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[oikoumene]

[The feed is at first filled with static and the sounds of the device being knocked around. But eventually, words start to filter through.]

―nteresting. Hou, ――something that he may k―Ah!

[And the person seems to figure it out, so the deep, resonant voice laughs jovially]Aha, here we go! What an odd little thing indeed... I admit, it's taken me

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voice;

[manskirt]

[ there's a fussy little sound, a collection of static and a few bumps and bangs before a cleared throat and a moment of quiet. ]

Well, that's...quite the name. Quite the collection of names, that is.

[ a pause. ]

I come from a charming place known as Darktown. Part of another, equally charming place known as the City of Chains.

[ another pause. ]

I...take it we're not there anymore. I'd like to say it can't get any worse than Darktown, but whenever I say that--it generally does.

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[oikoumene]

Then by names alone, this sounds like quite the improvement! Those two places have quite depressing names-Whoever named them should have been more optimistic! [clearly.]

Ahh, but no, not at all. Asgard seems quite a bit more cheerful than your Darktown, I would guess!

voice;

[manskirt]

...I don't think they were in the best of moods when they came up with the system, no. They should have called it "You Won't Like It Here" and had done with it.

[ there's a slight twist of mirth in his voice, but it's colored by shadows. ] This...'Macedon.' That doesn't sound too awful--unless they were lying about the name when they chose it?

[oikoumene]

[Laughs] Ha, so it should be! But with luck, you will find this new place more hospitable? Other than the odd circumstances, I quite enjoy it myself!

Ah, but Macedon is better, of course, but I speak of it as my homeland. My father told me stories of our country's founding, and the legend says that our country is named for our people. Makednos means 'a tall ones,' so we've always taken it as a compliment that the Greeks would compliment our peoples' strength!

[manskirt]

I can't imagine it wouldn't be more hospitable. Unless those in charge decide to light us on fire and spit on our charred ashes.

[ and...that's what his friends would call not charming. he clears his throat. ]

Not that they do that sort of thing so often where I'm from. They just...wish to do it. Or do things even more horrible. But when you live in the City of Chains, it's bound to happen eventually.

I mean...it sounds...pleasant. Macedon. The Greeks. All of that. Less wailing and gnashing teeth, anyway. Are you very tall, then?

[oikoumene]

[He laughs again. It may not be charming, but it's amusing, at least.]

Ha, without sounding like I'm boasting, it quite was. It's been many, many years since I have set foot in my homeland, but I think I like this place because there's some of the Greek spirit here. There's something about the place that's very much like Olympus itself.

I am indeed, even for my people. I stand at about seven pous... [He pauses, doing the conversion in his head] I think in modern measurement, that's a bit more than 200 centimeters? Something around there.

[manskirt]

Oh, no. You don't sound as though you're boasting at all. [ just a quirk of his lips as he says that--the slightest flash of humor. ] Still, when you have reason to boast, it might not be so terrible--especially if you don't have an official biographer at hand to do it for you.

[ most of what he's saying does sound impossibly foreign. not even rivaini in origin. something tells him it's even farther than seheron. ] I'm afraid I've never heard of this 'Olympus' before, either. But if it's like this, I can only imagine it's sort of...gray all around.

[oikoumene]

[He nods at the humor with a smile. Rider's okay with the occasional hit, especially when he deserves it. But he does chuckle, though mostly at the second statement] In my mortal life, I did, actually! I had a man who followed with my armies for the purpose of recording our adventures and conquests for Greece to hear of, but I believe his works were lost to time. Though! I do know of a Roman a few centuries after my death that did write a biography for me! Some of the details were off, but it was a good effort for not actually knowing me, I believe!

[But... boasting about things like that, that's a little weird. So. Olympus.] Ahh, but no, Olympus is a fantastic place! It is the realm of the gods, so it is a place of impossible beauty and luxury. The finest palace in the world could not compare to Olympus. Or, so the myths say!

[manskirt]

These gods again. When will it ever end? [ a pause. ] ...We don't exactly have many of those where I'm from. Old gods, yes, but not many worship them in the same sense. Fear them, certainly. And hate them. And after that it's just...a lot of statues and a few blighted dragons. Magnificent, certainly, but far more deadly than benevolent. Not to mention the Chantry built to serve the Maker--to serve man and to oppress the mages. [ well, he got a few sentences out before bringing that up. that's personal growth for him, really. ]

...So as you can see, it's really quite different.

[oikoumene]

[Rider listens with interest, head perched on his fist and all] Quite different indeed! But fascinating! Dragons exist where I come from, but they're quite rare, and extremely divine. They are one of the few creatures that I cannot tame and ride!

[being in the rider class is awesome]

[manskirt]

Well, the dragons are rarer now that so many heroes and champions have started actually killing them. And there used to be more--considering they were the old gods. Some things never last, do they?

[ a pause. ]

Just...what exactly do you tame and ride, then?

[oikoumene]

I understand the need, yet it still sounds like a shame for such great beasts to fall! Though, I wouldn't mind fighting one myself... [it would be so awesome]

[But he stops imagining a battle between himself and a dragon to answer with a grin] Well! I can ride anything but divine beasts like dragons! I much prefer my chariot and bulls or my great steed Bucephalus to anything else, however!

[manskirt]

You...have a great steed. [ a pause. ] Yes. I mean...that seems to make sense. You look like the sort to have a great steed--especially one named Bucephalus.

...Are you sure you aren't Orlesian? Some sort of infamous chevalier who enjoys fine wines and even finer cheeses?

[oikoumene]

Well, I have never heard of Orlesians, my friend, so I doubt it! [He laughs] And besides that, while I enjoy fine wines, certainly, I have no taste for cheeses! But any king enjoys a good drink!

[manskirt]

Not a cheese fan? You're right--you're definitely not Orlesian. ...But I've never been fond of cheese, myself. I rather prefer ham. [ how does he get sidetracked like this? ] ...I'm also told I'm difficult to have a conversation with.

[oikoumene]

Have you? Well, I think this conversation is proof that isn't true, eh?

[he laughs] But! I much prefer ham myself! In fact, you have not tasted good ham until you have tasted ham from Persia!