aefenglom | video; un: morgan

Entry tags:

video; un: morgan

Name: Arthur Morgan
Date: Maiuril 2nd, evening
Format: video

[ The video opens upside-down; it appears the poster hasn't meant to actually use video. For any Witches gifted in Divination or dream-based magic, they may see, for a moment, that it looks like there is a golden glow of sun drenching the landscape, illuminating a stag who looks like it is making its way toward the outskirts of Aefenglom. One blink and it's gone, both stag and sun, and instead there is the sound of labored breathing and the deep blue of the evening - the only things that anyone without those magics would have picked up on. save the distant sight of the north-eastern section of the outer city. ]

Anyone- aw, shit-

[ The low Western drawl of Arthur Morgan clearly marks him as a Mirrorbound, and after a bit of fumbling, the compass is turned. His face, now bearded, still looks pale in the dark; there is dried blood along the line of his hair and running down the side of his cheek from under his hat. ]

Uh, anyone- around? Been out in the woods [ for... a few months... ] getting the lay of the land a bit - it's turning winter in there - and I got into it with one some of them Shades.

[ There's a howl in the distance and Arthur grimaces, drawing a wooden bow with enchantments carved into it. ]

I know they ain't gonna let me back in the city like this.

[ The compass tilts, and what he means by 'like this' is clear; the shadowy marks of a Cwyld infection are spreading from a savage, still-healing, almost definitely infected by more than the Cwyld bite on his opposite arm. ]

Did what I could for it, but with it bein' autumn and then winter out there, couldn't find a lot of the herbs I'd need.

[ Another howl sounds, closer this time - with a second going up to join it. His grimace turns into a scowl, and Arthur notches at arrow. ]

Follow the sound of the howls, I guess-

[ His compass is dropped down, the video bouncing as Arthur takes off at a jog before the feed cuts off. ]

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[Well. That's worrying. Of course the local healer is responding]

Arthur! W-Where are you-

[Oops nope, the feed ended]

Crap. That can't be good at all...

[ Oh, don't mind him undoing all your hard work, Elliot.

When the video feed clicks back on, Arthur has clearly found a perch on top of some of the ruins of the outer city. He's as far out as he can be, not having wanted to draw his pursuers closer - there are people living out here, after all, and not all of them can defend themselves as well as Arthur can. As long as none of them go Shade and attack him too, he figures he's got a decent chance. Better here than a lone man on the ground against a pack, anyway. ]

Outer city, [ he grunts; his compass is around his neck now, his voice closer to it, and it means Elliot can see what Arthur sees. ] North-east, closest to the forest. But there's a whole damn, massive pack of these coyotes and who knows what else out here - coyotes at least have been tracking me since I ran into them in the woods.

[ The howling starts up again - singing, more like, accompanied by some yipping. It's close, some of it echoing off abandoned, ruined buildings, and just as Arthur had said, there are a great many voices. ]

Usually wouldn't bother a person, but infected and with as many as there are... and with that big nasty Shade with them... Well, guess they decided they didn't want to let me go so easily.

A whole pack of coyotes and a shade? Oh boy...

[Way to make things as difficult as possible Arthur!!! ]

I can heal your infection, but I don't think I can take on that many fiends. We need to think of a way to shake them off your trail.

Shade's also a coyote. If that helps.

[ It does not help. Also, his bad, Elliot. ]

Shame I don't have any dynamite to throw at them.

It doesn't really...

[STILL A SHADE ARTHUR]

Hmm...are you a witch or a monster?

[ he tried ]

A witch.

[ does he look like he's changed at all to you Elliot gosh ]

[It's hard to tell you're such a grizzly man to this anime soft boy]

Okay- I don't suppose you've attended any of the classes have you?

[ ...okay, fair ]

I have, actually. Figured I should know what I'm dealin' with.

[ wtf why did you just assume he didn't go to school :( ]

[To be fair, several of Elliot's friends completely skipped school]

Oh good! A lot of people skip, so...

[He clears his throat]

Anyway, maybe if you did a spell to throw them off your trail, that'd help. I got a spell that'll silent your movements. And maybe make an illusion spell of a smell or something...?

[ ...okay fair ]

Silence would be good. Illusion could work, if I can get scent in there...

[ Arthur grimaces slightly, glancing down at his injured arm. ]

Not sure how good it'll be, but maybe if I cast it far enough away and they chase it...

[ The Old West genre is popular with children in 1890, and even an isolated kid like Will Henry knows it. ]

Did, uhm-- Someone come help you. Are you all right?

[ Please say yes so he can ask if you're really a cowboy without feeling like a jerk. ]

[ 1899 represent

Arthur's response doesn't come for a while, and when it comes he sounds tired, but- it does come. ]

Yeah. I'm all right.

[ Or, well, he's not dead, which counts. ]

[ Now he has to figure out what to say, doesn't he. He really needs to think of something better than 'are you a real cowboy'. He really. Really-- ]

Are you a real cowboy?

[ Somehow, everyone else has just managed to not actually ask this question and just assumed it - but no one else has been quite as close to him in time. The question makes him pause, and then chuckle a little. ]

Well... suppose that depends on your definition. I don't always do a lot of herdin', and it ain't always of cows. But I live free out West and ride a horse, if that's what you mean.

I'm from Connecticut. New Jerusalem. I've never seen that part of the country.

[ (Pretty sure that's a substitution for New Haven that the books use.) But now you know that this fifteen year old is a little East Coaster filled to the brim with stories and talk about what goes on Out West. ]

The Wild West shows make it seem really exciting, but that's probably just to take people's money, isn't it.

[ Ah, excited about cowboys but still jaded about it all. ]

And I've never seen Connecticut, so I guess we're even.

[ Another little chuckle. ]

Suppose that depends on the shows; I've never seen one. [ He hasn't had to, after all. ] What do they do?

I saw some in New York. They do a lot of tricks on horseback and with their guns, and they try to do rodeo stunts with all kinds of animals... but there's reenactments too. Outlaws robbing trains, and gunfights. Sometimes they're battle reenactments, soldiers and scouts defending everyone against the tribes. The really famous one has Buffalo Bill ride up at the end to avenge General Custer.

[ He had been taken by Mrs. Bates, who was attempting to instill some culture in him, and maybe also a little bit of fun. It had only sort've worked. Her younger son Reggie had enjoyed it a lot more. ]

We met a tribe when we travelled to the Bushland, up north. They weren't like the people in the show, but I don't think anyone cares.

[ Ruining people's fun by pointing out inaccurate representation, how dare you Will Henry. ]

Not sure about tricks or stunts, but I've broke wild horses before. Train robberies and gunfights happen. [ He's been the cause of his share of both. ] The battles like that are over, though, least in my time. I've met some Indians; they got cut a pretty raw deal, way I see it.

[ Had seen it even more, with the Wapiti, with the stories of Charles and his mother and her people. ]

Too many people don't care, though. You're right about that.

It makes people feel better to invent monsters, instead of looking at themselves.

[ A murmur that he doesn't linger on. It's an ugly lesson he's been learning at the Doctor's side. ]

I'm glad it's not all fake, it would be disappointing if it wasn't a little exciting. Although I bet people don't really try to ride bears either, do they.

You're not wrong there.

[ His own murmur in response.

ANYWAY. ]

The smart ones don't. The ones that do... well, they don't live to tell about it. Grizzly bears are no joke. Hell, even horses can kill you if they don't want you ridin' 'em.

Nature has a lot of ways to kill you.

[ And some of them are more horrible than others. Although he seems to realize this is a weird thing for a mostly uneducated Victorian child to know so he explains briefly, ]

My master is a scientist, and some of the things he studies are very good at killing. He's studying the Cwyld now that we're both here.

Your, uh- your master?

[ sorry, that just sounds weird to him, okay? ]

Nature sure does have a lot of ways to kill you, though. Definitely right about that. Especially here.

I'm his apprentice.

[ Sometimes. Sort of. It's a much tidier way of explaining it than explaining that he can't fathom leaving the old bastard after years of emotional abuse. ]

He studies which monsters are real and which ones aren't. A few years ago the scientists had a big fight about the Wendigo, about whether or not to include it or if the people who claimed to be possessed by it were just traumatized and starving from getting lost out in the woods.

[ Will Henry would very much like to not talk about his own opinion on the matter. ]

[ Apprentice- oh, thank God. That makes much more sense. ]

Huh. Don't know much about the Wendigo, but- saw a skeleton of a giant, once, out West. And... strange lights in the sky. Weird things.

[ He shakes his head, even if the boy can't see him. ]

But I figure that the more civilization and order tries to take over, the more the Wild things and places will disappear. Maybe those monsters of his, too. [ Pause. ] And the ones that don't... those'll be the real dangerous ones, I reckon. Killed a vampire in a big city that had been there for- centuries, I figure...

[ and now Arthur is in a weird philosophical mood about the West and Wild Things and Monsters ]

[ God. A real cowboy fighting monsters. Is this possibly the best day of his life? ]

I'm Will Henry, by the way.

[ He normally wouldn't introduce himself to some random adult without being asked, the vast majority weren't interested. But he definitely feels like Arthur has stories that he would like to hear in the future. ]

I can provide some assistance.

[At least a bit. Although curing Cwyld infection on his own will be questionable, he can at least offer some help, he thinks. That's better than leaving the poor man out there.]

Please tell me how to find you.

That'd be great.

[ The feed is primarily showing the landscape, the compass clearly around Arthur's neck now. ]

I'm toward the north-east part of the outer city, close to the forest. Here, I'll rotate a bit, let you see some of the surrounding- I guess they're technically still buildings...

[ Or ruins, depending. Either way, Arthur does move as promised, trying to pick up the landscape in the dying light. ]

Wouldn't be so bad but they've been tracking me for... a bit.

I will come at once.

[He does, moving as he leaves the video connected.]

Can you defend yourself or are you in a place to hide for the meantime?

[At least the travel doesn't seem too bad, although depending on how hurt the man is, getting back might be a bigger problem.]

I'm on top of a roof of a ruined building. I've got a bow and arrows - for now, at least.

[ He'll run out of arrows eventually. ]

Don't have a lot of feathers to make more arrows, and the lighting is getting pretty bad for that anyway.

[ And to see what he's shooting at, for that matter. ]

Also got a hunting knife, for any that get up close and personal, but I reckon I'd rather they don't get that close.

I will be as swift as I can. Please conserve your strength for the time being.

[ At least he has a sword and some spells that he can make work. ]

If they cannot reach you, then for now it would be best to wait.

[ Normally he could just fly wherever he wanted to go. This is why cultivation is important. At least he does go as fast as he can -- and with light on him, which is a plus. ]

I'll see what I can do.

[ Arthur's learned some magic, but- well, he's exhausted, and he hasn't focused in anything specific.

When he does spot the light, however, he'll attempt to draw enough attention to himself to point out the current location of the pack of contaminated coyotes and their Shade leader - in the ruins of the building below him, trying to figure out a way up. Arthur is definitely nervous about this, if the way he keeps glancing at the stairwell behind him is any indication. ]

[Lan Xichen is at least learning some specific spells. One is directing wind, which, while not bringing any hurricanes, does blow a chill that can draw some attention toward himself. The notes of a flute send the magic shooting out like needles through the pack, informing them that there is a new target approaching. He places a torch down when he arrives as a marker, then hurries to the building where Arthur is taking shelter.]

Stay there!

[He calls up, not sure if there are already coyotes inside the ruins and making their way to Arthur, but he draws his sword on the ones he can see.]

Not a lot of places to go!

[ Arthur calls back, watching as the pack of infected coyotes turn their attention onto this new target. He isn't injured, so they're less bold - splitting up, moving to try and circle the lone swordsman, yipping and howling.

The Shade doesn't appear, which makes Arthur curse under his breath - but he's not going to let his would-be rescuer face the whole pack alone, either. Drawing his bow, he waits until the coyotes are trying to box the man in and then releases an arrow into the canine trying to jump him from behind. Electricity arcs from the shaft, sizzling and crackling and attempting to strike any of the other coyotes within range. ]

Take that, [ Arthur grumbles, even as he leans against the wall on the roof to catch his breath. It's a good spell - but that means it's taken a bit more out of him than it usually would, considering his current condition. ]

[ He's right about that: there isn't much by way of retreat with the coyotes around. And Lan Xichen doesn't know yet how bad Arthur's condition might be. It could be very difficult for them both if they tried to make an escape. With the way the odds looked, apparently violence really was the only recourse.

At least the animals circling him don't seem overly large or assisted by magic like the Shade might be. However, Lan Xichen notices that near miss when Arthur's arrow comes snapping and popping by him, striking down one coyote just before it snaps. He watches the electricity ripple off to the nearby creatures, sending up an acrid smell of burning hair. The edge of his sword comes down as it passes, slicing across through the chaos and cutting into a few of the closest coyotes just before he continues toward the building remains. The rest may regroup soon, but he can gain a bit more distance.]

Sir?

[As he reaches the building, he turns and pulls out the flute again. Even though he's not that experienced yet, he casts the wind spell again, trying to at least create enough of a threat to feel intimidating after they had received repeated injuries to their numbers. Then he turns and hurries up to the roof to check the more important matter of Arthur's health.]

Are you able to stand up?

I see you already have volunteers for healing you.

Are they going to come with any fighters to shield them, or are those still a necessity?

No offense but I can't really write back at you right now. And readin's not high on my priority list in case a coyote-shaped Shade tries to come out of nowhere and take a bite outta my ass.

[ Based on the feed, Arthur's compass is around his neck; he's likely just kept the same setting up. ]

Got at least one volunteer. Not sure just yet.

[on the other side of the device, he's rolling his eyes. he dislikes using any function other than text, but his hand is forced. he'll switch to voice then, the tone that comes through cool and controlled.]

If they need protection or wish it, I can offer myself. I have more than enough confidence that I can handle as many coyotes as would try to interfere.

I sure as hell won't turn you down, whether or not they think they need you to come along or not. Getting dark as hell out here.

[ Or, well, as dark as Arthur assumes hell must be - which he supposes now doesn't make sense, as it's supposed to be on fire...

Focus, Morgan. Focus. ]

I'll lend a hand. Which direction from the Wall?

[He's assuming there will be a lot of howls from unrelated Shades en route tbh.]

North-east, near the forest. Edge of the outer city.

[ The feed of the video comes from the compass that is clearly around Arthur's neck, now; it leaves his hands free for the bow, and as another howl sounds, there's the sound of the string being pulled. ]

Near all the damn infected coyotes.

Got it. I should be there in twenty.

[Factoring in delays for fite and anything that might go wrong on the way. Original abilities suppressed or not, you don't spend nearly forty years as a harbinger of misfortune and not expect these things, after all. It's only a shame he can't turn into a bird anymore, really; he could shave off a chunk of that time that way.]

[ As much as Arthur would like to be a smartass and say that he hopes the guy means twenty seconds, he doesn't. Either way, whenever he makes it, there's Arthur - up on his ruined rooftop, down to his last couple of arrows as the pack of corrupted coyotes led by the coyote Shade tries to work out the best way to get at him.

As soon as he sees his would-be rescuer, Arthur will make some motions without shouting, trying to do what he hopes are the universal hand signals of pointing and otherwise gesturing for 'enemies down there'. ]

[While Arthur is working with arrows, Qrow's out here with a truly ridiculous weapon that does double duty as a sword and a shotgun. So when he finds Morgan atop said roof, he turns to the direction Morgan's pointing, and said lead coyote takes a shotgun shell to the face before he launches himself at the remainder of the lot, scythe spun around him as he spills blood and viscera everywhere. Has he mentioned this is his least favorite part of Shades, by the way? At least Grimm had the decency to crumble into dust when they died. Scythe still in hand, he calls up to Morgan, then.]

Your arm okay to climb down?

[ Well, at least those things are familiar. He wouldn't think to combine them, but... ah, what the hell. ]

Not sure, [ Arthur calls back reluctantly. ] Think so, I've been beaten up worse, but never been infected with this shit before.

[ Goddamn magic plague. ]

I'll give it a shot, though.

[ Not like he has much choice. ]

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video; un: morgan

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voice; this tag is hilarious bc i was literally just told arthur could tame a bear to ride if i want

voice; wh will be ENTHUSED ok

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voice; i beeturn from the deep

voice; <3

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video; un: zewu-jun

video; sorry about the delay ;;

video; no problem!

video; when will my tag speed show who i am inside etc

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/private, un: avenger/

private, video; sorry about the delay :c

it's ok!!

<3

video; un: dustyoldcrow

video; sorry about the delay!! universe :|

no worries! fell over for a bit on tags myself. to action?

to action! (i say like medical stuff then didn't take me out again)

we'll just keep crawling along

doin it and doin it and doin it well