[Video] UN: التاير

[eaglesonofnone]

[The video opens on a blur of colour, the sound a brush of fabric against a microphone.]

--arts to record?

[Another voice chimes in, more distant, less audible, saying, "Yes. It's actually recording now."]

...Ah. Then I have begun this very poorly indeed.

[The image shifts, proving that there had been a finger partially in front of the camera. Even now, a part of the image is obscured by a white sleeve - but Altaïr's face becomes visible, as does Wanda's partially behind him. They're in a room in the town hall, well enough lit by a window, though the sun is starting to go down.]

Greetings to you all. As I know I have not met everyone, I shall introduce myself. I am Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad. I am recording this today as a request for assistance.

I have been patrolling the edges of the village of the nights, alternating with the Iron Bull. After having read the codex of the village's history, I could not in good conscience do anything else. It occurred to me, though, that many of us here in the village are fighters, and while there is hunting to do, and many other things that can use a strong arm, many would be suited to helping the village stay protected.

What I propose is this:

A series of regular patrols, each one around the village's perimeter. Not only to watch for dangers from without, but also the condition of things within - if a home needs repair, for instance, or if an animal has wandered away.

Within this room--

[As he said that, the image swung, his wrist rotating to show the room - and it succeeded in doing so, albeit upside down. It was a meeting room, a table in the middle, chairs gathered around it, the walls bare.]

--I hope to have a map on that far wall. I will seek out slate and chalk that we may make temporary notations on findings such as animal tracks, or missing shingles as well as people claiming what patrol they wish to claim. For now, we will use this wall beside the door.

[Still upsidedown, the image swung again, over to the entrance of the room, where he pointed with his free hand at an empty space beside the door as Wanda tried to edge out of frame.]

I have a bit of charcoal that can be used for writing and the wall can be washed at the end of each week so people can alter their claimed patrols as they wish.

[He looked satisfied when the camera came back to him, confident in his arrangements so far.]

If even one soul adds to the effort, this will have been worthwhile. I am grateful to you all. Safety and peace.

[And at last, the video ends. It ends with a close-up of his fingertip, but it ends.]

Comments

[thekittenqueen]

There was something similar once, when we were in the other village.

[eaglesonofnone]

Is that so, Sayyida? I may have missed the information as I read the codex. Reading in this language is still a challenge for me.

[thekittenqueen]

It wouldn't be written on this. It was set up before we received these...things.

[eaglesonofnone]

We should speak of it, then. One of my great failings is curiosity.

[skyward_eyes]

Well you know you can count on me being there for this, Altair. I... won't be able to bring in the person I thought I would, but I'll be by to check the place out later.

[eaglesonofnone]

I appreciate every hand, Nida. You have my gratitude.

[skyward_eyes]

I thank you for that gratitude but it really isn't necessary. If I'm honest I need to feel productive, so I've got to do this. In touch with your friend Bull now.

Video

[to_defend]

You can count on me, Altaïr.

[Video to show she is excited about this. Video that is a little more centered. ]

[eaglesonofnone]

[She's better at this than he is. When he sees her in the video, though, a quick, small smile comes to him.]

Ah, Bnti, I had no doubts.

[to_defend]

When do we get started?

[She's got the benefit of youth, and focusing on a camera lens is allay second nature considering the dolls eyes had been camera shutters. You wouldn't ignore your friend while tete talking to you.]

[championofsnark]

Brilliant! Sounds good.

[eaglesonofnone]

I thank you, Hawke.

[unraisehell]

I need something that isn't just manual labor, count me in.

[Yep, it's totally just restlessness, not like, some duty to actually help and protect people or anything like that. She's just out of wood jokes.]

[eaglesonofnone]

You have my appreciation, Shabbah.

[She's one he hadn't met before, but now he made a note to speak with her when he had the chance, if nothing else so they would know each other by true sight.]

[rebornpaladin]

I'm in, of course.

[eaglesonofnone]

I am very grateful, Takashi.

Action

[minus1twin]

[Wanda is standing in the background trying her best not to smile. Altaïr has come a long way with technology but watching him struggle and try so hard is amusing. She listens silently, giving him a chance to address everyone.]

You did good. The beginning was a little shaky but I'm impressed.

[She steps forward, her arms crossed over her chest.]

This is a good idea.

[eaglesonofnone]

I hope so.

[He exhaled as he looked around them both. It was a very serviceable room for the purpose - and that, at least, was heartening.] I still wonder if I overstep when I propose something like this. If some will take it as positioning. Through all my years, what I have seen is that there are certain patterns in life. They are not hard and fast, but they come as waves on a beach: never quite predictable in rhythm or size, but there are always waves.

And this pattern... [With one hand rested on the top of the table, he splayed his fingers.] I hope it refrains from repeating itself here as it did in Masyaf.

[minus1twin]

[Wanda closes the distance between them, her arms folded over her chest.]

You're worried? [Maybe she's been here too long but this all feels very normal to her. If it isn't a mental attack against them then it's a physical one. There is no way to cement their defenses against everything.]

What do you have in mind?

private text; UN: Desmond

[moderndayassassin]

A new community to bring under your wing, huh, gramps?

[eaglesonofnone]

A village without walls, where a woman was killed by an unknown beast. A community that deserves to exist without more such deaths.

[moderndayassassin]

Any plan on converting to the cause? Also who died?

un: eden; private

[retributes]

You're Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad.

[ He doesn't know her, and what she knows of him she knows through Desmond. This could come off as an odd message as that's all it contains.]

[eaglesonofnone]

[The name displayed on his screen already made him wary. The repetition of his own name put a cold sort of certainty in him that he could only chase away by reminding himself of Malik's words; certainty was impossible. There was only the suspicion.]

I am, as I've said. And you?

[retributes]

[ The village wasn't all that big. She was bound to bump into him sooner or later, there was no sense in lying about who she was.]

Lucy. My name is Lucy.