The Annulment at Dairsmuid

[foxsays]

WHO: Araceli Bonaventura, Korrin Ataash, Malcolm Reynolds, The Outsider, Aleron Darton, Kas, Anders, Malcolm Reed, James Norrington, Ellana Ashara, James Kirk; Rivaini npcs
WHAT: The Annulment at Dairsmuid; arriving at Rivain to meet with Araceli and her mage contacts that requested aid from Templars hunting them down. When Araceli goes to bring the group to her contacts, they're informed that the Templars have abducted the mages forcing the team to return to the Circle at Dairsmuid to rescue them and kill the Templars responsible
WHEN: 15th-20th Solace
WHERE: Rivain; Dairsmuid
NOTES: OOC posts here and here, sending crystal announcement; violence, discussions of annulment, probably going to need warnings for language; I'll edit as I go, if people can bring things to my attention, I would appreciate it
Starters will all be below, subjects in headers

We of the Dairsmuid Circle wait now, behind barricades. I have sent word to our brother and sister mages of this outrage. When they break through, we will not die alone.

—Final journal entry of First Enchanter Rivella, slain in Dairsmuid, 9:40 Dragon

Contents;
Arrival at Dairsmuid
Meeting the Mage Contacts
Team Dungeon Crashers
Team Templar Crushers
Aftermath of the Rescue
Timestamp; Dairsmuid Adventures
Epilogue

Comments

1

[tactical_alert]

Malcolm doesn't so much welcome a distraction as not necessarily mind it. That the task before them is so connected to him in ways he hasn't divulged is in itself a distraction from the boats and the sea certainly say something, but still--the comment rattles the Seeker out of his...not pacing. He will not call it pacing. He is not Cassandra. But he does restlessly move about. Generally not near places he can actually see the water, but he wants to pretend he's Perfectly Fine.

Anyway, that's interrupted, and Malcolm blanches at the sentiment. "Whatever for?"

[justice_is_blond]

He looks back and catches the pale face the Seeker is wearing. Despite Anders' best efforts to hide his amusement, he doesn't quite succeed. He's never been great at hiding what he's feeling.

"Whatever for? Because it's open. There's no restraints, no limits, no walls. There's potential in every direction." A beat. "Actually, I suppose there are limits based on how far you can swim or float, and what sort of a vessel you have. The main point is still the same."

That, and it's beautiful. He'd stare into the water more except looking down too long makes him start to feel a bit sick.

[tactical_alert]

"There's potentially nothing in every direction." If you go out far enough you can't see any land. Then there's nothing, Anders. Nothing but potential death. "But I concede your point. There's something that feels almost free about it." Ignoring the whole potential death thing.

[justice_is_blond]

"Almost." Yep. He's a little more amused now. "What is it that has you so displeased with it? The nothing? As long as you're not headed south you'll hit land eventually." Follow the trail of the sun and you'll get somewhere. It's not that hard. In theory. Then again, he may easily be one of very few on this ship who has deliberately swam for miles before.

[tactical_alert]

"It's not the nothing." It's the water. It's the sensation of water filling his lungs and the darkness creeping across his vision. "I haven't always gotten along with sea travel." That's at least partially true. He did get stranded with an eventual friend. That wasn't pleasant either. "I suppose it doesn't help that I'm a touch keyed up as well."

[justice_is_blond]

"Mm." History, then. Maybe a wreck? Maybe hunger or dehydration? Reed's left it vague and Anders figures that's deliberate so he won't pry there. The other, though, seems open for prodding.

"Keyed up? It's a rescue mission, and it seems fairly--" Anders breaks off and snorts. Straightforward is what he was going to say. "Never mind. Something will go wrong, because something always does. But we should have enough people for whatever it winds up being."

[tactical_alert]

At least the mage of ill repute understands how these things work, and Malcolm gives a wry smirk. "Always best to be prepared for how badly it will go wrong. Lady Araceli has certainly given this some thought, I'll grant her that. Do you know much of her?" Because it strikes him that he knows little of her. Many of the people on this ship he's worked with before in some manner or another, or at least knows of, but not so of her.

[justice_is_blond]

"Not a great deal, no. She seems competent and passionate, but we've not spoken much. I'm here for the mission." There's... a lot of work to do, still, toward freedom. It's one thing to have the cage open. It's so much more for mages to have the opportunity to mingle and live like everyone else instead of being hunted and hurt.

"And you? Do you know much of her? I know even less of you than I do of her." The seeker had chosen to speak with him, something that puts him above many seekers and Templars already in Anders' estimates.

[tactical_alert]

"I'm afraid I'm in the same boat as you." Look at that wry smirk, despite the unease in his frame and his presence. How many Seekers do you know that can make a deliberate funny, hm?

Keeping track of Rifters is not his job, and after the reaction to Cassandra's efforts, he doesn't think it ought to be. Still, it wouldn't be the worst idea, to make sure who all has arrived, what they do, where they go. They can only learn so much about Thedas at Skyhold in so little time.

"I've worked alongside some of our fellows here," he starts about himself. He is not a wholly unknown entity. One can hardly get much more infamous than Anders, but look, the mage hasn't been thrown overboard yet, so that must be a positive enough sign. "I also more recently directly report to Lady Cassandra. Perhaps for her own sake I should make a point of more broadly informing people, when we return." A short shake of his head. "That I am an unknown entity to you is, I think, a good sign. It means I'm keeping my mouth shut and out of trouble, at least around the right people."

[justice_is_blond]

His expression turns into a smile for a few moments before the mention of directly reporting to Cassandra make that fade away.

"Would I be the right people, or the wrong people?" He knows Cassandra's opinion of him. She'd made it quite clear. All the same, there isn't a barb to the question. It's neutral enough, because Malcolm has come over to talk with him directly. Reed deserves calm conversation.

"And if you're feeling a bit seasick, would helping with that ease me closer to the better side of the scale?"

[tactical_alert]

He looks Anders up and down, contemplating. "I haven't decided yet. But if it's any consolation, I'd rather stay off your bad side." Not that he would be unable to defend himself should he have to. But still. Anders has a reputation. It is per the Inquisition's orders that Anders stays, untouched, within their ranks, and Malcolm will follow that order without fail. "I just mean that I'm more of a keep my head down, do my job, anything else I do quietly and without fuss sort of fellow."

He's quite capable of making a fuss when one needs made, though. But again, mostly to the right people, not making a fool of himself in front of everyone. He waves Anders' concern aside. "It isn't a bout of illness, I can assure you that."

[justice_is_blond]

It's his own fault for asking, really. He shouldn't have. But that's somewhat the story of his life. Maybe he should write a book, Things I Probably Shouldn't Have Done. The thought doesn't stop a grimace at the comment about staying off his bad side, though. He can't deny he has one, as much as he'd like to.

"Generally, if someone isn't hurting people and isn't advocating for mages to be herded together and caged again, they're not on my bad side. It's not universally true, but you've come to help mage victims." And he doubts that's on Cassandra's orders. "That puts you very much on the good side."