OPEN: The Nightmare's Domain

[visus]

WHO: Everybody present for the effort to draw out the Nightmare.
WHAT: Oh no.
WHEN: 28-30 Bloomingtide
WHERE: THE FADE as it exists, approximately, in an incomprehensible nongeographical way, alongside the Western Approach.
NOTES: You can only participate in this plot if you signed up in advance. (Not really, this is a joke.) For driveby GM taunting or to have the debris of personal nightmares appear in the Fade sign up here. Check here for notes on crystal functionality, which will not be normal. (GIF source.)

The plan is simple enough, on paper.

Lord Livius Erimond, locked in Skyhold's dungeon since his capture, finally cracks when he learns that the Grey Wardens have moved on and no one is coming to negotiate for his release. There's no mind-control driving the sacrifices, he says, only fear. Corypheus has an arrangement with a demon to amplify it and extend the reach of the song that's driving the Wardens to desperation. Handle it, and maybe they'll see that they're being manipulated.

In practice, it's a little fuzzier. Some guesswork. Some optimism. Approximating the demon's location takes time and effort from the Fade-fluent. There's a rift nearby, but it's small, nondescript. Making it bigger, drawing attention and drawing the demon out onto solid ground where it can be fought, calls for every anchor shard on hand, mages and Templars to assist, archers and swordsmen at the ready. The Herald did it before, at the Temple of Sacred Ashes. It's feasible. Just wiggle your fingers, and--

--and the sky opens up wide, then wider, too wide, green light flooding out like water finally cresting over a bank, and the ground beneath your feet turns from sand to stone. In some places it becomes vertical. In others it stops existing at all. The rift sprawls and spiders out with almost sentient aim, encompassing everyone it can reach. It takes two seconds, maybe three.

Then it closes.

I. THE NIGHTMARE

The good news is: the Inquisition pinpointed the Nightmare's location correctly. The bad news is: the Inquisition pinpointed the Nightmare's location correctly.

So if you find a second to to wonder where you are, there are two possible answers. The first is the raw Fade, where few have trod since the ancient magisters entered the Golden City and began the Blight. The City is Black now and it hangs in the distance, always on the horizon, always visible, but never within reach. The light is sickly green and seems to come from everywhere and nowhere, creating shadows from any and all directions. What direction is up and what direction is sideways is open for debate anyway. The ground--if it can be called that when it is only sometimes below you--is dark and rough, all crags and cliffs and spires. It's wet, too, with puddles and stagnant streams wound through the rock.

The second possible answer to the question of where, and the one that might warrant even more attention than the first, is right on top of a damn demon.

The Nightmare is massive, as large as a small fort. It has a dozen legs and at least twice as many eyes; a warm, civilly sinister voice that knows your deepest and darkest fears; and a seemingly endless supply of minions. Terror demons spring out of the ground around you with creaking screams. Fearlings take the shape of your simpler phobias: here a spider, there a snake, or roaring flames, a lyrium-encrusted Templar. Fighting through the flood of demons and bringing down the Nightmare will take every sword, every staff, and several hours. Pick a leg.

And when it's over--when the Nightmare is dead and only straggling Fearlings and occasional Terrors present an immediate threat--try to figure out what's next.

II. SEARCHING

Attempts to tear a new hole in the Veil from the inside will produce no results. But those sensitive to the Fade may be able to feel something--not quite like a draft guiding you out of a cave, but there's no closer analogy in the common tongue. A faint whiff of reality, somewhere in the distance, straight away from the distant Black City. There's no sunrise or sunset, and an hour can feel like a day or feel like a minute, but time is passing, and the walk is long by any measure.

While it's in your best interest to stay with the rest of the Inquisition's forces, this region of the Fade is a twisty, treacherous thing that seems to actively conspire to separate and mislead its visitors. More Fearlings slither out of crevices to menace anyone who lingers alone or tries to sleep. There's a marshy expanse that does its best to trap feet, and a field of memorial stones with the names of visitors etched into their surfaces, each with a cause of death marked below. Everywhere you step the ground is littered with evidence of terrible dreams, worked into the landscape like they were there first and it has grown up around them. There are skeletons in the stone, rock formations that twist into the shape of gallows, lost toys underfoot, an entire home tucked down a winding path, achingly empty.

III. ESCAPE

The Nightmare is dead, but its absence creates new reasons to fear. It begins slowly, things crumbling: the edge of a stair giving way unexpectedly, a towering hunk of rock a ways off collapsing upward into the open air and reforming there. The path rearranges as it's walked and takes wanderers in different directions, leaving them to fight their ways back to the main group. It was the concentration of fear and willpower embodied in the Nightmare that held this domain of the Fade intact, and without it, there's a power vacuum to fill. The spirits drawn here are drawn by lingering fear, and warped by it.

The forms they take may not be those you're familiar with from outside the Fade--less deformed, more malleable, more insidious, the things you most or least want to see. Those who long for safety may find a gentle Desire demon willing to offer it. Those whose fears stem from insecurities may hear the whispers of lurking Envy, mimicking their voices from its hiding place, cautiously testing for a foothold. If fear only pisses you off, be prepared to face your Rage. And if you refuse to be afraid--if you have this under control, if you know you'll be all right--a smiling embodiment of Pride may appear to praise your prowess and ask you to put those skills to other uses.

Whatever form your demons take, they are distractions from the larger issue: this part of the Fade is collapsing, unstable, and not meant for creatures like you to survive in. As important as it is to face your fears, it may in the end be more important to run from them. Regroup, keep moving, take head counts. There's a rift ahead, small enough to slip through one at a time, out into the desert, with its bright sun and relatively solid ground--and however long it feels like you've been walking, days or weeks, Adamant Fortress is visible across the sand.

Comments

Korrin | OTA

[gatheringstorm]

I.

Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck-- For a moment, Korrin's mind is filled with nothing but terror like she's never experienced before. The rift had consumed her, brought her physically over to the Fade. That was obvious enough to her even without seeing the Black City hanging in the distance. The realm of demons and spirits isn't exactly new to her, but even as a mage, she's only visited it in dreams. This...isn't a dream, though. She's highly aware of that, and the sheer wrongness of it all. Being present like this shouldn't be possible, and leads to all sorts of conclusions, none of them pleasant.

And to top of off, of course the damn rift spews them out onto the largest demon in existence. It must be, right? She almost doesn't see the fearlings at first, thanks to her view being filled with the fucking mountain of a Nightmare, but the twisted forms of abominations are horrifying on their own, even as they pale in comparison to the sheer power before her.

Fear consumes her for a moment, but only a moment. Korrin takes a deep breath and forces herself to focus, knowing that she'll be needed, that this damn Nightmare isn't going to kill itself, that people who've been to the Fade will be necessary if they're to figure out how the hell to get out of here. She can't succumb now, not when she's needed. And not with someone waiting for her on the other side. The dragon tooth necklace gives her all the motivation she needs to snap out of it, cast a Barrier over herself and anyone in the area, and charge forward, swinging her glowing blade. This damned thing is going down, if she has any say in the matter.

II.

Afterward, once the demon is dead and all healing possible has been given, Korrin peers around with an intent frown on her lips. She has no shard, no ability to close -or open?- rifts here, but being a mage has its own perks. Though not as intimately attuned as some, Korrin's connection to the Fade is undeniable, and she has to draw upon that now. Peering upward at the Black City, her gaze lingers for a moment longer before turning directly from it, gesturing ahead.

"Our way out is...over there, somewhere. I think. Let's go; it's better than standing around here, waiting for more demons to find us."

Easier said than done, or so she soon finds out. It's definitely her intent to stick with the Inquisition at large, knowing there's safety in numbers, her eagerness to find a way out combined with the nature of the Fade soon alters that. After several twists and turns while trying to find a path in the direction of what she senses, Korrin pauses and glances back, frowning suddenly.

"Where the hell is everyone else?"

III.

Fear often channels itself into anger for Korrin, so it's really no surprise that Rage demons are drawn to her as this portion of the Fade begins to crumble. The small rift ahead might as well be on the other side of the Fade at the moment, a literal distant hope while those fiery forms surround her. "Fuck you! You're not getting the better of me, not here and not now!"

Whirling her staff, she encases one in a sheet of ice, an excellent start. But that's her only ice spell, and her staff isn't thusly attuned. She might need more 'firepower' on the Winter end of things to finish this any time soon, even with her spirit blade to help. And of course, they might not be the only demons that find her.....

III

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Well, good thing there are elemental mages around, and one of them just happens to be a Warden.

From behind Korrin, there's a flush of cold ice magic that sweeps forward in a wave, turning the advancing rage demons into icy statues. Bethany twists her hand and aims a Force fist at one of them, turning it into so many icy fragments while she calls out to the Val-Shoth. "Now, while we have the advantage!"

[gatheringstorm]

Giving purely into rage would likely just attract more of them, so it's a good thing Bethany's spells and presence help snap her out of it. That anger doesn't dissipate, by any stretch, but she gains new focus and nods, reminding herself to keep a level head. She didn't come this far for the Fade to consume her now. "Right! You want a piece of me, assholes? Come and get it!"

They may not be vulnerable to lightning in the way they are to ice, but Korrin knows it can still hurt. She concentrates and summons a static cage, hoping to capture at least a couple of them in the process. The rest will be met with Chain Lightning.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Bethany nods in turn, glad to see the woman focusing once more. Especially since a static cage and a stream of chained lighting are going to take out at least two more demons all on their own. For her part, Bethany lifts her hand to use Force to drag the rest of the demons towards one spot, pinning them there.

Korrin can take pot shots at them, as Bethany prepares a fire spell to finish them off, her tone flat and controlled, "You will take no more of us this day, demons. Not a single one."

[gatheringstorm]

New to Force/Rift magic, that particular ability is one that Korrin doesn't have just yet, but its use is definitely appreciated. The demons try to resist, naturally, but for once they don't have the advantage. She smirks as they're dragged together, not about to let that opportunity go to waste. Summoning a boulder, she smashes it into the center one, the impact explosion sending it flying and staggering the others. Fun times.

"Damn straight. We'll kick their asses whatever side of the Veil we're on."

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Bethany smiled sharply as the boulder smashed into the demons, and she shifted her weight to snap another barrier around them. Then Winter's Blast came from her fingers, followed by another fire blast. Smaller spells to knock them down, so she could finish them off with larger ones.

"You do not have the advantage here, demons! We are ready for you." She let deterimination ring through her voice, as she moved with a wide circle.

[gatheringstorm]

"If you have more ice magic, now's the time!" Korrin bides her own time until she can feel ready to cast Winter's Grasp again but until she does, there are still other ways to cut down on the rage demon crowd. She slices through them with her spirit blade, sometimes successfully dodging their blasts of flame, and snarling in pain when she doesn't. She can put that pain to use, and better; the area around them seems less and less stable by the moment.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"As a matter of fact ..." Bethany shifts, and calls deep into her reserves. Maker, by the time they get out of here, she was going to be as bone weary as she was in clearing out Adamant. At least she would fall asleep tonight without the Calling in her head ...

Focus.

Her hand swept out, but instead of the normal Cone of Cold, the ice spread further, and instead of merely freezing them in place, she froze them all the way through, giving them a brittle quality.

"The ground is moving beneath us! Break them and start retreating!"

II

[fightingdirty]

"Fuck if I know," Lena says, muscles feeling as tight as a drawn bowstring. Her knives are out and her belt is a lot lighter after using several poisons and flasks in the fight against the Nightmare and its underlings. But now that it's over and done with, she just wants out. This is no place for her and she wants no part of it.

"They get distracted, that's their problem," she says, eyes darting around. It's clear she's afraid and trying not to show is, so she'll hide behind her anger instead.

II

[gatheringstorm]

Anger is good, anger is useful. Korrin won't make her friend, her sister, more vulnerable, especially when it wouldn't accomplish anything. She needs to keep focus, they both do. Likewise tense, her hands constantly occupied with staff and blade hilt, she stares ahead.

"They'll catch up. I can't be the only one who feels a pull in that direction." Hell, the Spirit Healers probably have their spirit friends dragging them along. As much as Korrin has no interest in that profession normally, at the moment she almost envies that bond. A friendly spirit would certainly be welcome now.

"Let's move on, before more abominations and whatever find us." The fearlings know exactly what got under her skin, and she doesn't want to give them another chance.

[fightingdirty]

"Yeah," Lena agrees, moving forward again. A shudder works its way up her spine at just the mention of abominations, but she sets her jaw and tries to focus.

"You don't see this shit when you dream, do you?" she asks, wondering what it looks like for mages when their consciousness drifts to the Fade in sleep.

[gatheringstorm]

"Hell, no. When I dream, it can be anything. My mind sets the stage, the demons or whatever just walk into it. But now we're in their territory. It's no one's dream." Peering around at the puddles and green sky and floating bits of land, Korrin scowls. "If this is what it's really like, I would have preferred not knowing. Fucking rift...."

About to curse that rift yet again, Korrin pauses as she spots something up ahead. "Is that a...cemetery?" And that pull is leading right past it. Wonderful.

[fightingdirty]

"I knew these shards people had were bad news. You know I think your girl's all right, but it's true. Look at what those shards did." Her body is still tensed, a flash of anger stronger than before coming to her mind. The shards are unpredictable. They can do crazy shit like this. They meant to pull the Nightmare through, only the shards were so powerful, they shoved everyone in to the physical Fade!

"Yeah, looks like," she mutters, an ominous feeling settling over her. "Let me guess: your mages senses are saying we have to go past it?"

[gatheringstorm]

"It's what we get for powering up something we barely understand." As long as Lena blames the shards themselves and not the people attached to them, Korrin can't fault her for that rise in temper. Her own mindset isn't much different, and she's wishing over and over that she'd listened to her intuition and protested the plan. Maybe someone would have listened.

Gripping her staff, she nod in said direction. "Right. We could try to find a way around, but I wouldn't suggest it given what's happened already. I'm starting to think it's like the Deep Roads; if you find a path, you don't deviate."

II

[visus]

The face is her own. The body slimmer, less accustomed to running and fighting and more adapted to keeping ledgers within in the Circle. Yet it is all still undeniably Korrin standing before her in heavy circle robes, no staff in her hand and the brand of a tranquil on her forehead.

This Korrin is not concerned with seeking a way out. Where had been only Fade rock and chaos before, there is a small library complete with desk and open accounting book the tranquil stands behind, face serene in the flickering candle light and gently drifting mist around her feet. When she speaks, the voice is neutral. No judgement, no fear. A simple statement of fact.

"You have left them behind."

[gatheringstorm]

Tranquil aren't normally anything to fear, not really. Korrin knows this. Sure, their monotone voices and lack of expressions are a little creepy, but that's all. They don't possess devastating magic -anymore- and it would be so easily to lift her staff and reduce one to ash...not that she would think to harm one in any other circumstance.

But it's different, staring at herself. Korrin's heart beasts faster as she takes in that terrible brand, unable to look away. The knuckles of her staff hand are turning white, as she grips it tighter. She tries to steady her breathing, telling herself it's not real...but the image is too powerful to ignore.

"You're not me. You'll never be me. Stay away. I won't warn you again."

I

[colecomfort]

Cole feels almost sick, dizzy, as if he's being pulled in too many directions at once, but the demon poses a far greater threat. Just like Korrin, just like so many of them, necessity and adrenaline push past his personal fear.

He feels, more than sees, the barrier swirl to life around him as he draws his daggers. Two of the Fearlings are trying to follow her, skittering with their fast little legs to catch up with the charging mage. Cole rushes to cover her back, and the Fearlings squeal as his blades bite into them.

I

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin doesn't hear skittering; to her, the fearlings are abominations, their hideous, twisted forms stomping around. It's enough to make the hairs on the back of her neck rise up, even as the ridiculously large demon is more of an issue. But said demon almost defies comprehension with its size and power, whereas the fearlings/abominations are a threat she's faced before...and still has nightmares about.

She glances back, despite herself, expecting to see them barreling down upon her, but the boy with shaggy hair -she knows she's seen him before, but now isn't the time to puzzle that out- making quick work of those repulsive beings. When there's a moment to breathe, she can thank him properly but for now, all she can manage is a quick nod before turning her attention to the star of the show.

Just how they're supposed to defeat something of that size, she can't stop to ponder. It'll just lead to blind panic, so she shuts that down, letting her battle sense take over. Her spirit blade is out and ready, and she slices into the massive being as often and viciously as possible.

[colecomfort]

No squealing, then, from the fearlings as far as Korrin can hear. They roar and gurgle as they're cut down, their hulking forms landing heavily on the damp stone.

As soon as he's made work of the fearlings, Cole vanishes, slipping back into being unseeable. He'll appear in her view again, as a flicker of motion next to the nearest leg, daggers flashing. The leg flinches, attempts to come down on him, and Cole rolls out of the way.

[gatheringstorm]

The abominations' defeat -even if they aren't really abominations- somewhat eases that knot of anxiety in Korrin, uncomfortably reminded of the time she'd tried to lead a team against one, to the team's decimation. The creatures had seemed as unstoppable as it as horrific...but this time was different. No one had to die for them to fall. They still have the largest demon ever to fight, but it's something, something she won't forget. Or will try not to forget, at least.

When he appears in her view once more, she's working on one of the legs, too intent to be truly startled at his reappearance. His remaining in view actually helps her focus. When it's not just her, she has that goal of keeping someone else alive, trading sheer recklessness for some sense of strategy. As that leg flinches, Korrin takes advantage of that moment to attack it from another angle before blurring away. If they can both wear it down, that's one less to worry about.

[colecomfort]

As Cole rolls to his feet, as he moves to slash at the spot Korrin attacked, the voice of the Nightmare booms through the space.

"Why do you fight me, Cole? Are you afraid? I could help you forget that fear. Just like you help others forget."

The barrier around Cole shimmers, then vanishes, its power spent. Cole sweeps his daggers again across the limb, leaving a small bite in the thick shell.

"We're so alike, you and I."

"No," Cole breathes, attempting to regain his bearings as the words shake him — just before another fearling attacks him from behind. Cole flinches and falls, but finds his feet, not fallen yet. His attention turns to the fearling, which prevents him from watching the Nightmare's leg, which rises and comes down, hard, onto his shoulder. Cole cries out, and another strike from the fearling (Korrin will see the abomination swipe its arm across his chest) sends him sprawling for a second time. This time, he struggles to stand back up.

[gatheringstorm]

"Damnit! Hold on!" Korrin can't immediately blur over after just casting that spell, but she rushes forward as quickly as possible to get in range. Thinking quickly, she tosses a healing mist grenade in his direction, following up with a renewed Barrier spell. Only after she's certain of his immediate safety does she narrow her eyes at the abomination and charge ahead to buy him some time. If there's one thing she's good at, it's getting enemies' attention while others strike unseen. Then they can go back to taking down that damn leg.

III

[madame_de_fer]

Whatever their philosophical differences, Vivienne is not so cruel as to leave her student to the mercies of Rage demons. Especially knowing she's not particularly studied in spells that would help fight against them. And Korrin is a talented mage but sometimes even the talented can use assistance.

Vivienne rushes to her side, Accuser's Staff fair radiating with icy magic. "Now darling, don't lose your temper with them. They enjoy it." Ah well there we go, the Iron Lady is just as cold as her magic.

She throws a Wall of Ice at them to freeze them into place. "There we go. Do slash at that one on the left."

[gatheringstorm]

Sometimes, Vivienne's cool demeanor is thoroughly annoying to the passionate Vashoth. This, however, is not one of those times. Thanks to everything that's happened in the Fade so far, her nerves are severely frayed and Madame de Fer's demeanor is exactly what she needs to focus. The Wall of Ice is a welcome respite, as well.

"On it!" Closing in, Korrin swings that glowing blade, still keeping in mind all those drills on movements and posture. She can almost think of this as another lesson...though instead of the Skyhold courtyard, it's taking place in a steadily-deteriorating realm.

[madame_de_fer]

As a private thought hovering at the back of Vivienne's mind, she intends to speak to the Mage Council about considering any mage that has survived this ordeal as having passed their demon resistance lessons. It's no formal Circle Harrowing, but after all the whole point of those was to ensure that a mage had the ability to resist temptation and defend themselves against possession. This is trial by fire. Though she wonders if Korrin would be pleased or annoyed by the notion.

Ah well. Killing these monstrosities has to come first so they can safely exit before everything collapses.

Carefully, the Iron Lady puts down ice glyphs behind the demons. She makes certain that there is ample room for Korrin to move about without triggering them. But they also serve to pen the demons in: ice wall on one side, exploding ice shards if they step the other. A tactical advantage to fighting them by limiting their field of motion.

"Do mind your step, my dear. You're doing quite well." More than well. The Qunari mage has proven quite the dedicated student and her lessons are being executed with excellence.