03 - Video

[alternia_strength]

[For once, the fact that Equius is sweating has little to do with his ... proclivities. He is seated in the midst of discarded paper, charcoal and an assortment of water bottles, simple tools and individual parts. There are several towels draped everywhere around the room, some neatly folded and others draped everywhere. one is draped over his shoulder and he uses it to mop his brow while panting. A composite bow of considerably greater quality sits beside him, well tended and cared for, the gift of the gods for a request at a dead god's shrine.

The young troll has been, off again and on again, obsessively using his powers. It has become almost compulsive lately, as if he's trying to make himself useful on some level. Perhaps he's compensating for something.]

The lack of technological advancement within these halls is inexcusably deplorable. Not a proper archery brigade to speak of, and simply a few skilled in the arts of true warfare. There is not a single robotics laboratory or shop worthy of mentioning, and the acquisition of these parts would require an almost inexpressibly infuriating.

If I must remain in this world until the days of its end, and accomplish nothing else, it will be the creation of some proper level of technological marvel, even if I must use their powers to concoct it.

I am informed that there are licenses for vehicular transportation. Where such as these crude articles exist, certainly there must be maintenance. Who would I speak to about employment? If I am to fulfill this, I cannot permit myself to grow rusty waiting on sufficient control over these powers.

Comments

[alternia_strength]

Establish the call. I wish to gather the archers, but if you can find more as yourself, such a force would be worthy of note as well. Speed and mobility are as important as precision, so long as both carry enough strength.

[Someone was a little strength-obsessed and martially focused.]

[getinthechariot]

Indeed it is! Although we would need quite a few more horses here than what we have!

Do we have more mounts here?

[alternia_strength]

I cannot speak to their quality, as they are not like the hoofbeasts of my homeworld, but there are some in the area I am almost certain.

[getinthechariot]

Good, good! Find them for me, and I shall teach the soldiers here how to ride them!

[alternia_strength]

...
...

Is... is that an order, human?

[Danger, Will Robinson!]

[getinthechariot]

Certainly it is!

[Danger is Rider's middle name! Danger, and 'the']

[alternia_strength]

[And suddenly he started looking very nervous, a sweat breaking out as he dabbed his forehead with a towel. it, however, was too damp. Casting it aside, he took a wadded up piece of paper and drew on it to create a hand towel.]

Th...that is horrifically inappropriate of you. I am nobility, and cannot be seen accepting the commands of something with such a shade of red in their blood.

...

Why, to do so would be a scandal. You are trying to corrupt me!

[getinthechariot]

Nobility, are you? Then it is not a scandal at all, for I am a king! Iskander, King of Conquerors!

[alternia_strength]

But how can the nobility of the world-spanning glory of the Alternian Empire bow before the mere plebian lords of a single world? No, no no, the scandal of this would be unbearable.

...

You must order me again.

[getinthechariot]

Fret not, for as soon as I find a way, I shall even conquer the stars themselves!

If you should like me to order you, all you need do is pledge your service to my army!

[alternia_strength]

[There was no verbal response that came from the troll. His eyes bulged and he mopped at his brow, about to say something. Then he seemed almost enraged at his own thoughts and began bashing in one of the empty water bottles with his fists and then... he just stood there, panting and mopping his brow.]

I confess... I believe that might be a bit too much scandal for me as of yet... perhaps.

[getinthechariot]

And why would that be scandalous?

[alternia_strength]

You are not my royalty of course! That should be blatantly obvious! I have royalty and nobility, and they are even found among the ranks of this place!

[getinthechariot]

Well, and so! I have never cared much for the royal status of others! All that matters in this world is ambition and greed!

[alternia_strength]

But you must be exceedingly concerned of the purity of the bloodlines of your underlings. If they are not properly aligned how can the rigid social structure needed for an ordered society be achieved?

[getinthechariot]

Blood is not how I decide upon my companions! Any who wish to fight and possess the courage and ability may stand beside me! I find those far more important than the family to which one was born!

[alternia_strength]

Oh wait, that's right. All of you humans have the same color of blood, so you use some other methods that make little sense to determine your pecking orders, and your blood does not express itself in your instinctual behavior either.

[getinthechariot]

I was under the impression that you meant "heritage" by blood, not blood of a different color.

What method is better to determine one's usefulness in battle than one's actual ability to be useful in battle? Just because one is the son of a king does not mean he does not have to prove himself capable.

[alternia_strength]

No, no, actual differences in blood and biology. Our color actually expresses how much our battle rage consumes us, and how violent, deadly and powerful we are, along with several other things. The Jade blooded, for example, are the only ones that can survive our sun with ease.

Ours is a diverse race.

[getinthechariot]

Interesting. A race like that might be considered gods in my time. Although now I believe you would be classified as extraterrestrials?

[he's seen video games, man]

So your blood color determines how effective you are as soldiers?

[alternia_strength]

Yes, I believe extraterrestrials would be accurate, if terrestrial is to refer to the global sphere from which your species hails. Our blood, though, determines many things. Social strata, the potency of our rage, the power of our ferocity, though it is not exactly so much a straight line upwards.

The rage of the Bard, and of all Highbloods is something to behold, but I am the most physically powerful of all my fellow trolls.

[getinthechariot]

In that case, I shall have to judge each one individually, shall I not?

[alternia_strength]

For the most part, yes. There are things you may assume, but for the most part you are correct. We usually wear our colors prominently, however, so it should not be impossible to tell.

[getinthechariot]

So do all those with the same color share the same abilities? Or are they different amongst themselves?

[alternia_strength]

Skills, no. Physical properties, yes. Admittedly, some of us are far more obsessive about training up said properties than others. I am a firm believer in regular, constant and thorough strength training, naturally.