test drive meme

[barrayarmods]

Playlists by tsarcasm:
Barrayar ⚔ Cetaganda ⚔ The Invasion

Have you read the FAQ?

The Village ⚔ The Barrayaran Camp ⚔ The Cetagandan Base ⚔ The Fight

You've been on Barrayar for a while now, and you're finally starting to adjust. Or maybe you're not. Maybe this is all still too much for you – the attacks, the constant raids, living in the middle of a war zone by no choice of your own. But if you want to live long enough to make it back home one day, you might as well do what you can to help the war effort. Besides, where else are you going to go?

The fierce Barrayaran winter rages even to the southern end of the continent, and it's been none too kind to Vorkosigan's District. Temperatures at sea level are well below freezing, and up in the mountains, it's even colder. Several inches of snow already blanket most of the mountains all the way down to the Cetagandan base, and the storm that's just started up is only bringing more down. Visibility is low in the flurries, wind swirling snow everywhere, and God help you if you get lost on your own out in the storm. Nights are cold, these days.

A recent attack on the Cetagandan base has left half their facilities damaged and in disarray. Raid parties snuck in by night, planting bombs in previously scouted locations for maximum effect. Damage to the base's water treatment plant and organic grow labs have considerably impacted the Cetagandans' food and water supply, and in the chaos caused by the explosions, the Barrayaran guerrillas raided their medbay and made off with a considerable bounty of medical supplies. One man's bane is another man's boon, and while the Cetagandans have reserve supplies to sustain them for now, some of the damage is extensive and the repairs will take time. But in the meantime, the Barrayarans have scored a precious victory as well as equally precious resources.



the village
The Riverfall villagers are used to the harsh winters of the Dendarii mountains, and though they don't have much themselves, they are happy to offer what they can in terms of cold-weather clothing and extra blankets to those allied with the guerrillas. Despite the cold, the hill children are going wild in the snow, and they may try to lure you into their play by sneakily pelting you with snowballs.

Cetagandan allies, however, may not be met so warmly, and at the first sight of ghem soldiers, any children out playing in the snow will be immediately ushered into their homes. Unaccompanied outsiders from the Cetagandan base might have an easier time talking to the hillfolk, but any attempt at digging information about the guerrillas out of them will get you stonewalled fast. A sneaky hill child or two may steal away from their home to approach one of the "bad guy" outsiders to sate their curiosity.



the barrayaran camp
Morale is higher than it has been in a while after their recent victory, and the guerrillas are in high spirits. And do they ever love their spirits – as night falls, most of the Barrayarans gathered around the campfires are enjoying the deceptively named, dangerously alcoholic moonshine they call maple mead. It might start out sweet, but it burns all the way down, and a few glasses of that stuff will tank even the heaviest Barrayaran soldier.

But the storm rages on despite their celebration, and preparations must be made. Clearing as much snow off the tents as possible will help ensure that no tents collapse overnight, the horses need to be tended to, and the officers are always running training drills. Food is in real supply now, but the guerrillas need help foraging and hunting nonetheless. And when night falls, you'll have to find a way to keep yourself warm – it's a good thing there are a cozy ten of you to a tent.



the cetagandan base
The Cetagandans outnumber their guerrilla enemies almost seventy-to-one, so their base has not been completely devastated, but it hardly looks to be the work of a few raiding parties. Nothing is beyond repair, but the water treatment plant has been taken offline, which means that all water is now locally sourced and must be treated by hand with purification tablets. No one in the base will starve, but fresh food is mostly unavailable until they get the grow labs back online, which means that meals are mostly comprised of ration bars and MREs. Morale isn't exactly at an all-time low, but none of the ghem officers seem to be in a good mood.

They won't hesitate to put you to work, either. They need all the engineers and laborers they can get for the grow labs and the treatment plant, and the medbay's inventory needs to be thoroughly audited before they can send a request for more supplies. But if you need a break, it's not too hard to slip away for a little quiet downtime. Some of the lower-ranked ghem ladies might let you participate in some more artistic activities, or maybe some of the enlisted soldiers who are a little more used to you by now might invite you into one of their Cetagandan games of strategy. Or, since the treatment plant only affected potable water, you could appreciate your comfortable surroundings and take a nice hot soak in the bathroom while everyone else is working.


the fight
PVP
You're in the midst of a skirmish with the other side -- maybe you signed up for the battle, maybe you just got caught up in the fight -- but at least it's easy to tell who's on what side. Only one side is wielding swords, and the other guns.

But then you come across someone who doesn't look like they're either -- not one of the rugged Barrayarans or the face-painted Cetagandans, but an outsider, an exotic like you. They must be. So do you fight?

RECON
Maybe you're not on the front lines, but there's plenty more to winning the war than just fighting. You're partnered with another outsider on recon; the ground is cold, and you try not to let your shoes crunch too loudly on snow as you scout, scanning for patrols or supply lines.

Or maybe you're with the Cetagandans, hiking it thorugh the mountains with one of your fellow exotics in an attempt to locate the enemy camp. Except it's damned cold, and there's hidden ice everywhere, and everything is starting to really look the same.

--

Feel free to write prompts for your character on either side -- you don't have to choose just one for the TDM! Just label it clearly so folks know. GO WILD, MY FRIENDS

Comments

[dendarii]

[ He keeps his hand there for now, not moving. His tone is strange even in his own ears, like he's hearing it through a tunnel. ]

A medic. Dead now, poor bastard. They had to drain me for cryorevival after a needler killed me.

[ The irony of telling this story to Bothari is not lost on him. Karmic justice, perhaps. ]

[bothari]

[It seemed to ground him, like a current, whatever dark that would have stirred discharging harmlessly into the ground. Bothari just watched Miles shoes.]

And that was the end?

[dendarii]

[ Good. That's progress then, however minor. ]

It was for Admiral Naismith. I ... developed seizures due to the revival. Couldn't continue.

[bothari]

Better have gone back home.

[dendarii]

Of course. No other choice.

[ Miles' voice is soft. In truth, he felt just as lost as Lord Vorkosigan. And now ... He has neither. God, he's more adrift than ever. ]

[bothari]

[That's a satisfied sound from Bothari. Miles needed to go home. Who knows how long he was out there, worrying his mother.

.. and now Miles was here, in the middle of the bloodiest war Barrayar had ever seen. Which is impressive, considering how bloody Barrayarans can GET.

It made everything easier, in a way. Whether this was all real or not, he had a purpose in this storm. It didn't matter how old Miles was now. It didn't matter that his own life had closed at Her hand. They were all details. He lifts his head, not enough to dislodge Miles hand, but to look at his Lord's face.]

No haring off here. Too dangerous.

[dendarii]

[ Miles lets his hand fall at last, drawing it back so that he can look on his old bodyguard's face. He could almost laugh at Bothari's command there, except they both know it's deadly, utterly serious. How strange to be reunited with his shadow here, of all places. Here where he needs it more than ever ...

Perhaps this is karmic justice on multiple levels. ]

We'll need to be careful. I've no intention of causing any time paradoxes. [ A pause; he cocks his head at Bohari's livery. ] You'll have to wear alternate colors here, though. I'm no Vorkosigan in this era.

[bothari]

[Bothari scowls up at Miles. But it's not like that isn't familiar. Their travels to Beta and beyond certainly couldn't have happened wearing browns and silvers. It had only been the last and proper rites that had him back in his rightful colors.]

Fine. [He'll find something that fits, somewhere in the camp.] But you can't stop being a Vorkosigan.

[dendarii]

[ Miles wouldn't strip Bothari of them unless the situation were dire. Which ... this situation definitely is. ]

That's entirely beside the point. My grandfather will kill me if he finds out who I am.

[ Said grimly. He has no illusions about how his grandfather in this era would view a time traveling, mutant grandson. ]

[bothari]

He wont. [That's firm. Level.

But he does, at least, relent where it matters.]

So what's the story? [Laconic as he is, Bothari can pack nuance into words. For one, the ability to make story sound like "nonsense."]

[dendarii]

[ They can come to the crossroads of Miles dying - or not - if and when it becomes a threat. For now, Miles fully intends to head that off at the pass. Starting with the nonsense. ]

I'm Miles Ilyan. A prole who was born in Vorkosigan's district but spent a lot of time in Vorbarr Sultana as well. When I was seventeen, I smuggled myself off-planet to join a mercenary group. Somewhere in here I also was educated on Beta Colony.

[ He considers Bothari a moment. A thought occurring to him. ]

I'd not mentioned a father yet.

[bothari]

[Miles earns one of those slightly incredulous looks at Miles giving the Chief of Imperial Security's last name in the place of his own... but lets it pass.

On the other hand, his eyes narrow at Miles. Bothari may not follow where it's going. But he KNOWS the tempos of an Idea.]

That's wise.

[dendarii]

[ It's Uncle Simon, jeez. And Miles is feeling much more apologetic to him lately, all things considered.

He continues to meander down that path, gathering up more ammunition as he goes. ]

We're going to be in each other's company all the time. Odd for two men who've never met each other. And you certainly can't be known as my armsman here.

[bothari]

[Bothari straightens, face blanking with an odd sort of horror. His mind lept to where... well. Where a military man's mind of his era DID go naturally.]

Bodyguard has been fine before. I'm not playing as some .. some ... lover. [It's spat as an obscene word. It is, on Bothari's lips.]

[dendarii]

[ Oh god. Miles chokes at that suggestion. Nothing against Bothari personally, just - Miles' own preferences distinctly point otherwise, and besides, Bothari practically raised him. ]

No. No, absolutely not. That - wasn't my intention at all. [ Another cough as he clears his throat. ]

[bothari]

[Thank fucking god.]

Then. What.

[dendarii]

[ Miles straightens up, pushing the words past his lips before he can think twice. ]

My father. You could easily pass as my father.

[bothari]

[Bothari doesn't. Know what to do with those words. Those sure are words, with weight, meaning, a role behind them.

He just stares at Miles, a little blank.]

[dendarii]

[ Miles keeps his gaze firm even as he quails inside. Is this a good idea? Has he insulted Bothari? But there's no good way to explain their relationship, even if he does claim the man as a mercenary bodyguard. This ... is complicated too, but ... ]

It's been thirteen years since I've seen you. Fiercely overprotective, because I had relatives who would have killed me if they could. [ All true so far. ] It fits, doesn't it? If you can't be my armsman ...

[bothari]

That...

[Bothari's bass rumble trails off as he thinks it over. Turns it this way and that, examining all of the sides of it. He knew Miles. Knew Miles. Saw him from birth on, was as much the man who raised him as the man who came home two hours a day.

Saw Miles more than he saw Elena (Good. Good, that was proper), the girl who was married off, who wasn't his anymore. She was too beautiful, too good for the likes of him anyway.

Another vision settles in, a woman in hillfolk clothes, grey eyes that see into you and lustrous red hair. Washed his hands and feet with blood and made him clean again. The roll of a head, the cut in her thigh...

A wife. Having a son would mean having a wife.

The little pieces slotted in, taking form, taking the shapes of it's own reality, almost palatable in how much he wanted that. Even if it wasn't real, it could be, for a little while.]

Long as it's a good family. [It was laid out almost as a term of surrender.]

[dendarii]

[ Miles can't see any of that. For the briefest moment, he's unsettled by the expression his longtime bodyguard wears. And it occurs to him that perhaps he doesn't know the other man as completely as he has always assumed ...

But he has no doubt that Bothari can do this. And better yet, he thinks he sees something more than mere assent in Bothari's expression. Good. He wants to make this easier on his armsman, dammit, not harder. ]

Of course. [ Overprotective, maybe, to give him the proper excuse to escape offworld... But even then, all he really needs to blame is Barrayar. And two parents who loved him enough to smuggle him out. ] I couldn't speak badly of Mother, anyway.

[bothari]

[One of Bothari's brows arch.] I wouldn't hear of it.

[Miles is offering it too. This slice, it was his, a coat he could wear for a while. Another gift from Her, through him... He could be this. It wasn't too far from what was. Wasn't far at all.]

Fine. Why thirteen years?

[dendarii]

[ A few details changed, a few titles. But most of the people, the relationships - they can all stay the same. After all, the best lie is the that's mostly truth.

Miles, meanwhile, relaxes a bit. ]

Because that's how long it's been for me in truth. Thirteen years in and out of Dendarii missions. [ He lets himself have a small smile. ] You've missed a hell of a lot.

[bothari]

[There's a rumbling sigh and a grudging look at Miles. He'd expected it to be a whimsy, with Miles cutting and running early, when he'd gotten bored or over his head. (probably the latter.) Sticking with it got a measure of respect.]

Only you could turn a fool's errand into a fool's career.

[dendarii]

[ Miles just grins a bit, taking it as the compliment it really is. ]

Of course. They were the Emperor's Own in the end. And my primary responsibility in ImpSec was attending to their missions.