MOSTLY CLOSED: Weisshaupt Fortress

[visus]

WHO: Anders, Herc, Ingrid, Kaisa, Mal Reynolds, Merrick, Merrill, Nathaniel, Samwise, Sera, Teren, Varric
WHAT: A friendly visit to Weisshaupt Fortress that will go very smoothly and involve zero bloodshed.
WHEN: Bloomingtide 29-30 for the closed portion, with travel time on either side.
WHERE: Weisshaupt Fortress, the Anderfels.
NOTES: This plot is 90% closed to the above-named characters, but there are open comments for before and after the main quest that are open to any characters who might travel to the Anderfels to serve as back-up without going to Weisshaupt.

No one has ever claimed that 'the Anderfels' is a particularly pretty name for a place, but it is somehow still too nice for the land itself. Bone-dry and blasted by hot, dusty winds for most of the year, the steppeland of the Anderfels has been harsh and unforgiving country since long before the Blights began. It is barren in every sense of the word: all greys and browns and blood-rust reds, the monotony broken more often by black outcroppings of rock than by greenery, with settlements few and far between. Even where blight has not turned the ground dark and toxic, it feels like a place people are not meant to live. Not anymore.

↠ The Walk There (Open, Mingle)
↠ Arrival at Weisshaupt (Closed, GMed)
↠ R&R&Demons (Closed, Mingle)
↠ Everything Goes To Shit (Closed, GMed)
↠ The Sprint Back (Open)

Comments

R&R&Demons (Closed, Mingle, 29-30 Bloomingtide)

[visus]

They keep their weapons, in the end, and they're given free rein in the upper levels of the fortress; the staircases to the lower levels are blocked off and guarded by Wardens, most with broad shoulders and thick Ander accents, if they speak Common at all. They're keeping the demons in, they'll explain, more than keeping the visitors out--but no, sers, you can't go down there. Perhaps in the morning, when if Fulk says it's all right.

That still leaves most of the fortress to roam. Weisshaupt is a monument and a memorial, strewn with tapestries and trophies, ancient weapons and ogre bones. The library rivals a university's. There is a small chapel, for the devout, and until sunset it's half-filled with Wardens on their knees. The kitchens are well-stocked--meant to feed hundreds of preternaturally hungry warriors--but presently understaffed, with the civilian workers recently evacuated. There's an aging Warden on duty instead, with nothing to offer but today's stew, tomorrow's porridge, or access to the raw stores of imported vegetables and dried meats. And stories. He talks about every Blight as if he had been there himself.

Periodically there are demons, matched with mages and additional watchers, crossing through to help carry food or blankets below. Near nightfall, there's a small commotion near the easternmost staircase--three Wardens wrangling an unconscious varghest that woke up too early. They appreciate any help immobilizing it, but not killing it, don't kill it, please--immobilize it, and the elven woman in the group will stop looking stressed long enough to say thank you before they drag it past the guarded doors and out of sight.

There are rooms to spare, though those both habitable and unoccupied are scattered. Nathaniel, Anders, Merill, and Mal are directed to a pair of rooms on the second floor; Samwise, Teren, Ingrid, and Merrick to the third. The remainder are left on the first. All on the eastern side of the fortress, all within shouting distance if one doesn't mind shouting up the stone stairways. The neighbors, however, might object. The local Wardens keep late hours, but by the earliest hours of morning, the fortress is quiet and still.

( OOC: This is partly just for time-bridging and partly for anyone who wants to chat or explore; it will not be GMed. You're welcome to take control of the grunt-level NPCs broadly described above for conversations. If you have any specific questions about what would happen if your character presses this or that button [metaphorically], let us know! )

merrill

[chainlightning]

It's a large fortress -- large enough to get lost in, or at least to pretend to get lost in when you're well-known for getting lost places. It's also decorated, and Merrill goes looking for anything of griffons that she can find. This seems like the best place to find any information on them, and as a result, she may be overheard both naming the statues ("Ser Clickytoes" is the griffon over the hall to the kitchen) and loudly admiring them. In her more quiet moments, she tries to dig through the library -- for griffons, yes, but also for elves. If there is history on her people here, she wants to find it. If there are answers about how an eluvian could contract the Taint and how blood magic could remove it, she definitely wants to find it.

Toward nightfall, Merrill helps immobilize the varghest and tells the elvish woman that she's welcome. She waits until they're gone and until she's certain she's out of earshot before murmuring to any of the others from the Inquisition. "I don't think I want to know what they're doing with living varghests down there." She has a feeling it may be food- but it's still alive, and that means it's going to still be alive when the demons start in on it.

[justice_is_blond]

Anders looks up from his cat with a frown when she returns, but for once the frown isn't because of her.

"I'd like to know a great deal, but that's one thing I'd agree I don't want to know." He exhales and reaches up to rub his temples. "Did you see anything of blood magic while you were looking around? Because that's the only explanation I can come up with for the mage's situation as of yet."

[chainlightning]

"Not here," she frowns, but hers is also not because of him. Merrill offers her fingers to Purrelden, hoping that a bit of soft fur will be soothing. "I know that- well, Hercules said they were using it at Adamant. It's possible it was all done there, and not here, and it was strong enough to keep the connection. Or it's all down in the area we can't get to."

Her lips purse. "Theoretically, I could sever the connection, but... we don't actually know what it would do. Make the demon angry, probably, but I mean- I've never seen anything like this. For all we know, the demons are keeping them alive."

Henri had said he was cold. An effect of the despair demon, or something else entirely?

[justice_is_blond]

Purrelden noses Merrill's fingers before bumping her cheek against them, ready to seek attention and ignore any conversation that might be going on.

"He, from what I can feel, has control of the demon. But there was something else. Something controlling him. I can't put my finger on it, but if we're to talk about stereotypical and go with the accent of one man in the room in particular..." Tevinters use blood magic. That man could be in control of the mages.

"Then that begs the question of if the demons are keeping them alive, and what happens when we ki--if we have to deal with the man from Tevinter."

[chainlightning]

What a good cat. Merrill smiles slightly and immediately settles in to pet her.

"He's likely Venatori," she agrees with a sigh, free hand raking through her hair. "He's either controlling them or it's- er, his rather more terrifying boss. We both know he's capable of it." Controlling Grey Wardens, that is; manipulating them.

"If we're lucky, the spell will just break and they'll be no worse for wear, other than- having to live with it. But if not..." And they likely won't be. "Well. I guess we pick between their lives and the lives of everyone they may hurt. Between letting them life, safe but controlled, or letting them be free even if it means their death."

Personally? She'd go with the latter.

[justice_is_blond]

She's good when she gets attention. Just wait until people fall asleep.

"I agree." It's something he rarely says to her, and even more rarely, something Justice also agrees with. "But we'll also need to be prepared in case they lose control at the same time. We can't let anyone go around freely that can do that to other mages, which means we may unleash more than a few demons all at once."

He exhales. Nate's convinced Anders is still a good person, and here Anders is, discussing the fact that they need to kill the man who is likely Venatori. It will be a Just killing, but it's killing nonetheless.

"This is going to get messy. I wonder how this story will get told."

[chainlightning]

"I think that'll depend on who tells it."

Varric would make them look good. Corypheus? Probably not.

"I think Clarel is still scared. She still thinks they might need the power -- or maybe she thinks they have to use it, now that they've done that." Merrill doesn't know the woman at all, of course, but she certainly hadn't seemed to enjoy the idea that they could reverse what had been done.

[justice_is_blond]

He's quiet for a few moments, petting Purrelden's back, considering Merrill's words and the situation in front of them. The door gets a quick glance before he leans forward and drops his voice.

"Blood magic is addictive, its power, that's something the Circles have said all along. How..." Justice does not like the question that's about to be asked, and he's been on edge since they saw the demon and didn't kill it. On edge is putting it mildly, actually. He's been frustrated. But they have to make this work. If the rituals can't fix them, they have to find a way to work together, and Justice needs to learn to compromise. At that thought from Anders, Justice eases up and lets Anders speak. "How true is that? If she's a part of this, has used blood magic with the likely-Venatori, could she stop? Or do we figure her for an enemy as well and simply be surprised if she turns out not to be?"

[chainlightning]

There's a soft hum of thought, Merrill watching their fingers move over Purrelden's fur for a moment as she thinks.

"It... depends on the person, I think. If you're the type to want more power, and most mages who turn to blood magic seem to be, then yes -- absolutely. In Clarel's case... well. I don't know her. But she seems like someone who would do anything to try and save her people. If blood magic seems to be the only thing that can do that? I think she'll keep doing it. But that's the thing -- it isn't. And I think she might be starting to realize that, now that the Calling has stopped. Now the blood of hundreds of Wardens is on her hands and she has to try and justify it to herself. She'll either cling to that or she'll break, I think."

Her thumb traces at one of the faint scars on her arm, an almost idle motion, but she's not done. "I think it'll depend on the approach. If we only condemn her, she will strike back harder. She believed she was doing the right thing. If we tell her that we know she was trying to save some instead of letting everyone die, then... well, then we might be able to get through to her, and she isn't likely to use it again."

Malcolm

[aintwejust]

For his part Mal tucks his bag in their rooms before tak'n Jayne to find the kitchens. A dog's gotta eat. A man's gotta eat. And sometimes stick'n about where food's made gets you bits of gossip. Civilians be'n kicked out when there are demons wander'n around (likely in the lower levels) makes plenty a sense. It don't make a lot as to why the demons are still kept around or what they're planning but he puts Jayne to sniff'n about after he's eaten and Mal?

Pokes around a little, quiet like. Watches the demons wander'n around. Asks a few quiet questions 'bout the people in charge since they seem so solid on hav'n this locked down. Paces the halls to make a mental map of what goes where, counts doors, checks locks (discreetly and from a distance). Cases the joint like he would for a Job cuz this? Is a job. Most of the smiling simplicity drops off of him when he gets back to his room. "Yeah. We're right humped."

[justice_is_blond]

"At least we're not humped and down in the village." It's the only consolation he can offer. He'd gotten back to the room only a few moments earlier, trying to seem the affable, harmless healer that he's not. Purrelden is the only reason his attempt hadn't backfired. She pulled off cute. Now she's getting strips of meat as a reward and a treat as she rests in his lap... and watches Jayne carefully.

"There won't be civilians getting in the middle. Just a lot of demons. That will make it a little more straightforward. And you've fought demons before, I take it?"

[aintwejust]

"Nah, that'd be twice as bad. Then we'd have t'fight our way in when the big guy either gets murdered, does somth'n stupid because the Vint's got him by the short and curlies, or the King swans in to make shit complicated. I guarantee demons are gonna get out, that Vint is gonna try somth'n, and people are gonna die if we ain't careful." A little less of the lounging captain, now- a little more of the sergeant from a decade ago.

Only a little. "You feel like tak'n a walk, you take Jayne with you. Last thing we need is someone stirr'n up trouble with you and your glow'n friend, or someone decid'n you need tak'n care of when they think no one's look'n."

[justice_is_blond]

"Even if we are careful it's more than likely demons will get out, people will die, and the slimy one is going to attempt something." He's had bad luck most of his life. This isn't anything new. "Or the one that seems very nice will try to stab us in our sleep. At least Jayne will help with that risk, though I don't think I'll need him. I'm hoping that one, they'll bring another mage here and I don't need to wander around more, and two, that none of ours are idiots enough to mention who I am."

He scratches his cat's ears. "And three, now that I think about it, that no one's recognized me anyway seeing as I'm a blond spirit healer with the Inquisition in Warden robes. That... may have been a poor choice on my fault."

Infiltration is not his strong suit.

[aintwejust]

"You did make a big thing of go'n 'please call me Detlef' on the way up. Dunno that everyone's cottoned on to the con but if Merrill understands? The rest should. Not that she's slow just... Distractable." And delightful.

"If you really wanna sneak about, ditch the robes, dye your hair, and speak with a funny accent. Kids love it. Also throws people off the scent. People what sound like 'em? THey don't think twice about. Sound different? That's questionable."

[justice_is_blond]

The look he gives Malcolm over the cat is definitely slightly judging.

"Merrill understands far more than most think. Trust me. If there's one person no one has to worry about here, it's her. Which works to her advantage." Because how else would people be fine with a blood mage wandering about? "And that's... a little extreme. The second I cast, people would be wondering why I wasn't wearing robes, and then everything falls apart. I slip up with the accent, again, everything falls apart. I'm not really made for subterfuge. But maybe next time I need it I can pretend I'm mute."

[aintwejust]

"I'm not say'n she can't, I'm just say'n stuff tends t'fly over her head when it comes t'shady business." And it's a credit to her, truly. She's solid and loyal and sweet in ways Mal hasn't seen in-

Well.

In a fair while.

"That'd hold up till your kitten did somth'n cute." And then. Cooing. Aaaah, big bad abomination what blown up the Chantry- cooing over a kitten. Mal don't much poke into politics- people got hurt, apparently, people got a mind to make someone pay. Mal...ain't gonna get paid t'make it happen and tries to ignore the part of him that says he oughta have an opinion.

[justice_is_blond]

"It... can, sometimes." If people are talking in metaphor or imagery, it definitely can. But he's pretty sure she catches on sometimes when no one else realizes. He's also pretty sure that's not something he really wants to discuss right now.

"And yes. My point exactly. It's best I stick to what I know, healing and magic and cats, and leave the sneaking to those who are good at it. Which begs the question - are you? Did you find anything of interest as you wandered?"

[aintwejust]

"And blow'n stuff up- how did you swing that by the way? I thought Gaatlock was secret." If it's something he can make small and shove in a canon or something for his own ship- nevermind they aren't exactly a fight'n kinda ship- it's save him a lotta pain against slave ships want'n him and his.

[ingrid_kief]

[After this conversation]

While things are quiet, Ingrid finds Malcolm and approaches.
"You are the one called Malcolm Reynolds, ja? My commanding officer has asked that I speak with you."

[aintwejust]

"Depends on who's ask'n." Official folk talk'n all official like makes Mal mighty twitchy.

[ingrid_kief]

"Entschuldigung." She bowed slightly. "Ser Ingrid Kief, of Weisshaupt. Under command of Knight-Commander James Norrington. He directed me to you."

[aintwejust]

"Gesundheit." Right. "...So what'd Ser Norrington need me t'do, then? And why's he ask'n favors? He know I don't work 'less I get paid."

[ingrid_kief]

"He thought you could help get reinforcements inside. You have noticed the demons, ja? The Templars can put a stop to it. My direct superior and brother and sister Templars are here in the city, but the Wardens will not permit them entry. It would put the numbers on our side. Demons are good for no one," she explains.

"Payment was not discussed, but I do not think Commander Norrington would suggest this if he did not have resources to offer."

[aintwejust]

"What's he want me t'do, magic 'em through the walls? This is a fortress, well guarded, high tension, and fulla all kindsa potential military and political fallout. I don't much like the demons neither but I ain't gonna risk piss'n off Herc, the wardens, and caus'n trouble for the Inquisition just cuz you and him think y'know best." Cuz that's what this reads like and he really don't got the time.

"It'd take a solid month of plann'n to sneak in here, why the shit d'you think we had to ask permission to be allowed in to begin with? That we had t'argue to keep our weapons? So no, Miz Templar, I ain't gonna do it. And you can tell him I said so. Pull'n that shit as things are now, without time t'plan, will only get a lotta people killed and get me hung. And I like liv'n."