etraya | un: tristan

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un: tristan | video

[Tristan is hesitant to start, gaze roaming at the semi-transparent overlay before their eyes fix on that signal they were told meant things were working. they stiffen, then smile, almost apologetically.]

Ah-- Good day. I...mean to simply reach out to those I haven't already spoken to before.

[they put a hand over their heart.] I'm called Tristan. [a slight hesitation; no need for the compulsory addition here.] And...I can heal wounds, cure illness, purify food and drink...and light dark places. I want to be as useful as I can to you all, so that we may all find ourselves safely where we wish to be.

I've...already insisted as such to our handler here, yes, but...I do want you all to know that I intend to aid as much as I can. Please rely on me. The traps in those buildings, the poor souls woven in the suits... I, I can help. So I hope you will call upon me to do that. I can...only be worth that trust if I can prove it, no?

[they pause for breath, having forgotten to breathe there for a second, then smile sheepishly.]

I do hope I can...meet more of you. And learn more. So...thank you.

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So...just to clarify...when you say you can purify food and drink, do you mean you can purify food and also purify drink, or you can purify food and you're also really good at drinking?

Because if it's the latter I'd love to have a drinking contest.

Eh...? [blink.

stare.

they look to the side, gears turning for a bit before looking back.]

The magic can remove impurities in both food and in drink. I'm...not really sure if I'm good at drinking. [head tilt.] Do you mean like with tavern fare? Mead and the like?

Yeah! Mead! Ale! Beer! That sort of thing! But that wasn't what you meant, so I guess you would probably not be interested in a drinking contest.

[they open their mouth, close it. a beat, then they hasten to make up for that pause:] If you teach me the rules, I will be willing to try.

Great! They're really easy. We both drink a mug of whatever drink we're drinking, it should be the same thing for fairness, and then once we both finish our mug we let the other know if we want to keep going or quit, and the first person to quit, throw up or pass out loses!

[...

processing...

frown.]

You...want to risk getting ill over this?

It's fine! We can just sleep it off after! It's not like we have any battles we have to fight at the moment, we can just suffer through it!

[...]

Suffer... For fun? [are they being teased and just too naive to pick up on it?]

It sounds weird when you put it like that, but don't people suffer for fun all the time? Like when friends wrestle and bite and claw at each other for fun, or spar for fun, or race each other until their legs are sore for fun.

Ah, they...they do? [they look more embarrassed.] I've known the fighting and such to be for more military reasons. I...suppose children play at such themselves more for fun, but I assumed they were mimicking their elders.

I mean, sure, there's fighting in the military, and I'm sure children are mimicking that, but also, it's fun! You get to see who's stronger and more skilled and it's exciting! Especially if you shift into a wolfman first. Or...I guess you can't do that. But it is more fun that way, trust me!

[he seems so unbothered that it clearly must not be a bother.

thoughtfully:] I suppose...there'd be no knowing unless I were to try, no?

Try...fighting or shifting into a wolfman? Or both? Or...wait, do you mean drinking a lot and throwing up?

[He's confused, but that's his usual state so he's used to it.]

[with a little laugh in their voice:] The contest. I don't have magic to change into animals.

Hi Tristan, I'm Vax. Nice to meet you.

I've encountered a couple other people from my world lately, so do you mind if I ask where you're from?

[ The number of elves in Etraya is small, so he's grasping. ]

[they reflexively brighten at the sight of another elf -- it's rare, okay? -- and smile to match.]

Ah, of course I don't mind. [:)] I don't remember, unfortunately. But I was recovered outside of Traint two years ago, if that helps.

[ Vax was hoping for a friendly smile, and he wasn't disappointed. He doesn't know if Tristan is a full-blooded elf or a half-elf, but not all elves are kind to their half-blood brethren where Vax comes from. ]

Traint? I'm not familiar with it. I did a lot of traveling back home, mostly over Tal'Dorei, but a few places off the continent, as well.

It must've been difficult, were we to be from the same lands, given the artifical suns and penumbral infections. [a pause. their smile gets a little strained.] But I...think I am right in assuming you're not...from there. No?

Doesn't sound like my world, no. Your magic must come in handy back home, though.

You said something about helping with traps and souls? What did you mean?

Edited 2026-04-20 17:24 (UTC)

Mn. [nod.] I've been getting some experience with using magic to detect hidden traps. It...well, I haven't been able to divine everything, but I've been able to discover a fair number of mechanisms gone awry within some of the buildings in Crystal Lake.

For some reason, I can't seem to ever detect the drop-floors...

Gone awry? What do you mean? Was something wrong with them?

[they grow more grave.] Yes. I think...some of the elements meant just for gentle surprises were left overtuned. A machine puppet meant to spring from the wall to surprise me instead...launched bodily at dazzling speed instead.

I knew to duck, at least, thanks to the spell.

Oh, fuck a duck. They can't even get their own amusement park to work correctly. Sometimes, I doubt Echo can save the multiverse when its own inventions can't fix shit around here.

[head tilt.]

Is it...not part of our trials, though? I assumed as much, rather than it being...incompetence.

[they hesitate.]

Have...other circumstances from the past been similarly...[...what...what word do they use. their expression pinches as they struggle on how to phrase.] What I mean is, is it more credible? To believe it is carelessness as opposed to something planned?

Maybe it is, but when you look incompetent all the time, it's hard to believe it's always part of the plan.

[ Faith deteriorates. Not that Vax ever had faith in Echo to begin with, but he's in the minority. ]

[they make a soft, distant sound, thinking.

a beat.]

Would...it be alright to ask you a bit more about that? Of...your own personal view and findings. Of...how long "all the time" means to you. [time with elves is fiddly as fuck as it is, no?]

[ Vax sighs. It's always the same. ]

I don't want to do a history of every mission and why none of them make any fuckin' sense. There are people here who seem to think they can help figure out how to save all our worlds. They're smarter than me, anyway.

And yet, Echo's best idea seems to be to have these same people go on carnival rides and dress up like clowns to make balloon animals.

[they press their lips into a thin line, thinking on this.]

It...reminds me of someone. Someone who...put me and my companions through strange trials.

He said he was mad, that...naturally, no sane person would do as he did, but that...his madness had meaning.

[they hesitate.]

Though...I, I only say as such because...it's all I can think to...relate to all of this. It may not be so similar at all, truly. [they smile ruefully.] It helps to hear your thoughts, though. It's...more than I have, alone.

I've wondered if Echo might be mad.

[ He doesn't think he's the only one to think it, either. ]

Did it have meaning? What you and your friends were put through?

[they hesitate.]

I think so. [...] Rather, I...I hope so. I'd...hate for him to have died for nothing, doing all that.

You feel sorry for him? After he tormented you and your friends?

I...suppose I do, in some way. [their brow creases.] If...that is the right word for it.

He was doing what he could, within the confines of what he was able. Madness...is its own kind of shackle. Coupled with the constraints he and all of us are subject to, it... [their mouth twitches at a corner, quiet a beat, realizing something.]

I hadn't...stopped to reflect on it at the time, given how fast things were moving, but...he really was remarkable. Managing to do what he did. I know he infuriated my cleverer friends, but... He really was trying to reach us at our own levels, even with all the theatrics and dire turns.

[a beat.

they blink, then smile, a shade self-conscious.] I imagine...it doesn't make sense. Thinking and speaking aloud as I am, no? Forgive me.

[Oh hey, it's the person he gave the storybook to.]

Glad to have you here. We've got at least one doctor, but if you ask me we can always use more helpers.

[For injuries and illness, and other things.]

[they brighten, pleased to recognize someone. it's the little things, y'know?]

Someone with more textbook expertise is wonderful to have... Admittedly, I tend to let the magic do much of the work for me, especially when things are moving so quickly. [they tilt their head.] Sometimes, I only think, "I want to help them," and the magic does the rest, you know?

Honestly, that sounds very convenient. I know some basic first aid, but that's it as far as medical knowledge is concerned. Being able to think that I want to help someone and it just happening would be great.

If you've any knack for magic, perhaps it's something I could assist with? [they hesitate.] Though...I'm not sure what skills can be very universal when it comes to magic. My own power seems to be...changing in ways.

Oh, golly, no. I don't have any affinity for magic. But that's okay, I use other abilities to help in different ways. Everyone's got different aptitudes, and I think that's a good thing.

Ah, so...besides your reporting, your skillful storytelling... What else is it you do?

Mostly I just try to help people out. There's no one way to do that. Probably as many ways as there are ways to need help.

Is that why you were picked? Did...she say so? Aurora, that is.

I don't know if that's why. I've never thought to ask, actually. Not about me.

[He does sort of wonder why she brings multiples of the same person but that's not really his business.]

Less...thinking...more doing, yes?

More or less.

[But, remembering a very significant conversation and the events that had followed — ]

At least some thinking is a good idea, though. Maybe I should ask her.

Tristan-

Your offer is appreciated. Truly. Having someone willing to mend wounds and keep the worst of illness at bay is not something I take lightly, especially given the state of things.

There is one point I would like to clarify, if only so I can plan properly. When you say you can purify food and drink, does that extend beyond removing poison and spoilage, or is it limited to that? I ask because I am considering contingencies-stockpiling, rationing, that sort of thing-and it would be useful to know exactly what we can rely on in less… forgiving circumstances.

In any case, your willingness to help is noted, and valued. If you can do even half if what you’ve outlined, you will make a meaningful difference.

Hm...

[they think about it for a minute or so.]

I...don't truly know. I've never experimented with it that much. If you've anything available for me to test, I don't mind.

That’s fair. We can figure it out together.

I’ve got a shop, do custom work and the like. If you’re up for letting me test the limits of it, I’m happy to trade for your time. Something useful, made to suit you.

No pressure. I just like knowing what we’re working with.

Whenever you’re ready, we can sort it out.

[in earnest:] I can be where you need me right away, of course! Though...you'll need to give me direction on where to go.

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