[ january i log: barrayar ]

[barrayarmods]

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.

Comments

[vorrutyer]

And why not? Perhaps we just began chatting because we were so desperate to talk to someone with a familiar accent.

[ He spreads his hands. ]

Or perhaps you might embrace the truth yourself.

[dendarii]

For the last time, I am not going to tell my grandfather what I am. Even if he believes me - god, what a terrible idea.

[vorrutyer]

So I should lie so that you don't have to confront the fact that you're shit-scared of your own grandfather. Glorious.

[ He sighs, then relents a little, offering: ]

I can say I'm from a parallel universe. At least that's not wholly a lie.

[dendarii]

[ Oh no. He's not letting that lie as-is. Because while he is terrified, it's not the only thing driving him. ]

I'm his grandson and his heir. Think for a moment what that means.

[vorrutyer]

[ He rolls his eyes skywards. ]

That you're stuck with terrible lands, backwater hick vassals, and a genetic propensity towards insanity?

[dendarii]

[ Miles just inches further into his personal space. ]

My father is the only one of his children - hell, his immediate family - that makes it out of this alive in the end. And not because of Cetaganda, but because of Yuri.

That's the only reason why I'm his heir. I'm not just thinking of the damage Cetaganda can do to our planet. I'm also thinking about what General Vorkosigan can - will do to save his family.

[vorrutyer]

[ ...Ah. That does have his attention. ]

Meaning - what? Regicide?

[dendarii]

[ Grimly: ]

Right at one of the most delicate points in Barrayaran history.

[vorrutyer]

Well. To be strictly correct, it would not be regicide at this point in time. Just treason.

[ By sits back, frowning grimly. After a moment - ]

I wouldn't think the General would be able to do it. Even for his family.

[dendarii]

Just treason. Of course.

[ Miles shakes his head. ]

He's a Vorkosigan. We will go to all lengths to do what needs to be done. Perhaps he would stay his hand, but I don't plan to give him that opportunity in the first place.

[ And hope that the changed arc of the war kills fewer Vorkosigans and not more. ]

[vorrutyer]

[ He's quiet a moment, then - with deceptive mildness - lays down the hideous provocation: ]

And here I always took you for unambitious.

[dendarii]

[ Don't think he won't miserably fail at punching you again, Vorrutyer. His expression tightens. ]

Just shut up, Vorrutyer. And think twice before you needle me about all this being personal. Of fucking course it is.

[vorrutyer]

Hm.

[ He strokes at his beard, then suggests: ]

Or is it just a fear of not existing? A bit more family would likely mean no chain of coincidences leading to you. Which would be a pity...I should lament it terribly if Cordelia Vorkosigan never came to Barrayar. She's done marvels for the place.

[dendarii]

[ Doesn't Miles know it. A future Barrayar with no Cordelia raising Gregor is ... terrifying. ]

By your own logic, the fact that we haven't disappeared yet means we're in some alternate timeline. I already know damn well what any change means for my existence.

[ At absolute best, other surviving Vorkosigans means an Aral who was never Regent, and a mother who was never poisoned by soltoxin. ]

[vorrutyer]

Hm.

[ A moment, then: ]

A prematurely dead Yuri wouldn't necessarily be...bad for the planet.

[dendarii]

Nor would it be good by default. Probably the end of the Vorbarra line. Definitely another bloody civil war.

[ Trading no Serg for no Gregor is ... not a fair trade. ]

[vorrutyer]

[ Byerly gives a small gesture. ]

Ezar would still exist. Xav.

[dendarii]

[ And if anyone can secure power without seizing it, it's the Vorkosigans, but ... ]

No guarantees in that sort of conflict. That's my point. It's entirely too volatile to risk changing.

[vorrutyer]

[ By's smile is a bit thin. ]

You have turned into a traditionalist in your old age. How does your Progressive father feel about that?

[dendarii]

[ He utterly refuses to rise to that bait. ]

Don't, Byerly. You know I'm right. [ He raises his chin defiantly and looks Byerly dead in the eyes. ] Swear it to me. That no matter what else we tell - what stories we do or do not keep - that we do not tell my grandfather about what Yuri does to his family.

[vorrutyer]

Oh, shall I swear on my name?

[dendarii]

Swear it on your loyalty to our planet too. That way I'll have at least one oath that means something.

[vorrutyer]

[ His lips thin. Score one - a slight one - to Vorkosigan. For once, he doesn't bother to camouflage; given the current circumstances, he knows he won't be able to get away with pretending he does his job for financial reasons. ]

Or what? What are the consequences if I withhold this oath?

[dendarii]

[ No way in hell. Not with the arguments they've had just now. ]

You're going to find me much more difficult to work with, for starters. But more importantly - you know it's going to destabilize Barrayar if we do tell him. If you really care about our planet, you'll swear it.

[vorrutyer]

A bit of directed chaos isn't always a bad thing.