008 -- video;

[northerner]

[ the device is balanced on robb's knee, with grey wind at his side, circling around out of sight and then back in on robb's other side, all sleek muscle and bulk, a counterpoint to how lean robb's grown, newly shorn hair a riot of curls, despite his attempts to smooth them. eventually, he reaches a hand, brings grey wind to heel, the great wolf settling as robb begins to speak. ]

I'm aware there are greater things to consider than the whims of a king, but I would ask your indulgence in this instance. Things have gone quiet, for the moment, so perhaps this is the best time to pose such a question.

[ there's a rumble from grey wind, a shift and scrape of claws on the metal. robb runs a hand over his head, settles behind the ears. ]

I would hear what was known of skinwalkers and shapechangers, if there are those aboard who would be comforable speaking of such subjects with me. Anything you wish to speak of, even legend and lore. I'd be grateful for it, good people of the Tranquility.

Comments

video ]

[blasphemous]

Skinwalker? That's an ugly way to label something.

video ]

[wolfinthesnow]

Why ugly, if it is the meaning?

[northerner]

I did not write the old stories. They were only told to me when I was a boy. Do you prefer I name them wargs, as they are called in the North.

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[tumbleweeds]

You could've just asked me, you know.

[ She is actually a little offended. ]

[northerner]

[ omg jaye why ]

I wished to hear from anyone who cared to speak of them. The tales of many, rather than just one.

text;

[tg]

wait skinwalker??
you mean like
buffalo bill??

[northerner]

What is a Buffalo Bill?

[ questions robb will regret asking. ]

video;

[impitoyable]

[ she almost looks curious. ] You speak of creatures of magic.

[ it almost sounds testing. ]

[northerner]

Aye, I do. Creatures of magic and men possessed of it.

voice.

[tofindthesun]

I have met Skin-changers and Shape-shifters, and have heard of more in tales before my time. Are they not to be spoken of where you are from?

[northerner]

They are spoken of in Westeros, but only as children's tales. I had never believed them real, until now.

[wolfinthesnow]

Bran will tell you all you wish to know.

[His curls are still gloriously uncut]

[northerner]

[ you look like a wildling lord commander!! ]

Aye, I imagine he would. But I would hear the tales the ship has to offer. Perhaps they have heard something we have not.

video;

[gilding]

Legend and lore holds more tales of shapechanging than I'm sure could be conversed about quite so simply. Perhaps if you could be a little more specific in your interest on the matter. It might narrow it down.

[northerner]

I fear that something would be lost in the narrowing of my question, but what provoked my question was men who could walk in the skin of beasts.

[theshabbiestofmen]

I've discussed such things with your brother, but-- in my magic, we have things such as shapechangers. Not precisely the way your lore speaks of it, but we have the ability to become an animal.

[northerner]

How does one go about doing such a thing?

voice;

[justamobster]

Knew one back on Sacrosanct. Called herself an amorph. Could turn into any damn thing she wanted. Was kinda unnervin'.

[ Especially coming from a world with rules about transformation magic. But that's not something he's going to get into. ]

[northerner]

Was she well versed in it? Were such transformations not a struggle for her?

[video]

[wolfdreamer]

There are many here, even if they do not call themselves wargs. I wonder-- if there is something of this ship that brings them.

[Us; he should say it. But he bites it back still, carefully.]

Have you learned very much?

[northerner]

I've learnt more of the ways such things can be abused than I would like. But then, I suppose what I wish to know is not so easily answered.

video.

[mansuetus]

[ A curious question Robb Stark asks and she has to wonder why. For all she knows, he is not one to ask questions for curiosity's sake. Kings have no time to ponder about things. ]

Some cardinals in my Rome would say the entire subject is blasphemous, as it is a thing of magic, Lord Stark. But before there were cardinals and our Holy Mother Church, there were many stories. Ladies who became trees, men who became beasts.

[northerner]

I should have known to ask your first, my lady. You always have a tale to suit any question I might ask.

[andblockbuster]

I'd bring up werewolves, but there's actual werewolves on the ship and I'm pretty sure I'll say something gross and offensive.

[Normally he doesn't care, but... werewolves.]

[northerner]

I've spoken to Professor Lupin about it, some time ago, so you needn't fear. I've heard bits and pieces of information about them.

Video

[birdskullwarrior]

[She doesn't really have any answers, but her curiosity won't let her pass this up.] Skinwalker? What's that?

[northerner]

In my world, they're men who can dream in the skin of beasts. They go by many names, but I thought skinwalker more easily parsed than warg.

video;

[triedtobe]

[ Have a Peter, looking like a Peter sans-scar. ]

By shapechanger, do you mean changing into anything? Or just someone else?

[northerner]

[ oh peter. bro, what happened to you. ]

Is there a great difference? I should think the principle would be the same

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[ripstides]

Why the sudden curiosity?

[ when what he wants to know is what is going to be done with the information. ]

ENCRYPTED; 30%

[northerner]

My brothers and I, we have the gift of being able to dream in our direwolves skins. I fear it has not come easily to me. I'd hoped that there would be a tale of it, to help me understand where I have gone wrong.

( video )

[purrfectlycute]

Shapechangers? Like werebeasts and shadow droppers? Those are just fantasy! The only thing I can think of that would apply to reality are the sprites. Let's see, how to explain this...

[ which is hard to do for someone who doesn't even know what electricity is, let alone the internet and video games. ]

Sprites were a component of the game we played. When a player is setting up and beginning their session, a big ball of light is released from one of the machines in-game. Then you throw something in! An object, a corpse, maybe even something living. This is a purrocess called prototyping. The big bright ball takes on the characteristics of whatever you threw in. Fur example, I threw in the body of my lusus, Pounce, and then it was like she was alive all over again! And she could talk that time around!

[ Nep smiles, remembering the good times with Pouncesprite. ]

You can prototype a sprite more than once. I'm pretty sure that's what Budgiebutt-- er, Davesprite is, beclaws obviously the non-sprite Dave doesn't have wings. Every time you prototype something it takes on the characteristics of the thing you threw in, which can lead to really great or really awful combinations. But most of the sprites I've known have been really great!

They basically serve as guides to the game. They know just about everything about the game and the player's purrsonal quest! Of course they aren't suppawsed to reveal it all at once, so they're more like very nifty helpers.

Not sure if any of this was really what you were looking fur, but since they're an integral part of helping players make a universe, I figure they're good to know about!

[northerner]

[ oh nepeta, you always know just what to say. even if robb has no idea what it is you're saying. ]

Do you think that perhaps, though they were fantasy in your world, that perhaps in another they'd be true and real?

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[starked]

Did you get the answer you wanted?

[northerner]

I have been given many answer, and I am grateful for all. But then I think this may be the sort of question that I can only answer for myself in spite of all this.

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[seared]

[ peter's idly rolling something around and around in his hands as he replies. ]

An interesting question-- may I ask why the curiosity, before I answer?

[northerner]

[ whatchu got there, peter. ]

Can a man not ask after the stories of his youth?

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[stacked]

We talking like, were-whatevers, spirit animals or the whole possession type deal?

[ so this will go wonderfully ]

[northerner]

[ oh god ]

Whichever you have the most ease speaking of.