[ Some time after receiving Cecelia's letter, she'll have received a summons to the castle throne room to stand before Arthur. He sits upon the throne when she enters, as a king is wont to do, and waits for the proper greetings to take place. Cecelia is announced to him, and he is announced to her, then he speaks. ]
I understand, Miss Ardenbury, that you and many of your peers are not able to trust that we need your assistance for what it is we seek. In turn, I hope that you understand that if we are to eventually accomplish a solution, we cannot spend all our time proving our plight to every new arrival and every ounce of proof we offer will in turn be questioned by skeptics save for one.
[ His voice does not sound as if he is intent on turning her down, however. It would have been unnecessary to summon her if there was no intention to show her, after all. ]
Which is why I would instead enlist your assistance in exchange for doing so. Will you hear me out?
Of course, your Highness. If it is within my means.
[she didn't expect this to be free. though she wonders how many have actually gotten this far in asking for proof... eh. doesn't matter now that she's so close, does it?
being amenable matters more now than it did at the onset, and so she means to be, her expression level and her eyes fixed as she waits to hear his offer.]
[ Cecelia is the first one to directly ask for it like this, actually, though there have been plenty of people who complained about trust. This is why he thinks that this is a good task to bestow upon her. She has the strength to seek out information where she needs it and the confidence to lead others from first impressions. ]
It will be within your means. Morganna has agreed to take an ambassador for the otherworlders to the End of the World and provide you with an armlet totem that can take you to and from the Camelot totem. It is possible to view the frozen calamity from there, but it is not a trip we can make for every newcomer. Should you choose to accept it, we will charge you with taking your peers to see it with their own eyes when they need proof. We have three of these armlets, so you may choose two others you trust to support this mission. If you choose not to, then I will take your recommendations for someone who would go in your stead.
[ But it's certainly an opportunity he wants to trust the otherworlders with- they are much more likely to believe peers, and seeing is believing for the rest. ]
Cecelia lifts her chin a bit higher to stave off the want to sigh with relief. now this is more her wheelhouse -- far better than ambling around waiting for nonsense to befall her.
two others, hm...? that will take more consideration. but this part? for herself? ha:] I accept. Will these armlets expire, the way other totems appear to?
thanks so much for your patience! we're working on getting back on top of things!
[ Arthur gestures toward someone standing on the sidelines, who carries a chest up to him. It's wooden, artfully crafted by hand, but it does look new. ]
Morganna said these will work whenever you want, but only to and from the End of the World. It is surrounded by the Perilous Desert, so you shouldn't stray. It is so named for a reason. The End itself should be safe, so long as you take care not to step off.
[Cecelia's gaze flicks over in the direction the king gestures, giving the chest a careful look, as if doing so would let her glean more from it than looks alone. her attention darts back at mention of the "end," and after a thoughtful beat, her chin lifts slightly as she speaks:]
If I may confirm: In exchange for this proof of the calamity, I will accept the title of Ambassador, and see to it that two others are likewise assigned? And from there it will be the responsibility of the three to share this sight with fellow doubters.
[ The person holding the box finally unlatches it, revealing three bracelets composed of unrefined gemstones, lined in silks to keep them from rattling in the chest. They each have natural variations, of course, as they are all handcrafted and enchanted by Morganna.
*Notes for your reference: They seem to be normally decorated, but when activated, will glow faintly before catching fire with purple flames. The flames will not be hot, but it may be slightly scary, as they will consume the wearer and whoever is touching the wearer. Arthur is not a mage himself, so he doesn't know these details, simply the instructions he has been given for them. ]
[she peers at them, keeping her hands to herself; best to not jump the gun and reach out too eagerly and shake any good faith she may be bargaining with here.
after a thoughtful beat:] Well, here's hoping I can guess well, too. My assumption is that transporting others to and from the edge involves some kind of physical contact? [looking back to Arthur:] Are there time limits or bodily strains I should be wary of? I assure you need only instruct me once and I'll remember.
You need merely wear them and have those you wish to take with you hold onto you and not let go. You should focus your magic on the bracelet to activate it. Regardless of your discipline, it should register the magical energy more than what your specific talents are and utilize that.
[ Again, this is to his understanding. Arthur himself is no magician. ]
It is only a device to travel, it is not maintaining any spells. [ No illusions, no projecting. It's a physical relocation, which perhaps should prove it to be all the more real, as she asked. ] It would be much easier to show pictures, but Merlin informs me that something called "Photoshop" brings those into doubt often now. In my day, we simply had to rely on faith that our mission was true until we reached its precipice, so I hope seeing for yourself will suffice.
[actually, that previous thought about notes after the fact? no: we're doing this live. as Cecelia listens, she begins to fish around for her dress' pocket and procure her journal and quill, quickly flipping to a blank-enough page and scrawling down shorthand of his words -- something she can do without breaking much eye contact and assure him she's listening.]
Indeed, as do I. My reservations are not a reflection on your character, mind, but only that...well. I've seen calamities before, Highness. I've had a hand in their reversals. Doing so again will need more than just a man's good-faith word to run with.
That said... [her eyes flicker down to her notes for a moment. then, with an eyebrow arched:] "Perilous Desert"...?
Faith is not easy, especially when it is in strangers. Camelot had its faith in me as only the one true king could pull the sword from its stone to begin with. That sword should have remained buried with me, not used for this. If anything, I understand too well why you may need proof. That is why I aim to provide what I can.
[ It's a tough situation in general, since it isn't as if he's immortal or was around for the sword being lost in the first place-- he was slain and brought to Avalon to rest until his time came again. But he can see why his own weapon being used to cause this is a huge reason not to put faith in him, even if he wishes that weren't the case and were it in his power to do so, he wouldn't have let it happen to begin with. ]
Indeed. It is very honestly named. There are few who make it back, and their tales are typically filled with fallen comrades, to thirst, exhaustion, weather, monsters, magic, and even the sands themselves swallowing victims whole.
I do not know he specifics, but there are security measures to be aware of in the case of attempted damage to the environment. So long as you or your guests do not attempt to destroy anything, there shouldn't be a problem. Morganna was vague on the matter.
[ And Arthur wasn't about to intentionally set off security measures without knowing what they were.. ]
You have my gratitude, Ambassador Ardenbury. If you see any troubles in your task, seek me out again and we will see what we can do to ease the process.
[ ...Though he can't really account for troublemakers from other worlds, sorry. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
action; end of March
I understand, Miss Ardenbury, that you and many of your peers are not able to trust that we need your assistance for what it is we seek. In turn, I hope that you understand that if we are to eventually accomplish a solution, we cannot spend all our time proving our plight to every new arrival and every ounce of proof we offer will in turn be questioned by skeptics save for one.
[ His voice does not sound as if he is intent on turning her down, however. It would have been unnecessary to summon her if there was no intention to show her, after all. ]
Which is why I would instead enlist your assistance in exchange for doing so. Will you hear me out?
no subject
[she didn't expect this to be free. though she wonders how many have actually gotten this far in asking for proof... eh. doesn't matter now that she's so close, does it?
being amenable matters more now than it did at the onset, and so she means to be, her expression level and her eyes fixed as she waits to hear his offer.]
no subject
It will be within your means. Morganna has agreed to take an ambassador for the otherworlders to the End of the World and provide you with an armlet totem that can take you to and from the Camelot totem. It is possible to view the frozen calamity from there, but it is not a trip we can make for every newcomer. Should you choose to accept it, we will charge you with taking your peers to see it with their own eyes when they need proof. We have three of these armlets, so you may choose two others you trust to support this mission. If you choose not to, then I will take your recommendations for someone who would go in your stead.
[ But it's certainly an opportunity he wants to trust the otherworlders with- they are much more likely to believe peers, and seeing is believing for the rest. ]
no subject
Cecelia lifts her chin a bit higher to stave off the want to sigh with relief. now this is more her wheelhouse -- far better than ambling around waiting for nonsense to befall her.
two others, hm...? that will take more consideration. but this part? for herself? ha:] I accept. Will these armlets expire, the way other totems appear to?
thanks so much for your patience! we're working on getting back on top of things!
[ Arthur gestures toward someone standing on the sidelines, who carries a chest up to him. It's wooden, artfully crafted by hand, but it does look new. ]
Morganna said these will work whenever you want, but only to and from the End of the World. It is surrounded by the Perilous Desert, so you shouldn't stray. It is so named for a reason. The End itself should be safe, so long as you take care not to step off.
no worries c:
If I may confirm: In exchange for this proof of the calamity, I will accept the title of Ambassador, and see to it that two others are likewise assigned? And from there it will be the responsibility of the three to share this sight with fellow doubters.
no subject
[ The person holding the box finally unlatches it, revealing three bracelets composed of unrefined gemstones, lined in silks to keep them from rattling in the chest. They each have natural variations, of course, as they are all handcrafted and enchanted by Morganna.
*Notes for your reference: They seem to be normally decorated, but when activated, will glow faintly before catching fire with purple flames. The flames will not be hot, but it may be slightly scary, as they will consume the wearer and whoever is touching the wearer. Arthur is not a mage himself, so he doesn't know these details, simply the instructions he has been given for them. ]
no subject
after a thoughtful beat:] Well, here's hoping I can guess well, too. My assumption is that transporting others to and from the edge involves some kind of physical contact? [looking back to Arthur:] Are there time limits or bodily strains I should be wary of? I assure you need only instruct me once and I'll remember.
[and take copious notes after the fact.]
no subject
[ Again, this is to his understanding. Arthur himself is no magician. ]
It is only a device to travel, it is not maintaining any spells. [ No illusions, no projecting. It's a physical relocation, which perhaps should prove it to be all the more real, as she asked. ] It would be much easier to show pictures, but Merlin informs me that something called "Photoshop" brings those into doubt often now. In my day, we simply had to rely on faith that our mission was true until we reached its precipice, so I hope seeing for yourself will suffice.
no subject
Indeed, as do I. My reservations are not a reflection on your character, mind, but only that...well. I've seen calamities before, Highness. I've had a hand in their reversals. Doing so again will need more than just a man's good-faith word to run with.
That said... [her eyes flicker down to her notes for a moment. then, with an eyebrow arched:] "Perilous Desert"...?
no subject
[ It's a tough situation in general, since it isn't as if he's immortal or was around for the sword being lost in the first place-- he was slain and brought to Avalon to rest until his time came again. But he can see why his own weapon being used to cause this is a huge reason not to put faith in him, even if he wishes that weren't the case and were it in his power to do so, he wouldn't have let it happen to begin with. ]
Indeed. It is very honestly named. There are few who make it back, and their tales are typically filled with fallen comrades, to thirst, exhaustion, weather, monsters, magic, and even the sands themselves swallowing victims whole.
no subject
the note-taking ceases, and she lifts her chin up a bit higher.]
Very well. I understand. Are there any other hazards I should be aware of before I bear witness to this place?
no subject
[ And Arthur wasn't about to intentionally set off security measures without knowing what they were.. ]
no subject
perhaps that's her play.
in any case:] I understand, Highness, and I am willing to accept this task.
no subject
[ ...Though he can't really account for troublemakers from other worlds, sorry. ]
Fare well.