[ 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]

Oh, come, there must be one or two who slipped through.

[dendarii]

None. Especially not long term. How long have you been doing this again?

[vorrutyer]

[ He hesitates a moment, not sure if he wants to answer, but...Well, he so rarely gets to be forthcoming about who he is. Every soul, even an informant's, sometimes longs for the lightening that comes with a bit of honesty. ]

Arguable. Over ten years. I took my formal oaths - oh - twelve years ago, now. How time does fly.

[dendarii]

[ That does make Miles blink. He's doing some mental arithmetic ... ]

How old are you now?

[vorrutyer]

What, you don't keep track of my birthdays? I mark yours every year. I'm thirty-three.

[dendarii]

[ Isn't that too old? Wait, Vorrutyer had admitted to being from Miles' future. ]

I'm thirty now. How much further in the future are you?

[vorrutyer]

Ah, sorry. I lied, actually. I haven't the foggiest how old you're supposed to be. And there's just something about you that keeps me one from being able to tell how old you are by your looks. Your face, perhaps...?

[ Byerly, of course, knows precisely how far in the future he is. ]

[dendarii]

[ Yeah, that hit doesn't fly even for a second. Since Byerly won't answer that question, he presses right onto the next one. ]

Who is Etienne Vorsoisson, and why did you test me with him?

[vorrutyer]

[ Byerly lifts his eyebrows, and widens his eyes, and says in a mock-ghastly whisper: ]

A man you murdered, Vorkosigan.

[dendarii]

[ Murder? A Vor? Well - okay, yes, there are some Miles sure wouldn't mind seeing dead, but Vorsoissons of any sort are nowhere near the top of that list. ]

Bullshit. Why would I do such a thing?

[vorrutyer]

That was a joke.

[ He purses his lips and widens his eyes mockingly again. ]

Or was it?

[dendarii]

Just fucking tell me already, Byerly.

[vorrutyer]

I already did tell you. Someone of low humor. Apparently you never met him.

[dendarii]

Not yet, apparently. So who the hell is he?

[vorrutyer]

I was just using him as an example of someone with a certain type of humor. What would I have been testing you on?

[dendarii]

You expected me to react to him. Don't deny it - I've seen that face on far too many people not to recognize it.

[ On every Count who'd complained about certain undesirable physical traits and then stared directly at Miles afterwards. ]

[vorrutyer]

You got me. He becomes your best friend once you surrender to the inevitable and become a useless town clown yourself.

[dendarii]

[ Miles makes such a frustrated noise. ]

Murder is more likely.

[vorrutyer]

You know yourself better than I ever could, m'lord.

[dendarii]

Shut up. If you won't tell me, I'll just figure it out myself.

[vorrutyer]

You and what fast-penta?

[dendarii]

I'll pick some up the next time I'm in the Cetagandan base.

[vorrutyer]

Which you're not going to, because you're too memorable.

[dendarii]

So we're agreed, then. Good.

[vorrutyer]

[ By sighs, rubbing at his eyes. ]

If I were to move over to the Cetagandan side...It wouldn't be easy, you know.