010 - video

[blackbladebitch]

[This goes up on Monday, before Sylvanas goes after Elric. It's gloriously public, because this is Elric's way of saying "publish and be damned, Ardent". Elric looks like he's in a good mood. An alarmingly good mood. Because he's in that cheerfully nihilist state of mind where he just doesn't care anymore.]

I have promised to Ardent and to Neil Howie a full accounting of what passed with our librarian dwarf. And so here follows the accounting. I expect that afterwards the wardens may petition for my demotion [unspoken: as they have for others recently], or ask that I be cast off at the nearest port of call, or that my sword be destroyed. I submit myself to your [massive irony] keen judgement and discerning tempers without complaint. [Read: I don't give a fuck what you think.]

That I am in possession of an enchanted blade called Stormbringer is known to some of you. Well—now it is known to all of you. It was a blade forged by Chaos in aeons long past in my own world, and it is my saviour and my curse. I have been able to survive without it here on the Barge, but many and long have been the years where I came to rely on Stormbringer for my strength—Stormbringer, and the souls that it drank.

Aye, Stormbringer is the blade that brought me the sobriquet "Stealer of Souls" in my native world. It accompanied me here to the Barge, though I thought it lost, and I have kept it secured by means magical and mundane in my cabin.

But when I heard that Narvin was missing and learned that Ardent might be responsible, I took Stormbringer up again, for I feared that Ardent might have magical means of protecting himself, brought from his own native world—we had spoken once of a metal called octiron, and I thought he might have at last found a means of shaping it into something dangerous. And as ill-luck would have it, I slew Ardent in attempting to subdue him, and Stormbringer drank his soul.

And that is why he woke from death as a mindless body. I restored his soul to him while the good doctor Svetlana watched, and I have expressed my regret time and again for what I have done, though he does not accept it. Consider this public statement as abject an apology as I may muster, and wardens, I ask you all to do as you will.

Be warned, however: I have tried to destroy Stormbringer. I have tried to cast it away. But it is indestructible and whenever I have cast it from me, it has always returned. None but the Lords of Chaos themselves may destroy it, I think, though I should like to see you try.

[He grins terribly at the camera. NO HE'S NOT DONE YET.]

Now, having said that—in the week since Ardent's death, there have been three attempts on my life—one by Drake Stone, one by Omega, and one by some boy who kept shouting about proving himself. I shall second Omega's entreaty: whoever is behind this [ARDENT], face me yourself, coward! Send not these unwilling puppets into my path, for I do not wish to harm them. I have had enough of this.

Aye, I begin to think I have had enough of the Barge in general.

[He sneers a little, and shuts the camera off.]

Comments

[gloriesinchaos.livejournal.com]

Oh, you poor baby.

[blackbladebitch.livejournal.com]

I need neither thy pity nor thy pretence of pity, my lady.

[gloriesinchaos.livejournal.com]

Of course you don't. So to be certain I have this clear in my mind, your pathetic dependence on medicines acts a replacement for your dependence on mortal souls? I had no idea you had such depths, Elric.

[bigbad]

As much as stealing souls rubs me the wrong way in a bunch of different ways, no one's been prosecuted for killing in defence of self or others here, as far as I know. I don't think anyone would threaten to demote you, though I'm all for destroying that bloody sword before someone else gets hurt.

Why were people attacking you?

[blackbladebitch.livejournal.com]

The boy seemed to think it would prove himself. Omega felt compelled for reasons he understood not, as did Drake.

You are welcome to try destroying Stormbringer. Should you undertake the task, I can only wish you luck.

[bigbad]

Think it's got to do with Buffy's symbol thing?

I'm not going anywhere near that thing. You don't want to see me without a soul.

[rass-bestie.livejournal.com]

[Annoyed.] Kindly do not call me a puppet. [Particularly where Rassilon can see.]

[blackbladebitch.livejournal.com]

How would you describe what happened to you, then?

[rass-bestie.livejournal.com]

Considering I didn't even try to kill you, I would describe it as 'got annoyed'.

[shortsghtedlove.livejournal.com]

[Too late, Omega.] Do not talk about Omega that way. [Or I will kill you. He doesn't say that, but his tone makes it clear.] And you mean to say that someone [fuck you, Ardent] may have tried to manipulate him into attacking you? [Not happy. At all. Boyfriend, why do I not know of this yet :|]

[blackbladebitch.livejournal.com]

[Elric eyerolls in your general direction. Subtly.]

I do not think he was compelled against me of his own will.

[shortsghtedlove.livejournal.com]

[Rassilon growls. Both at the eyerolling -- he notices those things! Don't mock him! And the idea that someone tried to muck around with Omega's mind.] What did he do?

[most_feared]

And this is why I hate voting.

Do we still have the box that Frostmourne was in? If anything, maybe you can put it in there. Anything else I see as self defense as you were warned the subject was armed and he had lethal intent, as well as a hostage that he was torturing and disfiguring.

[blackbladebitch.livejournal.com]

Ardent's octiron came from the metal of the box in which Frostmourne was kept. My own enchantments and locks are sound, although I suppose I would welcome the work of another.

[allusionsahoy]

It's Marco and I'm not a boy.

[blackbladebitch.livejournal.com]

I beg your pardon, then.

[kingfor-aday.livejournal.com]

I...

[Howie's actually rendered speechless by this, his objection is that strong.

Until...]

Did you have no other sword? [Trying not to sound quite so astounded here.]

[blackbladebitch.livejournal.com]

Not one that is sound against magic.

[flashy-magic.livejournal.com]

You have a sword that drinks souls? That's brilliant!

...can I see it?

[blackbladebitch.livejournal.com]

No.

[timesbureaucrat]

I believe I have an explanation for the attempts on your life. I'll explain it to all the wardens shortly. [In this post]

Furthermore, I wish to publicly state that since the assault was on my inmate, a person who is my responsibility, any punishment should be discussed between you and me, and it is not a matter for the Barge population at large.

Now, if your sword had stolen a warden's soul, that would be different. But as the situation stands, it would be wholly inconsistent with all Barge precedence for the whole warden population to get involved in a matter of one warden killing one inmate in self defence.

[This is Narvin, desperately trying to re-establish a sense of control and authority after having it all taken away by Ardent's mutilation of him.]

[blackbladebitch.livejournal.com]

I see. That is most enlightening.

[Private]
Forgive me for taking this to a public arena, but your inmate was threatening me with blackmail. I wished to show him that there was no point in such a course.

[darknessb4me]

[Video, so you can have Arthas just staring, hunched over the table like he's going to reach through the camera and choke someone.]

What.

Private

[blackbladebitch.livejournal.com]

Yes, Arthas?

[He has a hunch this won't go well.]

[flashy-magic.livejournal.com]

Arthas! I've been looking for you!

[Private]

I heard you got hurt.