Player Plot: My Father's Eyes

[aceso]

WHO: Christine Delacroix, Korrin Ataash, Sam Gareth, James Norrington (+ NPC Templars), Bruce Banner, Ingrid Kief, Aleron Darton, Church
WHAT: The group is off to stop Red Templars and visit the Empress's soldiers.
WHEN: IC it's August 30 for the main event, add a few days of padding for travel time to and from.
WHERE: southeast Orlais, not many days out from Skyhold at a front in the War of the Lions
NOTES: Violence and mention of injuries. OOC post is here for reference.

Starters in comments below!

Comments

{ the journey to the front }

[aceso]

The group travels light in the interest of speed, and within a few days of leaving the mountains behind, they're entering a land scarred by war. Christine has been near the Exalted Plains to rescue new arrivals from a rift, and this landscape here is very similar. The grass is dry and brown, the wildlife scattered as the influx of people scare them further away. The air smells of death and decay, but there is a stillness in the air as well. No voices shouting or swords clanging. No catapults firing or horses whinnying as they're set to charge.

Along the way, there is time to discuss any and all matters from horseback, as the path winds in places and the horses must be steered at a slower pace. Discussions of the war, the Red Templars, or even something to lighten the mood are all welcome.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin has passed through the Exalted Plains before, but the difference between then and now is startling...and sickening. Between the rifts, the civil war and Maker knows what else, she's not at all surprised at the unsettling stillness of the area. It would seem more surprising for any significant numbers to survive all this.

All the while, she remains alert, staff ready and one hand on the hilt of her spirit blade, just in case. There's nothing about this area that causes her to lower her guard, nor is there likely to be. With that in mind, she isn't quite as talkative as normal, wanting to keep focus. But she'll help whoever needs it and glance over to Christine often to see how she's doing. When they pause for a break, she'll approach her, taking a sip from her waterskin before passing it over. "How're you holding up?"

[aceso]

The closer they get, the more Christine's stomach churns with unease. She's sitting quietly with lowered gaze, hoping to calm herself from her worries. She doesn't want to be too late. She doesn't want to miss her chance to reconnect with her father.

Her bowed head lifts and she takes the offered water, her smile thin and done out of gratitude, not good humor.

"I have been better. I keep imagining what we shall find there. I keep picturing that I am too late, and he is already gone."

[gatheringstorm]

Her lips forming a thin, worried line, Korrin rests a hand on Christine's shoulder. She knows they've already lost someone recently, and that her friend definitely doesn't need another on top of that, especially family. So few mage likely have the chance to see their families again. "I know it's hard to force away those kind of thoughts, but try. He might be alive, and if he is, he'll need you."

[amygdalae]

It's not as if Bruce is a stranger to seeing lands of death and violence; he's been in Seheron, after all, where things like that are sadly common enough. But still, its a bit of a thing to see the place changed so drastically since the last time he had been in the area. Yet another stark reminder of how recent events had affected them all.

The dracolisk (still unnamed) is steady as it gallops through the plains with the rest of the group, Bruce on its back. He hadn't been entirely sure if he should go, but Christine was a friend of sorts and she needed all the help she could get. Not to mention that she was one who hadn't begrudged him for keeping his mage status a secret - so at the very least, he could try to help her where he could.

Bruce has never been much of a speaker and now with a mission to focus on he speaks even less. Still, that doesn't mean he's not at all open for a chat when prompted. Just don't expect anything long and substantial from him while they're on the move. He is more open when they pull over for breaks, although most of his time is spent trying to get the dracolisk to stop sitting down on its hindquarters like some sort of dog. It really was getting kind of old at this point.

[aceso]

"I cannot believe you ride that thing," Christine says as her rider pulls up beside the dracolisk (though not too close). "Really, I cannot believe you still have him at all. I thought you found him a nuisance." At least that was the sense she got from their time in the Western Approach.

"Or has he grown on you since I last saw you two?"

[amygdalae]

Bruce at least does look pretty exasperated at her words, and he rubs the back of his head as tugs lightly at the reins of the dracolisk to get it to slow down its trot.

"He's still very much a nuisance, trust me." In between it kicking in gates and breaking fences - not to mention the sitting down thing - it certainly had brought about more than its fair share of trouble for Bruce. But yet here he still was. "I can't trust it to not cause a rucks of sorts if I leave it alone for more than a few days, so this was the best option left to take." He wasn't entirely fond of it himself, but--there's not much else he can do about it.

[motherfucking_ghost]

He's been through the Exalted Plains before, to gather up some Rifters, and what he was really concerned with at the time was not getting caught up in some kind of crossfire and, generally, not dying. Not dying is usually a focus. So that it's still here is...honestly pretty weird.

And it's awful, but on some level it doesn't really bother him. His memories are unreliable at best, but they're his, and whether he made some of it up or not doesn't matter so long as he has an actual tangible memory of things. Like everyone on Sidewinder dying, leaving just him. It's not on the same level, but battles tend to lead to death and an eerie quiet afterward.

He tries not to let it get to him. He glances over at Christine, set upon a horse behind someone, because they both really need to learn how to ride, apparently, and that hasn't happened yet. He bothers the poor Templar who thank god hasn't decided to lop his head off on the grounds of being a Rifter and asks him to move his horse over to that horse over there. Why? Because he's asking, that's why, fuck off. Sheesh, you try to ask politely and look at what you get. Please do not sass the Templars.

Eventually the horses are close. Like reach over and touch someone if you really lean over and slide off your horse maybe close, which, for horses, is pretty close. Church reaches out his hand to her. "Hey. You holding up?"

[aceso]

Christine does try to hide her personal feelings on the trip, because while this is partly a mission to find her father, the Inquisition's resources are being used to hunt down Red Templars. She can't fall apart and lose sight of that. She is a part of the Inquisition and she must not let them down. However, saying that to herself and actually following through are two separate things. Her gaze has been unfocused for some time during this ride, as she runs through all the horrible scenarios in her head. Church's approach has her blinking back to reality, and her hand reaches out for his.

"Yes, somehow. I must, because we could find anything there." Her eyes flicker to the Templar, then back to Church. "How do you feel on horseback?"

[motherfucking_ghost]

He smiles when she doesn't even question taking his hand while they're on separate horses going to medieval fantasy Gettysburg. "Like I'm gonna want to invest in some lotion for some parts of me I never thought about putting lotion on if I wanna put in the time and effort to really learn this stuff. Hey, I could try riding sidesaddle like a dainty princess."

He won't try it now because he'll absolutely fall off the horse and die of embarrassment, but he makes the suggestion hoping to get a laugh out of her, or a smile, or anything other than the worry peeking through her carefully crafted neutrality. "This is something you need to do, because the not knowing's gonna be worse than the knowing, no matter what happens. So I'm glad you're out here."

[judgemewhole]

James has managed, for the most part, to ignore Church's rather stringent attitude. He pulls his horse up closer so he can speak with Christine. He ignores the long litany of grumbling about riding up behind a templar. Finally though, even James's patience runs out.

"Are you going to complain the entire way? Because if you are I can start humming the Chant and we can both annoy each other to death long before we reach the Red Templars."

[motherfucking_ghost]

"I mean, if you're gonna make it sound like a challenge..." Church no. "Joke's on you, swordy, I'm not exactly from here, and I don't hang around your church. Place of worship. Whatever. I don't know what the Chant sounds like. ...I mean, it's called the Chant, I kinda assume it was, y'know, chanted. Like a chant."

[el_tybs]

For everyone else the Exalted Plains weren't anything new it seemed, but for Sam it was was. He had never been to these lands, perhaps came close while traveling through Orlais, but had not actually set foot in them. By the name he had expected something grand, and he suppose that would have been the case if it wasn't for all the death and decay.

Most of the ride he does have his own horse, but once they need to move slower Sam prefers go on foot. Or rather by hoof. Sam takes advantage of trying out his Hart form away from Skyhold, getting a feel for this place as he does so - that and it allowed for more movement if something did happen without being stuck on top of a horse.

He does shift out and walk with the group as a human though when the pace is slow enough or if he needs to be part of a discussion. One of which times being when he comes up to where Christine is riding, a hand resting on the horse's side so that the beast knew he was there and didn't scare.

"Think after this we'll need to teach you to ride." He smiles lightly, choosing to talk about something different. He is concerned about her, that is obvious, and why they're there, but he's sure so many are already asking her 'how she is doing' - a change of discussion.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin watches Sam as he takes his Hart form, always perking up slightly whenever he shows off like that. She's been wrapped in her own thoughts, less social than usual, but moments like that give her something to look forward to, something that isn't more death and silence on the plains. When he gets close enough, she quirks a smile.

"Think I could get a ride sometime? Imagine if we could fight as a team like that."

[aceso]

"I had already come to the conclusion myself," she replies, looking down at him. "I have gone quite long enough being dependent on others for a ride. It is something I will have to conquer myself." And never let it be said that Christine doesn't throw herself wholeheartedly into challenges.

"Have you tired of galloping around?"

Re: { the journey to the front }

[judgemewhole]

James is completely focused on the mission at hand - and with that - so are his people. He directs Anamaria and Giselle to the front. Anamaria is their best tracker and Giselle speaks Orlesian after all. Burns and Gillette he has take point after them, while Murtogg and Mulroy are assigned to the rear. He checks in with Gibbs to make sure their supplies are well-filled.

Beyond that, he takes his turn hauling Church around on the back of his horse, which is an adventure in itself.

Right now, his green eyes are locked on the next horizon, one hand on the reins and another on the hilt of his sword.

{ meeting the soldiers }

[aceso]

As they enter the ramparts of the Empress's army, it's clear the soldiers fighting on her side are devoted to her. The Valmont family's symbol of a lion adorns everything -- from banners to shields to armor. The commanding officers wear helmets with fully molded faces, similar to the masks worn in the large cities of Orlais. Christine's father never wore a mask. He was a simple merchant in a small town, and she can't see him being more than a simple soldier here either. She wonders if she'll recognize his face now, so long after she last saw it when he knelt to hug her goodbye and placed her hand in the Templar's at the local Chantry.

"These people are with the Inquisition. They know of our troubles with those... things." The scout who met them at the gate now addresses her commanding officer -- a man in frankly ridiculously ornate armor and a helmet with peacock feathers sprouting out the back.

"I will discuss the matter with them. Return to your post." The scout bows low and departs, leaving the officer to speak at liberty.

"So the Inquisition knows of our woes? All battle has ceased as both sides face these monsters. Reports say they have red skin and bear the armor of the Templar Order. Can it be so? My soldiers dare not bring back any item from their skirmishes. They say that evil lies on those things, and to touch anything might bring such evil on them. What does the Inquisition say? Are you here to remove them from the area?"

[gatheringstorm]

The Vashoth mage glances around as the group enters the ramparts, their devotion to Celene making no real difference to her one way or another. As far as she's concerned, both Celene and Gaspard are awful, and whatever happens, the common people will be screwed over by them. But she's smart enough not to say that aloud, focusing on their task instead.

As the officer speaks, Korrin nods firmly, crossing her arms. "Absolutely. Those corrupted assholes deserve to be put in the ground, every single one of them. We've dealt with them before, so we know how they fight." It won't be easy, but she won't admit to anything less than complete confidence. Besides, easy or not, it needs to be done.

[judgemewhole]

James nods his agreement with Korrin, lifting his own voice to add to hers, his Templars standing behind him. "They are a blight on the land, and the eyes of the Maker. They will be removed, so you and your troops can continue to take care of your wounded and your dead in peace. We merely need to know where you have seen them - and if you have any idea of their numbers."

He pulled a map from inside of his armor. "We have a map of the area - if you can tell us where they are the most highly concentrated, we can clear out their nest first."

{ facing the red templars }

[aceso]

Once the group gets as much information out of the commander as they can, and he says he will be spreading Christine's father's name through the trenches in search of him, they head out to the location scouts say the Red Templars have been operating out of. The land quickly shifts from flat farmland into rocky hills and under the cover of trees, they find a cart path, which they follow in to an area that quickly becomes enclosed on either side by the rocks and trees. The rocks and trees are climbable, however, and might offer a vantage point from which to scout out the Red Templars. The Templars in the Inquisition's group are probably the best to come up with tactics as to how to approach their fallen brothers and sisters, and then they can attack to end this movement of red lyrium.

[gatheringstorm]

Someone else can take to the trees; Korrin's already climbing those rocks to have a better look while James and Aleron take the lead with tactics. For her part, she's just itching to put the Red Templars in the ground sooner than later, but Korrin is nothing if not a professional. She'll observe and listen, and follow along with whatever makes for the best outcome.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Gee, if only he had his sniper rifle, or at least the sight to it, Church would totally make a good scout. As it is, with his human body and sight-less weapon that is literally just a fucking sword, he's not much of a scout. He'd miss Tucker's bitching and whining and constantly asking what's going on, and honestly, nobody wants someone like Church yelling out positions from the trees. It'll make people less alive.

"Nobody needs to be reminded to avoid anything red being flung at them, right?" Don't worry, he's keeping his voice down. "Norry, these dudes were your people, what's the best way to down a Templar?"

{ the fate of luc delacroix }

[aceso]

The Red Templars defeated, the group returns to the army's base. The group is tired and in some cases injured, and though there are several mage healers among them, they really do all need to have a sit down so they can be properly healed. As Christine kneels down before one of her group, the commander returns.

"It is over, then? Those Templars are defeated?" He gives the patient a brief glance, but doesn't seem very concerned as to the state they're in.

[gatheringstorm]

"Yes, they are, you're welcome."

Korrin rolls her eyes and moves to stand, though a wince has her sitting back down again. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to have a slightly longer break after all that combat. She's checking her armor and weapons for any sign of red lyrium, and then helping others with the same. Leaving with that poison anywhere on them is simply not an option.

[el_tybs]

Sam sighs heavily at the fact that they're being bothered so soon - though it is expected, course he could've asked how they were - before groaning slightly when pushing the air out of his lungs bothers his wounds. Nothing to keep him down, but he definitely needed a breather.

"You alright, Korrin? Everyone?"