video

[galdorleod]

Name: Howl (un: galdorleod)
Date: Septeril 9
Format: Video

[ The young man in the video has smooth skin, softly flushed cheeks, marble-like blue eyes and soft-looking hair. He sits in a plush armchair with his hands tucked inside his coat, speaking pleasantly and calmly in a Welsh accent. ]

Good afternoon, fellow Mirrorbound. For many of you, this message is likely your first and only acquaintance with me, so please, allow me to introduce myself.

I am Howl, a renowned wizard in my homeland of Ingary, the sole apprentice to the Royal Sorceress Madame Suliman, owner of three shopfronts across His Majesty's Kingdom, and a rather cranky prat when I first got here, I must admit. [ His vague calm smile widens into something more overt. ] But, I have been in Aefenglom for over two months now, and I like to think I'm making excellent progress in regaining my trade.

With that out of the way -

[ Howl pulls his right hand from his coat, holding an off-white envelope between his fingers. ]

I'd like to open a discussion on these letters - invitations to a celebration marking the Dorchacht rebellion, beginning on the nineteenth.

I was not even here at the time, so I'm puzzled as to why my presence is wanted. And while I know some general information about the conflict and what prompted it, I do not yet know enough to be comfortable celebrating it.

I wonder if anyone else received an invitation, as I assume I cannot possibly be the only one. And I ask, respectfully, if any Mirrorbound reading this were here one year ago when this rebellion took place, who may be able to enlighten me on the details. Do we know of any reason for all Mirrorbound to have been invited, even those who have arrived more recently?

Comments

text; un: ursamajor

[beariot]

The people of Dorchacht generally credit all mirrorbound for playing a major role in their liberation, both those still living within that city and those who are refugees within our own. That's why you received the invitation.

My name is Ursula Callistis, I run a school for Dorchacht refugees here in Aefenglom, and


I was also part of the rebellion back then.

video; un: lanling.jin

[disasterstraight]

[ Zixuan is not entirely used to the video function of the watches, but he at least now knows how to center himself in the frame of the camera. Behind him is an empty loft room with tall windows. Well, mostly empty. There is an odd collection of wood and soft material in the corner. And Zixuan himself looks somewhat different, with blueish green hair and iridescent green feathers covering his neck. ]

Master Howl. It is good to see you. How have you been settling in?

Obviously, I can shed no light on the invitation or the revolution it is celebrating, but I too am interested in learning more about Dorschacht and its people.

[galdorleod]

I'm finding it hard not to ask why Aefenglom is sheltering refugees if the rebellion was a success and their homeland is free now.

Can they not go back? If they chose to say, they're more like immigrants, yes?

video; un: hiccup

[thisisamazing]

Oh! They're- they're our allies, Dorchacht. Ours and Aefenglom's, since last year. They probably wouldn't have wanted to leave anybody out. I uh, I don't think they'd be offended if you didn't want to go, but I can see why it's probably easier and more polite to invite all of us rather than try to figure out who of us is still around from last year. Some have gone back home since then. [Like his former Bonded, who had played a key part in rescuing many of the refugees, who won't get to see this year-later celebration.

He tries not to look too melancholy at the thought, plastering on a smile.]

I uh. I was there, if that wasn't obvious. Hi, I'm Hiccup. I can probably answer any other questions you had about the uprising.

[galdorleod]

[ Despite his monster changes, Howl easily recognizes him. His eyes are wide with wonder at the beginning of his video response. ]

Zixuan! Good to see you again! I'll share what I learn about the Dorchacht revolution with you, if you like.

[ Is that a nest behind him? Between that and the feathers, he must be a Harpy. A small part of Howl is jealous. ]

You're looking dashing since the last time we spoke. How are you and your wife?

[beariot]

That feels like a question more meant for the respective governments of these cities than for me, if I can be frank.

[galdorleod]

I see. I couldn't agree more. [ And Howl does not take it as a good sign that there's no answer for her to pass along to him. ]

You must care deeply for the refugees if you operate a school for them here. I'd guess you witnessed yourself the poor conditions they were living under previously.

[galdorleod]

Ah... it's simply a matter of politeness, then? [ Howl tips his head to the side, pondering. ] Someone above posits that the freed Dorchacht citizens credit their victory to the Mirrorbound generally, even those who weren't there for it.

[ When Howl glances back into the camera, there's some hesitation in his eyes. He doesn't like that melancholy look on the young man's face, nevermind that someone his age participated in the uprising in the first place. ]

It's not a painful topic for public inquiry, is it?

[beariot]

I did. Monster children were chattel under the previous regime. Most of these kids have no families or any other support systems, and had nothing to lean on when the regime fell.

[thisisamazing]

Or I mean, there's that too, probably. Most of the natives here tend to regard us as a single people. It's not entirely right, but it's not really wrong either, is it? We come from different places but we all arrived here the same way. [He's optimistic - he likes to regard the Mirrorbound as a community that help each other and their neighbors, even if not everyone sees it that way.] I don't think we're entirely the reason they won, though, their rebellion worked hard for years...

[He bites his lip thoughtfully for a moment, trying to find the right words.] Ah, it's- It was hard, and it was bloody, but... the alternative was worse. A lot worse. And I don't think it's a bad thing to want to know what happened. Context is important here.

Voice;

[fiddlestick]

Haha, well others covered the answer pretty well...but I know some of us had to keep our identities pretty concealed during our efforts, so maybe they just don't know which of us helped out and decided to invite everyone just in case?

voice;

[wylderrant]

Howl, dearest, it's a bit of a long story, but I can try to explain if you like. I think they tend to think of us as a unit - we do have a parliament or committee or... something here, after all, even if not all of us are form the same place or even think the same way.

[galdorleod]

Do the native citizens of Aefenglom support them, financially or otherwise?

[galdorleod]

[ Howl hums and looks away again, gathering his thoughts. ]

Indeed. You get it. [ After another moment, he looks back to Hiccup. ]

Well, I'll simply ask you, then. Do you think it proper to celebrate the anniversary of the revolution like this? [ He leans back in his chair. ] I'm not looking for any right or wrong answer, here.

[galdorleod]

You kept your identities concealed? Surely that wasn't necessary once everything was over?

[galdorleod]

Explain freely, cariad. With all due respect, I never signed up to be part of any unit. I'd very much like to know what the association does for me - or doesn't do.

[wylderrant]

Well, the long and short of it is that there's this other city and when we first arrived, they treated their monsters horribly. Little better than slaves. Some of us got it into their heads to change things and so there was a somewhat messy rebellion to overturn their power structure and since then we've been considered friends of said city. So - those people who enjoyed being above monsters will probably look at you askance. Those who wanted liberty might think you part of a group they're inclined to look on positively.

Does that help at all?

voice | un: kingkon55

[freecshow]

It's good that people seemed to answer your question! [Gon only has some peripheral knowledge of these things because his better half is actually interested in learning about the world around him, beyond flora and fauna...]

But! Does someone need to be comfortable with the reason behind something like a festival? I don't feel like it has to be so complicated... You can just go and have fun! [an excuse to party! coming from a teenager, this perspective makes sense—and so too a Faun teen.]

[fiddlestick]

Yeah, because we didn't want to risk diplomacy issues between Dorchacht and Aefenglom. Relations were already tense, and if their government had caught wind that some mirrorbound from Aefenglom was assisting the Resistance...it could've caused a war.

[So yeah. Discretion was best]

Afterwards ... Well, it's not like I did it to get credit. I just wanted to help.

[beariot]

I do receive a grant to cover a good portion of the overhead, but not all of it. As far as support beyond that, well


Reception of outsiders is mixed at times. Even we mirrorbound aren't immune to some casual xenphobia from time to time. [ and sometimes far... far worse. but he hadn't asked about that. and she was in no real mood to speak of it. ]

[thisisamazing]

I think it's up to them, honestly, but- yeah, I don't think it's a bad thing to celebrate the day you won your people's freedom. I can't... really describe how bad it actually was before. The old regime bought and sold people just because they're Monsters. To be freed from slavery, that's worth celebrating, don't you think?

[He can't say exactly, having not planned the celebrations, but he thinks it's more a celebration of freedom than it is of violence. They had to earn their freedom through violence, but Hiccup knows what that's like. Sometimes you have to fight to defend those you love.]

text; un: ajc

[sparkofgoodness]

Glad you recognise you were a cranky prat.

[ THAT'S IT, THAT'S THE ENTIRETY OF HIS INPUT. ]

[disasterstraight]

I would appreciate that. I will share whatever I learn with you, as well.

[ It would only behoove them to help each other, them both being so new to this place.

He huffs slightly at the compliment, feeling in no way shape or form dashing. ]

It is kind of you to say so. I feel rather horrendous, all told. But my family and I are doing well. Thank you for asking.

video, un: filament

[omnicrafter]

I assume the invitation went out to all Mirrorbound to try and maintain relations in a show of good faith. That's all I can think of, anyway.

Why so cranky, anyway? It's not that bad, surely... at least you got to be a Witch.

[galdorleod]

Is that so? Hm.

[ Being treated different in a casual way as a Mirrirbound, sure - but he hadn't thought that a city with such extreme diversity in its citizens could be seriously discriminatory towards others from their own world. ]

Are the refugees not welcome back in Dorchacht?

Do they have reason to fear returning?