έξι

[oikoumene.livejournal.com]

{Conveniently close to the bar, a circle of marble floor has appeared, with several pillowed couches arranged around a point, though what that point is hasn't be brought with him. The couches are generally meant for two people, but Rider is such a huge guy that he takes up the whole thing. There's a large vase full of wine towards the center of the circle, and several pitchers around it. Well-read members of the plane would recognize the set-up as a Symposium.

Rider holds up his kylix, speaking to anyone that may be on the Plane}

Libations have been offered, and a hymn sung for the green shoot Demeter, and now I am ready to drink! But what is a Symposium when you drink alone? I have brought the finest wine in Brucheum.

Today we speak of tales of life and tales of death! I have fought my battle in the War and lost it honorably, but the Plane did not let me go! But now I have returned to the Throne of Heroes, with my own Alexandria taking place of the void.

So come, come, my friends, and drink! There is enough wine for everyone! Hou, and I imagine some of you will find Greek wine a bit stronger than you expect!

Comments

[bit_impossible]

From Brucheum, really? I haven't been there in ages! [takes a seat on a nearby couch, putting his feet because, well, he can] But even Grecian wine isn't enough to knock me off my feet. I'm a bit of a heavyweight there and--

--Hold on. [an eyebrow is already raised on his forehead as he glances at Rider] You were fighting a battle, presumably died from the sounds of it, and yet the Plane still brought you back? I thought that sort of thing could only happen while you're on the Plane.

[oikoumene.livejournal.com]

{He laughs with a grin}

And I thought the same, my friend! But luckily I am in the favor of the Plane, or perhaps it is simply a misunderstanding on our part. Either way! I give thanks to them, for the new home I have is an interesting one! I have already dined with Vlad Tepes, if you are familiar with him.

[oliverplus]

[for once his knowledge of ancient history is coming in handy!]

An actual Symposium, really? Can anybody join?

[oikoumene.livejournal.com]

Of course! I will even allow women, since I should think something of modern times, as unorthodox as it is.

[oliverplus]

[snorts] No need to worry about that yet! [has a seat on one of the couches] So...you said you're celebrating losing a battle?

[oikoumene.livejournal.com]

I am indeed! I fought a fine one against a fellow king, and we waged it fairly. It is the course of the War, and he bested me. It is to be celebrated! No one could do it in my lifetime!

[oliverplus]

[blinks] In your lifetime? You don't mean...

[oikoumene.livejournal.com]

I mean when I lived as Alexander III of Macedon instead of using the alias of Rider! It is a complex thing, to be a Servant, but the basic explanation is that I pledged my soul to protect the World, and it allows me to be summoned by accomplished magi to fight in a war to seize the Holy Grail.

[oliverplus]

[gapes] Whoa, wait wait wait! You're Alexander the Great!? I'm sitting at a real Symposium with Alexander the Great!?

[oikoumene.livejournal.com]

{Grins} Indeed you are, my friend! I do not boast my title, but it is a pleasure nonetheless to see how well known I am, even long past my mortal life.

[oliverplus]

Oh, your name lives on, all right! Wow. [shakes his head in disbelief]

But...you're dead already? I mean, from your perspective? You're still here,. How does that work?

[oikoumene.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I suppose I can try to explain it. You must note, I was no magus in my lifetime. Even now, I have less aptitude with magic than most other Servants. But when I was conquering the world, I fell ill and died. But upon my death, I became a Heroic Spirit, who serves the World. And that is what you see now! I am no more than a spirit, but the Plane has seen fit to provide me with the energy I need to sustain a physical form.

[oliverplus]

So you're like...a friendly ghost? [just barely resists making a Casper reference. he needs to show a bit of respect to Alexander the Great, after all!] But solid? [reaches out, then hesitates] Can I shake your hand? [he's geeking out just a bit at the moment]

[oikoumene.livejournal.com]

A bit more than a ghost! I have heard it explained as Heroic Spirits are somewhere between ghosts and Gods.

{He takes Oliver's hand firmly, giving it a vigorous shake--Alexander's a big dude, after all} Of course!

[oliverplus]

From you, I just might believe that!

[is slightly shaken by that shake. whoa! but he's still grinning] Nice to meet you, Alex! Or...you said it's Rider, right? I'm Oliver.

[oikoumene.livejournal.com]

Alexander or Rider, my friend! You may call me King as well, since I have taken this place as a territory that I now own.

{He withdraws his hand, leaning again against the couch and taking some more wine}

But I care little! Titles are only a formality.

[oliverplus]

This place? You mean the Plane?

Oh hey, wait! I read something about that in Irving's brochure. This is your kingdom now, huh? [helps himself to some wine, too. he didn't come here just for the conversation, after all]

[oikoumene.livejournal.com]

Of course! I met no objections, so I might as well take it as my own. Though, we have some interesting other people in power here, eh? That king and his charlatan, they were interesting fellows! Well enough, though their sport is not to my taste.

Well, not their sport, as they informed me, but a concern nonetheless.

[oliverplus]

[frowns] No, that had nothing to do with them, really--only the people above them. But they're gone now! They're in some other multi-verse.

[oikoumene.livejournal.com]

Ahh, what a shame! I would have liked to invite them as well and wish them the best.

[oliverplus]

Yeah, me too... [he misses them a little] But hey, this way, the people who were manipulating them can't touch them, and we were able to stop the matches, so it's all for the best, really!

[oikoumene.livejournal.com]

I suppose! I shall miss their banter, however.

So, my friend, you know of me, but I do not know of you! What is your name?

[ex_fatalist246]

[Satoshi opts to focus on this aspect of Plane functionality instead of on the booze and how very loud Rider is.] Then you're free of your purpose.

[oikoumene.livejournal.com]

Not entirely! I could easily be summoned again.

[bit_impossible]

[makes a slight face] I am with my reality's version of Vlad. Nearly married an old companion of mine, once. [amongst other things that happened during that particular adventure.]

The Plane does seem to be a bit hot and cold when it comes to being merciful or not. Between the experiments, the deathmatches, the random Easter eggs and now your symposium, it's difficult to tell just what it wants.