barrayarmods: (Default)
For Barrayar mods ([personal profile] barrayarmods) wrote in [community profile] forbarrayar2016-12-19 09:43 pm

[ january i log: barrayar ]

Who: Everyone
What: Arrival on Barrayar and what follows
When: January 2nd - January 17th
Where: Barrayaran guerrilla camp
Warnings: None (at the moment)


welcome to barrayar.
It's the dark of night when you come to in the foothills. Snow on the ground, chill winter wind whistling. A steep mountain range towers just ahead, its peaks illuminated by the light of two moons. Whatever you last remember, it isn't how you got here, and you feel oddly jetlagged, slightly queasy.

And you're not alone. There are nine other people close by, all looking equally lost and confused. But before any of you have a chance to figure out what's going on, the soldiers arrive.

They're dressed in weather-worn green uniforms, bearing swords and bows, and they surround you immediately, poised to attack. But they quickly realize you're not their enemy, the ones they call Cetagandans. They're just as confused as you are, but rather than hanging around to puzzle it out, they start shepherding you toward their camp in the mountains while it's still dark. There's a war on, they say, and you unlucky bastards have just been dropped right smack in the middle of it.

the guerrilla camp
It's a few hours' hike through the mountains to get to their hidden camp, set up in a clearing framed by dense, hard forestry and backed against a rock face. Daylight is finally dawning when you make it there. You and your fellow sudden arrivals are ushered to an empty tent on the far end of the camp, just big enough to fit all ten of you. You can't help but notice they've posted guards all around it. You aren't under arrest – they just don't know what else to do with you.

You are able to glean, from hearsay and what the soldiers are willing to share with you, that you are on a planet called Barrayar, and this is their home, and ten years ago they were attacked without warning by the Cetagandan Empire. They've been holed up in the mountains fighting against their invaders ever since, outgunned and outmanned, but scoring little victories where they can. They don't tell you much more than that. Some dialect of Russian seems to be one of the predominant languages of the camp, but for the most part they all speak English too, if with an accent. They're gruff and wary, and if you look a little less – or more – than human, they'll eye you with suspicion, maybe even make obscure hex signs at you that seem intended to ward off evil or disease. But they aren't hostile to you, not unless you start something with them.

the outsiders' tent
It's not in the greatest shape, but if you look around the camp, the rest aren't much better off. It's cramped, but you've at least been provided with bedrolls and heavy wool blankets to ward off the frozen chill, and if you're in need of clothing, they'll provide it, although it probably hasn't been washed in…a while. The soldiers bring you food at mealtimes -- not very good food, mostly tough meat and groats, and they keep you your own campfire, just to keep you warm. They've also hastily dug you your own latrine area at the edge of the perimeter, just behind the treeline. No private bathroom stalls in this outfit, unfortunately. The entire camp seems tense and wary, and the soldiers are alert, but they don't talk much. You could try sneaking past them, but you probably won't get far.

Well, at least you've got each other for company: the outsiders on Barrayar.
vorbratta: (but you say that you're doin just fine)

[personal profile] vorbratta 2017-01-02 07:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's everyone's favorite saying these days. 'Could be worse'." Sonia grimaces. Her look of curiosity, though, hasn't waned. "You're Barrayaran, aren't you?"
dendarii: (eidetics 163)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-02 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
His accent is going to get him into trouble, isn't it. Unfortunately sounding like a Betan will get him into more trouble, and he doesn't think he can mimic the outsiders convincingly yet. By the time he does it will be entirely too late. So ... Barrayaran it is. "I am, yes. Originally." He stirs the groats idly. "I haven't been home in years, though. Not how I expected coming back."
vorbratta: (i better keep my two legs running)

[personal profile] vorbratta 2017-01-02 07:54 pm (UTC)(link)
A Betan accent would have piqued just as much curiosity from Sonia -- more, even. She knows them both too well. She bats her eyes in surprise.

"You mean you were...zapped here along with the others, or whatever? I thought you might've just crossed paths with the group by chance, or something."
dendarii: (bg036)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-02 07:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Miles shakes his head firmly at that. Closer to the truth, maybe, but much more dangerous to explain. There's no way an apparent mutant like him would have gone unnoticed.

"It seems so." A pause; he considers whether it's wise to ask her this question, but ... eh, what the hell. "Do you know how we were brought here?"
littlemissfutility: (01)

[personal profile] littlemissfutility 2017-01-02 07:57 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm Beth." As they settle back down on the floor, she shrugs. The guards have been guards--not friendly, but nowhere near as bad as anything at Grady. Not so far, anyway. They're still trapped in this tent, and there's plenty of time for prisoners to become free labor or worse. Either way, though, she's not about to complain to someone who belongs to their people. So she just says, "They don't say much."
littlemissfutility: (02)

ice-breaking

[personal profile] littlemissfutility 2017-01-02 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah. [Beth glances over toward the source of the voice, finding a man she'd mistake for a child if he had his back to her. Facing each other, though, it's clear he's older than her--and that he's the only man she can think of that she's ever towered over. He must be half a foot shorter than her, and she's only 5'4".] But not yours?

[He looks more like the soldiers guarding them than most of the people in the tent.]
prorenataa: (what is your damage)

Adrien Arbuckal | OTA

[personal profile] prorenataa 2017-01-02 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
A- Arrival: This is chilly

Wasn't he just ...

As he stood off to the side, away from the group and slightly hunched over, Adrien's brain raced to try to unwind what the fuck had just happened. His last clear memory was of a fight he was going to end up having to patch someone up from, a cold base after a long hike and tensions cranked up to 100.

In that respect, the uncertainty and nerves he could sense floating around him were relatively familiar.

The planet, the snow, the quiet and the hills were definitely not familiar. Neither was the loss of the familiar weight of a Glock at the small of his back, a discreet check of his person confirming that his knives were gone as well. In fact, the only familiar items still with him appeared to be his uniform and the ring on his finger.

Courser....

There wasn't time to dwell on the matter, as the doctor slowly straightened and drifted back towards the knot of equally confused looking people. He could hear the sounds of an approaching force and as the soldiers came through the cold darkness with their proclamations and scant information, Adrien reached up and rubbed his hand across the back of his neck.

"Another war, fucking Fates."

B - Outsider's Tent / Medical Tent?

As they walked into camp, Adrien took note of the layout of the rag tag set up. Rough was a kind adjective, even given some of the roughing he'd done recently at least he'd always had a rover to fall back on. This appeared to be tents, tents and more tents.

What he could see of the guards' movements was noted as well, though the doctor offered no resistance or demur as he was herded along. Noticing that he and the others who had arrived with him, were all confined to a single space, the logical part of his mind accepted what was only a wise precaution. Even as the survivalist in him chafed at being set apart, isolated and contained. Easy target.

Taking his bedroll and other scant supplies, the doctor would have retreated to the most inhospitable looking corner of the tent he could find. Not much of a one for crowds. Keeping to himself, he didn't stir until the guards came to drop off the food.

Walking up for his ration, he glanced at what was handed towards him and then shook his head.

"I'd like to be taken to the medical tent," he said in a calm, neutral tone. Lifting his hand he motioned towards the badge on his uniform, the one that carried a caduceus; yeah he was banking on the hope that the symbol was universal.

When it didn't appear as if the guard was going to comply, pushing food at him again, Adrien dug in stubbornly and repeated himself.

"No. Medical. Or a person who can escort me to Medical."

This might just kick off a bit of a staring contest. Perhaps there is someone to break the tension or perhaps one of his fellow new arrivals might step up to be a voice on reason. Otherwise, it was dueling stink eyes.
dendarii: (solpadeine114)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-02 08:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Definitely not a child, given he's thirty and looks older. But small enough to be one, yes. At least she doesn't tower over him quite as badly as everyone else ... That's something.

He does indeed look very much like the other Barrayarans. Clearly he's related to several of them. Because he super is. ]


Oh, no. I was born here. [ A beat. ] But I haven't been back in years.
vorbratta: (stick my head up)

[personal profile] vorbratta 2017-01-02 08:12 pm (UTC)(link)
This woman is huge. She towers over half the men in camp, and that alone is enough to make her stand out, especially with her physique. She looks like a space mercenary out of some old holodrama, or something. And then there's the hair. Was she gengineered in some way? Sonia doesn't know, but she's very curious. The woman almost sounds Barrayaran, too, and Sonia replies in cheerful Russian.

"You're welcome, but I think your gratitude is a little misplaced. They couldn't leave you out there, and they weren't going to kill you, so they had to take you here." Sonia waves a hand, but she smiles. "Not easy, no, but nothing really is. I don't think they really know what to do with you yet."
dendarii: (eidetics 163)

tent

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-02 08:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Miles doesn't look busy. In fact he'd been deep in thought when she approaches him, trying desperately to calculate out the details of his cover story when she'd interrupted him. Ah ... well, he needed the break anyway. He uncurls a bit from where he'd been seated in the corner. He's a very small man, perhaps 4'9" at full height, and he's not standing now. Luminous gray eyes make his slim face look even more gaunt than it normally would. He has dark hair as well, of an identical shade to the other district natives. ]

Of course. [ His accent is more similar to the guards' than anyone else's. A native himself, of sorts. ] What can I help you with?
vorrutyer: (explaining everything (badly))

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-02 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
When we are.

[ Logically, Byerly knows that it doesn't make any sense otherwise. A second Cetagandan invasion is impossible. It's impossible that they just touched down without even being slowed down by the Barrayaran fleet. But there are also other things that are more fundamentally impossible. ]

What do you mean, when we are.
dendarii: (TW_S1_E13_0316)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-02 08:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[ When all alternatives are impossible, well ... Miles has already grimly resigned himself to this impossibility, given all the evidence in its favor. ]

It's the invasion. The first one. [ He glances around at the guards. ] Trust me, I know my district. It doesn't look like this right now.
vorrutyer: (annoyed and/or stressed)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-02 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Are you sure?

[ Even Byerly can't quite commit to a smug smile, a superior smile. His expression ends up twisted and tense. ]

That's not what I've heard.
dendarii: (cunning plan)

B

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-02 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Miles isn't going to be much help to Adrien, but he is interested in the medical facilities here if he does manage to get taken elsewhere. He trots up behind the man helpfully. Not that he is terribly imposing himself. He's 4'9" at most, gaunt and recovering from physical maladies of his own. One of which is going to become a major problem quickly...?

"Medical, yes?" He turns to the guard, who has gone from staring at Adrien to making a quick hex sign at Miles. "Ah, perhaps he doesn't speak English well." Carefully, he repeats the question in Russian, Greek, and French - but no luck. The soldier understood Adrien the first time, as Miles had expected. Damn. He settles back after that with a faint sigh.
dendarii: (cunning plan)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-02 08:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Miles can't roll his eyes hard enough. ]

Hilarious, Byerly. Yes, we're a bit more advanced in the future. Also, no goddamn guerillas wearing seventy-year-old uniforms.
littlemissfutility: (06)

[personal profile] littlemissfutility 2017-01-02 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[The blanket she's had wrapped around her since their arrival here is starting to slip from one shoulder. She pulls it back again with her right hand and the slight sound of the fabric brushing against her plaster cast reminds her of its weight. If they ever let them out of this tent, maybe she can find out if they have a doctor around here.]

And they don't recognize you? [Maybe it's just a matter of coming back to the wrong area--but it doesn't seem like it should be that hard to prove he's actually from around here.]
vorrutyer: (haughty (and smug))

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-02 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[ His mouth tightens even further. ]

How?

[ How did it happen. How can time travel happen. ]
dendarii: (good point)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-02 08:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Hoo boy. Of course they don't recognize him. His own father hasn't been born yet, and Miles himself won't be for another sixty years at best. All things considered, Miles would rather not manage to prove his true identity. ]

Not in the slightest. Perhaps that's for the best. [ It absolutely is for the best right now. ] I'm Miles Illyan. What about you?
dendarii: (bg046)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-02 08:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I haven't the slightest idea. [ Miles shakes his head. For once it's not his fault. ] But it's the only explanation that makes sense.
vorrutyer: (shaaaahhhhts)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-02 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
It doesn't make sense.
dendarii: (TW_S1_E2_0063)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-02 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh? And you think Cetaganda invading right under our noses does make sense?
littlemissfutility: (01)

[personal profile] littlemissfutility 2017-01-02 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
If you like sharing a tent, maybe. [Plenty of people don't want other people to know where they came from, and they usually have good reasons for it, in her experience. If he wants to stay crammed in here with the rest of them, she's not going to be a snitch.] Beth Greene.
dendarii: (solpadeine111)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-02 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Could he leave and throw himself on the mercy of his grandfather? Probably. But odd are too damn good that will just end in death. ]

Beth, then. A pleasure to meet you, despite the circumstances.

[ He glances at her plaster cast. ]

Injured?
vorrutyer: (annoyed and/or stressed)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-02 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[ His jaw works a moment in frustration. Finally: ]

And so how does being a prole help you?
littlemissfutility: (10)

[personal profile] littlemissfutility 2017-01-02 08:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, so he's drunk. And high. That explains why he's so loud.

It doesn't occur to her to wonder why the sloppiness of his words comes on so quickly; she's too busy rolling her eyes at the idea that she'd be scandalized by somebody doing drugs. Just because she never went near them herself doesn't mean she didn't know people in high school who did--or, at least, knew of them. Most of her friends before the turn stuck to beer, and she stuck to watching.

As soon as voice shifts, so does something in her gut. Maybe she's just being paranoid, but she doesn't like the idea of trading a little warmth now for a stranger draped all over her later. Especially one who's still upright after three bottles of wine. Holding his coat out to him, she looks for the clearest, least worried voice she can muster. "There are trees all over the place. You can get a walking stick."