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.
dendarii: (TW_S1_E2_0522)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-07 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
... Who the hell would I marry from your family? Lady Vorrutyer vastly prefer Ivan.
vorrutyer: (Backpfeifengesicht 3)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-07 07:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[ By waves his hand dismissively. ]

Family writ large. Family in the sense that any Lady Vorkosigan would become a sort of cousin to me.
sibearian: (play of the game)

[personal profile] sibearian 2017-01-07 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"It is... what you just described. Someone who has come back after they were killed," she says, frowning. "But... they are not real."
sibearian: <user name=gay4zarya site=tumblr.com> (upset)

LMAO ITS OKAY

[personal profile] sibearian 2017-01-07 07:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't, my friend, I am sorry," she says, easily switching back to English.

"The two moons have thrown me off. The only assistance I can offer to you is translating, should you need it."

It's clear from her tone that she's feeling more than a little helpless.
vorrutyer: (intent)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-07 07:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ah," he says a bit helplessly. "You...do not mean merely in the sense that - ah - cryorevival can be carried out if the brain is undamaged. You mean that anyone can come back?"

Is that some childish flight of fancy? Some fiction she's been fed? She seems deadly grim. Hard to imagine this as a joke.
sibearian: <user name=gay4zarya site=tumblr.com> (that sure is a squint)

[personal profile] sibearian 2017-01-07 07:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"This is fine," she says, with purpose. "Sometimes knowing you have the option or being able to contribute in other ways..." a nod towards Sonia. "...such as morale is enough. Everything would help, and it is not all about fighting on a battlefield."
sibearian: <user name=gay4zarya site=tumblr.com> (ah... yeah)

[personal profile] sibearian 2017-01-07 07:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"I... see. No, I do not have any of it. Perhaps you would be better sleeping it off, rather than shooting up in the middle of a war zone."

She's judging, a little. Just a little. Sorry, but she doesn't really think he's taking those for medical reasons.
sibearian: <user name=gay4zarya site=tumblr.com> (feels bad man)

[personal profile] sibearian 2017-01-07 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"Of course not. If I had to guess, we will be forced to fight their war or contribute in other ways. I've heard that they don't put much worth in female soldiers, so we must hope that they can take us seriously."

Says the mass of muscles that is Zarya.

"I suppose we cannot know for sure until we see them in action."
sibearian: (i'm going to destroy you)

[personal profile] sibearian 2017-01-07 07:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"Of course," she says, smiling. "Ah... do you know anyone here? I know it's a long shot, but if this is your home..."
sibearian: <user name=gay4zarya site=tumblr.com> (sausage party ending)

[personal profile] sibearian 2017-01-07 07:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"You are a cosmic traveller too?" She gapes. "какого черта, I am behind times!"
sibearian: <user name=gay4zarya site=tumblr.com> (ha)

[personal profile] sibearian 2017-01-07 08:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"It was when we got back and I was told we are in the middle of a war zone. I did not... react well," she confirms, still cringing a little. Though his comment makes her snort.

"Noted. How are you finding yourself, my friend?"
vorrutyer: (Backpfeifengesicht 2)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-07 08:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hm." Ah. That last enticement is sweeter by far than any sugar at all. Not, of course, that he can be sure that he'll have the truth out of her - he expects she'll withhold quite a lot, as she has quite mastered the art of mystery in her flirtations. But even silences can be illuminating.

"Two for one? A Jacksonian bargain indeed," he says. "One for one. And if I like your answers, I'll give you something you crave."
dendarii: (cunning plan)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-07 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Just stop, Byerly. I'm not going to believe you.
dendarii: (eidetics 163)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-07 08:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Ha. The answer to that is yes. But also know. He goes with the completely truthful:

"I have family here, but none that would recognize me. It's been a very long time."
littlemissfutility: (58)

[personal profile] littlemissfutility 2017-01-07 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Beth gives him a blank look at the word cryorevival. Maybe it's the thing where they freeze people, but she always figured that was basically science fiction stuff, too. After a moment, she decides aloud. "No. It just happens. You die a person...and you wake up something else."

A monster--though there's something heartless about calling them monsters when they used to be as human as anybody else. They're deadly, but they're unfortunate. Pathetic.
vorrutyer: (Backpfeifengesicht 4)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-07 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
As you wish.

[ A bow; he touches his forelock. ]

Not a word shall I breathe of her tall stillness, her impeccable calm. Not a syllable on the subject of her long fall of dark, dark hair. Not a single sound regarding her astonishing sense of aesthetics. Her gardens. Her elegance. Her subdued wit. Not a single word on the subject, my oath.
dendarii: (TW_S1_E13_0316)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-07 08:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[ God fucking dammit. Now he's absolutely mad with curiosity just picturing her. And how would Byerly know exactly the sort of woman Miles would like? Admittedly he hadn't been sublle in his previous relationships, but - what would Byerly know of them?

Between clenched teeth: ]


... What do you want to know, Vorrutyer.
vorrutyer: (sweaty)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-07 08:24 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well," he lies desperately, "I am very drunk. So I honestly could not say."

3024. Yes. Certainly. Of course. So...who does he know who would play this trick? Kidnap him, drug him, leave him in the mountains with a lot of Occupation reenactors? Richars? No, too clever, too without malice. Dono? Sufficiently clever for the Count, but too malicious - and too much work. He had actual governing to attend to. Ivan...? Hah. Vorfalkonner didn't have the resources, nor any others of By's usual raucous set - Vorgalantis, maybe...?

It...was an elaborate prank, though. Very exceedingly elaborate. And dear word but this young lady did look the spitting image of Countess Olivia Vorbarra Vorkosigan.

"So...Emperor Dorca. Is Emperor still? I haven't had news of late. The Cetagandans haven't caught him yet." He takes care to make his voice a bit ironic. If this is a prank, he does want to seem in on the joke. If. It is a prank.
vorrutyer: (condescending aka default)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-07 08:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Hah. ]

Ah, many things. But now I've given an oath. I can't trade this information for the world.
dendarii: (cunning plan)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-07 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
You've already said too much and you know it, you bastard.
vorrutyer: (sweaty)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-07 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ah," he says rather weakly. "Hm." He bounces his walking stick several times against the path and says, "So on your part of Earth, the dead simply are up and walking about. One wonders why...one has not heard of such a thing."
vorrutyer: (Backpfeifengesicht 4)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-07 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, I've said just the amount I wanted to.
vorrutyer: (drugged out)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-07 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
"Madam," he slurs, "I'm wounded. I shot up before I came here. Who was I to anticipate being drawn into a war zone the moment I decide to have a bit of fun?"

He pauses, a suspicious look crossing his face. "Or," he says, "someone cut my drugs with hallucinogens." He rubs his chin. "That...seems plausible, now that I'm thinking of it."
changeth: (♛ I'll give you a love that cannot last;)

[personal profile] changeth 2017-01-07 09:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he sobers, eyes flicking down miles again briefly. ]

Indeed. [ a pause. ] And yet it's warriors they need, able of mind and body, courageous and loyal. Whatever form that may take.

[ if this man were a citizen of camelot, if he'd wanted to join the round table, what would arthur have done? he'd overturned the first code and allowed any man to join, regardless of status, before he was even king. but he'd never been faced with such a decision. still, one thing's for sure now: seeing the way other barrayarans treat miles trips his anger at watching injustice done. ]

Would the word of one of their countrymen truly mean so little to them? I'm little more than a stranger. An outsider.
changeth: (♛ No lives were lost in vain;)

[personal profile] changeth 2017-01-07 09:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Wormholes, timelines, and the stuff of science fiction are all beyond him: so he focuses on what's before him. Barrayaran technology is, thus far, on a familiar level to Camelot's; and the concepts of a siege, of fighting a greater enemy on little more than hope, are ones he knows well. He can imagine, in some ways, how these people might feel, and what sorts of choices their leaders must be considering.

Even if these stories sound more insane by the moment. Pulling a sword from stone? Now that is mad. He makes a face, but keeps himself from saying as much.

"It's a strange enough situation for anyone, I'm sure. Unless you're used to -- " he waves a hand at their surroundings. Teleportation. Space travel. And so on. "-- this sort of thing."

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