, then, that the dead do not stay dead where you're from? That sounds... unpleasant."

"I am an excellent student, but I imagine that given my background I will be more suited to less technological pursuits." Mostly because she still isn't convinced the omnicomm isn't most useful as a bludgeon instead of a 'stored library' or whatever the hell. "I'll give some thought to joining an infantry level position. May I ask, do Councilors fight as well?"

She shakes her head. "No, people have the nasty habit of bringing them back. Not that I don't understand the temptation, but the magic used to restore Dead souls is corrupting."

"I plan on it, though I can't speak for the others. I may be nothing more than a glorified bureaucrat..." And here he gave her a little self-deprecating smile, as if indulging in some private joke. "...but I believe we all need to pitch in if we're to survive here. I may not be a swordmaster bristling with battle fury, but I do seem to have a unique skillset here."

"Interesting. What we had on my own world was not precisely magic. Few were skilled enough to do something as complex as bringing back corpses. Through there were creatures that took the form of the dead. However, on this ship, I think you'll find that several crewmembers are among the undead. Some of them are unpleasant, but they are not enemies."

Sabriel listens to Tarrant's schpiel, eyes lighting up a bit as he mentions that he comes from a world with magic - or at least, something close enough to it that it could probably be mistaken for it. "And would your skillset be that which isn't precisely magic?"

She nods. Can't read her pokerface muh muh muh mah. "Yes, I already had an encounter with one. Most unpleasant."

"It would take a while to explain, I'm afraid," he said truthfully. "Information gathering and analysis is my forte. But I have more conventional abilities as well." To demonstrate, he held open his palm; a bright, silver-blue flame flickered into life in the air above his fingertips. It seemed to suck in ambient heat rather than warming the area around it. "If you ever need your drink cooled, I'm the one to talk to."

He tapped a finger against his temple, considering. "Was this crew member a formerly human woman, by any chance?"

Sabriel thinks of some Charter marks, whispers them, and a similar flame appears in her hand, although orange and warm. It's like a greeting where she's from, to meet magic with magic. She smiles. "And if you should ever need yours warmed, I could be of service."

Sabriel furrows her brow. "Perhaps. Who can tell with the Dead? The corpse was at least female, but that says nothing of whatever poor soul was fixed to it."

Tarrant dissipated the flame, withdrawing his hand back into his robes. "I tend to prefer the cold. But your offer is appreciated."

"As far as I can tell, Mes Karis inhabits her own body. And is none too happy about it."

"Ah. My apologies, sir." She stifles her own flame in her palm.

Sabriel blinks. "I don't understand. That's not at all how the Dead work."

"Don't trouble yourself; it's of no real consequence."

How curious. Perhaps these Dead were not quite undead. "As I understand it, she died and was... revived by some kind of magical means. Thus her current, slightly abrasive state of being."

"That sounds like the Dead of my world. But..." Sabriel's face contorts somewhat in doubt. "She was exceptionally articulate for a Dead. Perhaps...there is more to this ship than my education would arm me with."

He arched a brow at that. "You'd be surprised how eloquent the undead can be. Perhaps even Karis. Besides, I doubt any of us were really prepared for what we'd find on the ship when we first awoke."

"If everyone's using these stupid things, then they're more prepared than I am." She waves at the omnicomm, which she's fixed to her waist, with a look of derision and frustration, like it's some opponent that's outsmarted her. "But I'm beginning to worry that I won't be of any use here, once the spirits in the pod caverns are identified and laid to rest."

"Everyone is of use in this war," said Tarrant, and in that sentiment he was being quite honest. "Even those of us whose usefulness is not immediately apparent. Or so my experience so far has taught me.

"However, if you wish to learn, there are plenty of people aboard willing to train you in what skills they possess -- piloting is only one of them. Engineering, medical training... even farming, I think."

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Meet and Greet

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