400 Days in Quel'thalas章9
Totalitarian Blues
I lost track of time while I was working in the quarries. Up to that point I counted up to 44 days. In this land, there are no seasons. It's the same weather and balmy temperature year round. Weather is also tightly controlled, don't ask me how, and so you have no way of telling the difference between days. It goes day, night, day, night.
After being pulled from the quarries by the SDFC and sent to work in a family home as their house servant, I began to struggle with a severe case of depression. The active part in me was fighting back, and it was this screaming sense of panic telling me, 'get the fuck out here!' and I began to feel affected by it; and I was afraid the Blood Elves would notice.
I had been living on a hope that eventually I would get out and be able to go back home, and when it hit me, I took it pretty hard. There's no going home. Quel'thalas is your home, and so much as thinking about leaving is an act of treason, even if you're a visitor. The Blood Elves decide if you can go home, and I heard from the undead slaves and the Tavi's that many humans who came here were planning to make a documentary or a magazine article, and they were forced into this soul-destroying reform program, and were eventually killed off and made into undead slaves.
During the weeks I worked at the Dalore home, relatives of theirs came over, and one of them has a human as a pet. Young girl, probably not even 20, had been sent to Quel'thalas as part of a large film crew by a TV station in Kerning City. When the rest of them left and went home, her now-owner had purchased her from the SDFC and they told the kid she was a blood elf's property and would not be going back.
The TV station would have had to pay this ridiculous fee of 500g for the blood elves to let her leave, and they didn't. They just abandoned her.
Over the last few weeks, it became increasingly difficult for me to keep up my façade as a transformed human, and be all happy and giddy when the Tavi'duines get all hyped up over a speech, or a movie, or a game. I had no choice but to fight it and keep it down, because there were at least five times when I could have been killed for moping or not smiling, by the Tavi's. They can sense other's vibes, and if they don't like what they sense, they kill that person.
I slipped into the zombie-like state while at the Dalore home, just keeping my head down and doing the chores and staying out of everyone's way. Then one day when I thought I was going to break, things turned around, surprisingly for the better.
Hero Humans of Quel'thalas! Que'duines onos Quel'thalas!
[Propaganda translation]:"Our Grand Magister, Telkar Sin'scothar, announces to the Sin'dorei that He has received a great revelation from the Sun! The Sun has told him in a dream that the duines from Azeroth are the only ones who can represent Quel'thalas to the aggressor Silver Covenant!
As the Silver Covenant is friends with the inferior Alliance, the Grand Magister foresees that the traitor Sin'dorei of the Silver Covenant will open their minds and hearts and listen to our delegation of Tavi and extranational duines!
Reformed duines who have come to grace of the Sun shall be delivered to Dalaran and nations worldwide to represent Quel'thalas and to bring peace and harmony! If the duines are successful, then they and the Sin'dorei can open trade and friendship between Quel'thalas and other nations. Praise the Sun!"
I heard on the radio that the Sin'scothar government was going to be sending humans outside of Quel'thalas on diplomatic missions. I didn't think much, but all that changed.
One morning, red guards and Tavi's from the SDFC came and knocked on the door. When Mrs. Dalore opened the door, the officers barged in and told her that me I was needed by the government, 'for the vital future of Quel'thalas.'
Mrs. Dalore was jumping up and down over-ecstatic that her own duine that being me was selected for the epic quest she was almost cheering hysterically.
The Tavi's were also cheering and clapping over this new anointment I just got, and were talking over excited. I was excited too, because from what I heard, I would be sent out, and get the chance to get away from these blood elves. I nearly shat my pants over this excitement and had to force it down. Obviously they weren't just going to put us on an air ship, fly us to Dalaran, and tell us to go talk peace, trade, and friendship with the Silver Covenant or whoever.
Daand'elore Aran - Silvermoon City: the Pyongyang of Quel'thals!
Silvermoon City is the national capital. This sprawling megalopolis is much larger than Tokyo, Los Angeles, and New York City combined, and is home to over 41 million blood elves, most of whom are in the elite ranks of Quel'thalas' society and are members of the ruling party that is controlled by the Sin'scothar dynasty. Lower class blood elves are tightly controlled, and herded between home and work by the Red Guards, and kept out of sight. The upper class blood elves even regard their lower counterparts the same way they would with humans- with hatred.
Most of the time, humans are forbidden in this city; you can't even find them in the Riabore Raorel Shaord (Royal Exchange Market) here. We're considered too impure and dirty.
This city is the combined Pyongyang and Jerusalem of Quel'thalas- the epic gem of the nation, and is considered by the entire nation to be a holy sanctified ground. Death knights, inquisitors, blood knights, priests, and the religious zealot component of the military are here running purity checks 24/7. It's even rumored that Telkar Sin'scothar can't escape this conformity.
The road trip was about eight hours long, and being cramped in a hovering crystal car with eight yapping Tavi's isn't exactly fun either, even though they're trying to make things as exciting as possible. The two Blood Elves up front- the driver and a supervisor of the Tave kept snapping at them, saying 'Shut up, you irritating rats!' and things like that, and even threatening to kill us right there in the car.
«There's our great City, Silvermoon!»
«Have you been here before?»
«No, humans are not allowed here, not even us. But can you believe it? The Grand Magister has called us here!»
As we drove through the city, the Tavi's all stared out the windows wide eyed, 'aaahing' and ooohing' at the massive buildings.
. The buildings and spires stretched for hundreds of storeys into the sky. Some of the skyscrapers had as many as 800 floors. The SDFC owned a huge complex right in the middle of the town, not too far from the Royal Exchange. When we went in, we marched in a formal pattern while the blood elves walking by glared at us curiously. We heard the announcement on the radio that the Sin'scothar dynasty was sending us in, and it felt as though they had highest hopes for us to negotiate peace or something like that. Otherwise they would have given us the look of death.
Blood Elf cheerleaders stood at the entrance of the place shouting revolutionary slogans and calling us heroes. Red guards and death knights watched us, ready to kill us if we waved back or something.
We came into this auditorium. On the wall above the stage the huge glittering red flags hung from the ceiling bearing the Blood Elves' coat of arms. We took our seats, and were joined by other privileged extra-nationals and Tavi's from across Quel'thalas.
A Blood Elf named Arnasien walked onto the stage and addressed us. As he talked, a huge screen appeared above him.
Arnasien [Thalassian]: «Attention Tavi'duines and extra-nationals! You have been chosen by the Sin'scothars and blessed by the Sun, because you are recognized for the intense loyalty you show to our country, our ideals, and the Sun! You came to Quel'thalas for the Sun, you endured the retributions placed upon you, and you cleansed yourselves of your old ways and influences. You have shown the strongest faith and loyalty out of all the duines in this country. You have shown more righteous zeal than even a few Sin'dorei! And so, the Grand Magister calls upon you for your help, because he knows you will demonstrate your purity, and faith, and belief in His name! Tavis! Let's clap for the Grand Magister!»
Everyone in the room stands up and claps for a ten minute long standing ovation.
«Now, my human friends, we are moving forward to a brighter, long lasting future. More and more humans are coming to Quel'thalas, and are making the epic endeavor to be as you today, and for all duines, you are earning your place among us. One day, you will be bestowed with the greatest gift from the Sin'dorei and the Sun, and many humans are already receiving it, as they have earned it, and will find their true selves in Quel'thalas.
«In the future, you will all become Sin'dorei! The Sun does not want to see the humans who redeemed themselves denied this reward. But alas, my duines, you are needed in the biggest mission of all. You see, our enemies refuse to negotiate the terms of peace with us, and continue to flex their aggressive demeanor. You know them. The Alliance, the Horde, the Silver Covenant, all of them, traitors to the Sin'dorei, but in these tough times, the Grand Magister wants to forgive them for their aggression and hostility.
«They won't listen to our diplomats and ambassadors. They refuse to hear a word from us, and yet accuse us of doing the same. The Grand Magister feels that in order for them to want to listen, you must go forth and speak with members of the aggressor nations, and convince them we want peace, trade, prosperity, and above all, harmony in Azeroth. Therefore you will go to Dalaran and represent the Sin'dorei! PRAISE BE TO THE SUN!»
When I heard we were going to Dalaran, I almost shat my pants, and then I forgot why I wanted to go back to Dalaran, but hearing that word echo in my brain reminded me of something, and I could feel the adrenalines flowing. I began to feel hope again.
Surfing the Propaganda Wave
[Propaganda translation]: "Today, hundreds of reformed duines anointed by the Sun and summoned by the Grand Magister have arrived in holy Daand'Elore Aran [Silvermoon City], to hear the holy word of our high priest and diplomats of their new calling and diplomatic quest they will carry out on behalf of all Sin'dorei. Have no fear and rejoice! These consecrated duines have been summoned to our holy city; for the Grand Magister Telkar Sin'scothar is wise, and the Sun is infinite and merciful!"
After the massive gathering in the auditorium, the world had completely changed. Blood Elves that we saw were no longer staring us down or giving us the look of death. Even the Red Guards, and zealot soldiers looked at us neutrally. Blood Elf civilians looked at us as if we were a group of messiahs.
The propaganda department, or media, or whoever runs TV and radio in Quel'thalas had been saying we were being employed by the Sun to go out and restore the Blood Elves' reputation worldwide. Some of them clapped for us or shouted cheers as we walked by.
Even the guards and SDFC staff who were blood elves were nice to us, just so long as nobody stepped out of line.
After meeting with the diplomat we were paraded through the streets, with thousands clapping and cheering.
We came to the Hawksfeather hotel, a plain housing facility reserved for middle and working class blood elves. In the basement is a grand hall where we had a seeming lavish dinner. On the menu was broiled neore. Before we chowed down, we had a five minute prayer session with a priest and recited a Thalassian thanks prayer.
«Bo! You must be happy eating this succulent holy food?»
«Yes..-it's the best I've eaten my whole life. Thank the Sun. »
*Tavi's laugh*
At that point, the extra-nationals at our table, including me, had forced ourselves to overcome the moral wrong of eating neore, which is human flesh. We had a side of plain salad- large blades of grass, and the dressing, the Tavi's said, was plasma from blood, mixed with herbs and spices and starch. To wash it down we had this 'tea' that was stock from bone marrow, mixed with blood elf bone marrow. This one Tavi, a woman named Alassi, said it contained intellect that would override any intellectual development from consuming neore marrow.
Neore, anything from steak or part of a cooked organ, or some pate like product, tastes like soft veal, but has a thick smell like bacon, only worse. And we had to eat it.
Today when I look back, I am disgusted with myself, and at having to become a cannibal, just so I wouldn't end up on some blood elf's dinner plate. I didn't enjoy eating, pretty much anything I ate in Quel'thalas.
Deori is another meat, harvested from blood elves like at the slaughterplant we worked at before, was a black, foul-smelling 'delicacy' for the blood elf members of the SDFC. The meat looked burnt but it was naturally black if cooked in blood elves' blood, which turns black when exposed to oxygen. I figured it tasted like the tofu.
Dining in Quel'thalas is not simply just eating, no, it's become a massive regimen of a variation of Victorian-style manners, courtesies, phrases, methods on holding which utensils for which food, methods of chewing, swallowing, intervals between food and drink, it is a strict script of etiquette that is adhered to by all blood elves, and it varies from region to region, and from class to class, even family to family. Blood Elves can identify eachother simply by observing their etiquette, and manners.
Even before this 'banquet,' we were put through a straight grueling 15 hour class on table manners. When I was being fed black blood tofu, and undead flesh in the quarries and in the Dalore home, I ate with my hands, and learned from the undead slaves and live slaves- blood elves and other humans how to eat the tofu with grace and properness. The Red Guards always watched how we ate, and have chopped people down with their swords just because they ate too fast, ate too slow, how they moved their arms and faces while taking bites out of the chunk of whatever it was, and all those blood elves who educated us simply screamed, 'Learn to eat with grace, you worm! A cat or a mouse can eat more politely than you can!'
The Tavi's watched me and the other extra-nationals closely as we ate while having conversations to cover up their staring. They even watched each other. As much as they seemed friendly, they were waiting for the moment to pounce in the event someone screwed up.
Into the mean, the Tavi's were talking about some religious story, and from another table I heard this guy say, "I can't wait 'till we get to Dalaran," in the weary I'm-tired-screw-this tone of voice. The eight Tavi people sitting at his table all snapped, and exploded into a frenzy of yelling and screaming. Suddenly finding out this guy was not for real triggered their explosive hysterical rage. They grabbed him by the shirt and were screaming in Thalassian, 'WTF? How could you say such a horrid thing?' and started calling him traitor and all that.
Red guards rushed to the table, knowing the Tavis' rage exposed the poser- as they have been trained and conditioned to. This giant hulking Blood Elf warrior shoved the Tavi's away, reached back with his sword and chopped the guy where he sat. Just sliced him right down. Then he ordered the Tavi's and other extra nationals to haul the body to the kitchen and help the kitchen workers cook him up. He was on people's plates in less than an hour. After I watched it, I was thinking 'holy fucking shit!'
My Tavi 'friends' tried to comfort me, Amy, and the other reformed humans sitting at our table, but I was spooked sober and did not dare to let myself be lulled in. I could have said something out loud and it would have been my ass in the oven.
After we finished eating, blood elves and Tavis sang on the stage propaganda songs in front of a backdrop crystal screen showing pictures of countryside scenery. They were singing songs like 'glory to the blood knights' and 'No Thalas Without You' a song about the dictator.
They made us all sing and dance to the karaoke concert. Of course all the subtitles on the screen were in Thalassian.
Wymeus Hotel #2847
After the dinner party, we were bussed to a different hotel on the outskirts of town, the place we were at being reserved for the SDFC's blood elf members.
About 60 miles from the city center is a chain of inns called 'Wymeus Atuell,' which is Thalassian for Goodly House. These places are like plain apartment blocks, each unit being the equivalent to a 1-3 bedroom suite, bachelor pad, or straight prison-like cell with shared bathrooms. The Atuells were reserved for working class blood elves from upper, middle and lower all the way down to the live slave class.
We were considered just above the slave class and were assigned to these cabins that had eight beds each room. The beds had a standard mattress made from stiff fibers, probably spun from hawkstrider feathers. Anything soft in here would have been made from hair.
Live slaves, blood elves and humans are kept in these kennel like places in the basement. It's pretty much a prison down here there being mattresses on the ground. Slave owners of companies dealing with their slaves or low employees keep them here. Guards and staff are always posted down here, and no one from the other classes is allowed down here. We were given a tour because the blood elves chaperoning us and hotel staff said we should have been kept here.
Silvermoon is officially for the elite class community of the nation, but lower blood elves are needed to do all the labor and dirty work. The Atuells do not accommodate upper class blood elves, and are legally forbidden from accepting upper class guests, who are supposed to stay in fancier hotels that are located closer to where they need to be.
Low-class blood elves' homes are also massive apartment blocks run by Wymeus. Here, for everyone either residents or visitors, there is a strict curfew and violation warrants execution on the spot.
After the lengthy tour of the entire building which was much bigger than a city block, we were shown to our rooms and locked in for the night. Necklaces were handed out to us as permission to go out and use the bathroom facilities on our floor.
Me and six other extra-nationals lucked out- no Tavi's were rooming with us, and a guy, Jack, was handed the camera and ordered to film, and we still had to play the part of happy humans. But still the relief of having no one watching us for a few hours was great, and we could all just relax and breathe for the first time in months.
«Here is your room, queo'duines. Pray to the Sun for everything and for this gracious permission to stay in these rooms!»
«Thank you, sir. I thank the Great Magister and Grand Magister.»
After we took our beds, Tavi's from the local temple came in and were in ecstasy as they preached to us and the other Tavi's on our floor. They were kept locked up year round in a basement at the temple, and praying at swordpoint and were being let out since Light knows when and to see fellow Tavi's and people like us was nearly overstimulating for them.
We sang and listened for about two hours then they left.
I got up, checked out the room and even walked around on our floor to the bathrooms. There were no guards watching us, it was great. I mean there were crystal cameras and all everywhere but it still felt nice.
"Check it out, we got soft beds, [Bo touches the mattress] way softer than concrete flooring, but I sleep just as good on that. Look, blankets, Soft blankets and sheets made from duine hair. We even have a table at the end, just under the window, that little vertical slit of glass there. We got lights. Best part, no chains or shackles, that's just awesome."
"I know, right, they love us, they do."
"We're finally living up to their expectations. We're living the dream, bro."
"Wow, check that out, there's a TV in here. Does it work?"
"Uh, one channel. Music videos. Volume won't go up."
First off, we were talking in script, because the camera was rolling, and there were tiny little microphones and bugs hidden in the walls. We kept speaking in Thalassian because we didn't want to blow our fortunate circumstances by speaking English. I thought that if we said so much as one word in English, guards would storm their way up and take us out of there.
The Blood Elves had no concern of women sharing the same room as guys. They figured we were well aware of the strict law against human interaction more than platonic; non physical levels. Despite whatever chemistry anyone had, we all kept our distance from eachother and just talked like loose friends. So they saw no need to separate genders. Same thing with Tavi's.
"And this is the bathroom here. There's- wow, we got hot water. Flushing toilets, shower rooms. It's coed, no separate bathrooms for guys and girls, not that anyone would do anything in here. Omg, we got tooth brushes, and free soap. We're living luxury here, hehe."
I think that night I actually got a full night's sleep. Five whole hours. Usually its 15 minutes to an hour that I get sleep if at all.
The next day, blood elves came up and ordered us to all take showers. Water is mixed with an antibacterial acid and smells foul. We were given fresh new extra-national robes- the green robes, brought in while the slave class people downstairs cleaned our stuff.
"It's early morning, just after sunrise, and let's take a look at the city."
The windows were very narrow slits in the walls, about two inches wide. We got a limited but dazzling view of the city from what we could see.
We weren't allowed to go anywhere without guards. In fact, we weren't allowed to leave until they came for us, then we had to go where they wanted to take us.
"We're waiting for the bus to arrive, and we're going on a day trip. Can't wait to see what monuments or parks or things they want to show us."