WAR TABLE: wtf is happening in the anderfels

[ichaer]

WHO: Ciri, Inessa, Merrill, Rachette, & Alistair
WHAT: After the situation with the Wardens of Weisshaupt went from bad to worse there has been little coming out of the Anderfels. Time to find out just what is going on.
WHEN: /waves hands in a timey wimey wibbly wobbly vague way
WHERE: Andefels, Hossberg
NOTES: Violence, mentions of serious injuries and some gory bits. OOC Plotting here.

Comments

[circleprodigy]

Observing through her spyglass, Inessa shudders as that red lyrium dragon circles the city from above. She's beyond grateful that it's not doing anything they need to react to at the moment, but its very presence will only add to her nightmares. "Sweet Maker...that was in Haven? It's a wonder anyone survived."

If that beast should decide Hossberg needs to go, she has no doubt it could accomplish the task. She...should probably stop observing the creature, but it's difficult to pull her gaze away, horrified though she is.

[chainlightning]

"I was really hoping it would be gone," Merrill agrees, coming up to stand next to the other mage. She doesn't need to see it closely, she promises. Still, there's something in her that wishes she could, if only to take it down.

It's Marian Hawke's influence, no doubt.

After a moment, she outstretches a hand, gently pushing on the spyglass. Inessa doesn't need to keep staring at the beast -- especially since its presence likely means Corypheus is in the city, as well.

[circleprodigy]

Garahel, not liking all the attention on the red lyrium dragon, whines softly. When Merrill moves it, he wags his tail at her and bumps against her with gentle affection. Inessa doesn't resist the gentle pushing, sighing as she lowers the spyglass.

"I suppose this is as much a 'welcome back' sign as I can hope to expect. At least the griffons are out of its reach, but...." Well. All those people, at the mercy of the large beast, naturally doesn't sit well with her. And there's nothing they can do about it, not really, not in with a small force and no idea of how to truly defeat it.

[chainlightning]

A soft laugh is startled out of her, and with Inessa lowering the spyglass, Merrill crouches to pet Garahel. At least there's another mabari around to pet, to help keep their spirits up.

"We'll be careful. And- well, at least we know where it is." A true high dragon wasn't likely to circle a city like this, and for good reason; there was easier prey outside of it. Even if the beast did attack, it wouldn't be able to kill everyone.

At least, that was what Merrill was telling herself.

[circleprodigy]

Garahel lets out a pleased grunt at the petting, content again. He wants to fight the great corrupted beast, too, but isn't foolish enough to just charge.

Unable to argue with that logic, Inessa smiles a little and nods. "I can't deny that. I wish I had seen more of Hossberg earlier, though. My earlier visit was brief, and I'm not sure my memory of it can be put to good use. But I'll try, nonetheless."

[chainlightning]

Good dog. He can have all the pets he wants.

"Considering the fact that we're elves, I imagine we can get away with pretending to be clueless servants. Most humans won't look twice, especially any from Tevinter." And with what she knows about the Anderfels- probably not any of the locals, either.

[circleprodigy]

Inessa's lips twist in what would almost be amusement, where she not weary and worried about what's to come next. "As long as they don't look too close, I suppose. I'm not that much of an actor, and I've never had to pretend to be a servant. You, either, I suspect."

What was that saying of the Dalish, something about never submitting again?

[chainlightning]

There's a little snort and Merrill shakes her head. "Not at all. Though I am very good at acting clueless."

It's not always acting, for starters.

"I just hope this place is easier to navigate than Kirkwall."

[circleprodigy]

"I couldn't say. The times I visited the city I'd passed through without seeing much of it." Mention of Kirkwall has Inessa tilting her head a little, unable to deny her curiosity. "How much do your perceptions of Kirkwall line up with what Varric wrote? Was the Veil as badly damaged as what I've been told?"

[chainlightning]

"Yes. And not just in the city itself -- it seemed like everywhere around Kirkwall was like that. But... considering its history, I suppose that isn't surprising. It's just also not getting any better." There's a slight shudder. It's a dangerous place, Kirkwall, whether you're a mage or not.

There is, however, a little pause, and then a laugh. "Varric wasn't very good at describing how complicated the city itself was, though."

[circleprodigy]

"He's a native, isn't he? Perhaps it seems less complicated to him because of that." Inessa smiles as Garahel flops down and stretches before looking at them hopefully, courting belly rubs. "I fear to think what the Breach would have done to it, had it been any closer. As it is...perhaps rift magic can eventually be used to aid in that? I'm only beginning to learn, so it's not my area of expertise, but I should speak to Your Trainer about the possibilities. Solas, too."

[chainlightning]

"He thought the same thing about every cave and ruin we went to, but that could be a dwarf thing." They sure don't make sense to Merrill -- but dogs wanting belly rubs makes perfect sense, and she laughs and kneels down to provide some. "I- don't know, honestly. I don't know very much about it, and- whose trainer, sorry?"

[circleprodigy]

"That's what she calls herself; 'Your Trainer'. She doesn't remember her name, or much of anything, save what she and her colleague studied about the Breach and rifts. Of that collective group, she's the only survivor, but what she can do with her magic...well, incredible." Inessa crouches, rubbing her attention-greedy mabari's head before giving him some belly attention as well. "I'm hoping that perhaps the more I learn, that perhaps there will be someway for her to regain what she lost. Even if she doesn't, I won't see her sacrifice go to waste."

[chainlightning]

"Oh. Oh, dear- I don't know that I would be any good at it myself, but if there's anything I can do to help, please let me know." The poor woman. Garahel gets a kiss so that Merrill can try and focus on something cute instead of all the horrible.

[circleprodigy]

"Oh--thank you, I will. You've been so helpful, ever since we met. I appreciate it--and so does he." Garahel pants happily and paws gently at Merrill for more pettings, because she's there and he can and why not. "Raylan -a man from my former Circle- is studying the Veil. I'm hoping that perhaps his insight will contribute, and perhaps we can go from there."

[chainlightning]

'Why not' indeed, Garahel; more pettings for you always! "I like to help. If either of you have spoken to Solas, he might be willing to help? He knows a great deal about the shards, that sort of thing." She's not sure how he feels about dogs, but Garahel can't hurt too much, right? Who's a good boy...

[circleprodigy]

"Solas...I've wanted to, but every time I've seen him he's been speaking with the advisors or buried in research. I hate to disturb him, but there has to be an opening somewhere. If Raylan hasn't made one, then perhaps I'll try to make an appointment." Maybe that's more formal than Solas would want; she's not sure, not really knowing him. But it might be best to err on the side of caution/manners.

[chainlightning]

"I wandered into his study on accident with a fever." Nailed it. "I think it'd be worth disturbing him for something like this. They say he helped the Herald after she got her shard; she was worse off than any rifter, they say. So- he would help. I think."

Probably. Maybe?

[circleprodigy]

Mention of the Herald doesn't spark any personal sadness, but then Inessa didn't join until long after her death. She nods, thoughtful. "There's only one way to find out, I suppose. It's worth a try, at least. I hope he was an effective healer, for your sake?"

[chainlightning]

"Well, all my friends with shards are still alive, so that's- something?" Merrill rubs at the back of her neck. "I hope it continues to be that way, but it seems like it has to keep being worked on, which is concerning. If someone else could help them..."