Out flew the web and floated wide-

[arcaneadvisor]

WHO: Morrigan, Bruce, Kain, Jehan, Ciri, Sabine, Velanna
WHAT: A stroll in Serault; the Venatori want to repair an eluvian so they've entrenched themselves but Serault has reached out to Morrigan to 'invite her to visit'. She enlists the best team ever to come check this out
WHEN: Mid-Firstfall, we're handwaving time a bit
WHERE: Serault
NOTES: ooc plotting post.

Comments

journey to Serault;

[arcaneadvisor]

Serault is a marquisate in Orlais, a forested region located in the far west of the country. It is a realm of deep forests, stubborn people, and customs that border on heresy. The citizens of the region are largely craftsmen and the pride of the marquisate is its famed glasswork.

[Serault is hardly the longest of journeys many of the party will have undertaken in their time with the Inquisition though travel through Orlais is still fraught at best. But they can travel as members of the Inquisition until they come close to Serault at least so protection is offered, paltry though that may be.

Feel free to thread out any travel threads you'd like or to ask Morrigan any questions along the way prior to showing up at Serault.]

[ichaer]

The travel to Serault is worlds more pleasant compared her most recent trip into the Anderfels. Ciri had spent years in Orlais both before and after her addition to the rank of the Grey Wardens but she had never visited with region of the country. There was always whispered rumors about what went on the woods from strange customs to stranger people that called this little piece of the wold home. Back when she had still been a Rat, riding through the countryside and raiding grand estates, they never bothered to come this way either.

There was little of worth and even what nobles lived here had little to offer, certainly not enough to risk coming all this way. Now it is different and she cannot help idly glancing over her shoulder from time to time. This entire area scream "creepy" and she cannot help but feel as if there is eyes everywhere but perhaps that comes from her own paranoia after recent events.

She has for foregone her usual Warden armor, settling for simple leathers and chain mail instead. Her sword rests on her back and alchemical mixtures are hanging from her belt in flasks helping to give a multitude of light to the shade from the forests' canopy over them. For most of the trip, she has been quiet but cannot help yawning as the trek continues. Hopefully they'd come into some hospitable area sooner rather than later.

[arcaneadvisor]

The last time Morrigan ventured to Serault, she flew for the most part. Simple enough to appear as she wished, as had come to be expected of the arcane advisor of Celene's court, though at least this time she's not in all the trappings of that life. There's something to be said for slipping back into old habits though because a part of her did miss getting to travel like this even if she barely knows most of the company she's assembled.

Well, perhaps she might do something to change that while they have the time to do so before whatever awaits them in Serault proper.

"I am glad to see the war has not spread so far. Yet." Always yet, and perhaps Morrigan doesn't care greatly for Orlais but she did accomplish something very great in Serault. "Have you visited before?"

[ichaer]

"It's a nice change of pace compared to how the rest of Orlais has fared in similar places." Ciri mutters, a touch tiredly perhaps compared to her usual chipper tone of voice.

"My friends and I used to dare one another to travel into these woods but I never actually did travel here." She would say it was not our of fear but perhaps there had been some fear involved. The sort of unreasonable fear that is born from stories that are passed around campfires in the dead of the night to scare those around you. "I never found myself sent this way on missions for the Wardens either."

But now that she is here there is curiosity about it and once more, she cannot help glancing around to gaze at the dark woods that surround their party.

[arcaneadvisor]

"I saw the Exalted Plains some months past. When I made my way from the capital to Skyhold the weather demanded more of my attention in truth and I had managed to avoid Dirthavaren. To see it now..." To see it now there's something like regret in Morrigan's voice, quiet but present, maybe from knowing the history and poring over the ruins there. That it sees more bloodshed now is hardly a comforting notion.

It's the comment about Ciri's friends that draws her attention; Morrigan had none (supposes she does now but you get to your late thirties and it seems odd to just finally have your very first friends) but prowling about wild places was what she'd been born to do. "I cannot imagine much drawing Wardens this way. Tis always possible that Darkspawn might ford the Marshes yet such places have a way of choking out many creatures without wits. The Korcari Wilds likely did the same to the stragglers from the Blight." Or so she hopes, she hasn't really made a point of going back to poke about there. "I wonder though, what would bring the young out into a place like this, rife with bandits and pirates, or strange heretical beliefs in Andraste."

Strange heretical beliefs about Andraste that don't involve dragons and loons beseeching you to despoil urns of supposedly sacred ashes with blood. Because they believe Andraste is a high dragon. As one does apparently. Why anyone was surprised Haven ended the way it did if they knew a scrap of the history is utterly beyond her.

[ichaer]

Ciri glances over to Morrigan as she speaks, listening intently and with interest. She has not traveled much until she joined up with the Inquisition but she can agree with her words. It was hard to see what has happened in these times but mostly it was harder to see what has come upon the people who are now left with little or nothing.

"I never thought I would be so grateful to marshes," she murmurs with slight amusement. There was no joy in fighting the darkspawn since them on the surface always meant trouble or having to watch someone die in pain as the taint swam in their blood. Her wondering thought is answer with a thoughtful hum before she moves a hand to rub at her neck and shrugs her shoulders.

"Because even the young make up those bandit numbers but not all saw worth in coming all the way here. We, mistakenly, never saw much worth in glass."

[in_death_sacrifice]

The trip so far has gone by well enough, or as much as can be hoped for when traveling through Orlais. Kain is tense and on edge as he always is everytime he returns to his home land. But at least he knows more or less what to expect. He's never visited Serault specifically, but... well... Something about the whole thing has him wondering what they're about to face.

When they stop to take a break, Kain busies himself with seeing to his dracolisk, ensuring that she's cared for. Although new to him, the dracolisk has proven herself a pretty good companion so far.

"It seems we don't have much farther to go," he remarks, as he takes a look around to get his bearings.

[arcaneadvisor]

Having met Kain once before, Morrigan at least knows his face, knows what he does and if Kieran finds out that he too possesses a dracolisk then he'll certainly wish to seek the Warden out.

(If she is reminded of another Kain with a dracolisk, now is hardly the time yet she cannot deny her curiousity but there is a return journey to be made. Likely one where she will wish for distractions from whatever matter has necessitated dragging them out here in the first place.)

"Tis faster as the crow flies," a smirk tugs at her lips as is only good and proper when saying such a thing because of course she would know. "Though there are still many that might prowl in wait before we enter Serault. I was warned when I came before, I doubt such times have improved travel even this far from the War of the Lions."

[in_death_sacrifice]

Kain pats his dracolisk fondly, glad that she can get a little bit of rest before they carry on with the rest of the trip. He's definitely curious to see what they'll find, and guarded about it too. He glances at Morrigan as she approaches, nodding agreement.

"I would never drop my guard in any part of Orlais... and I say that as someone who was born and raised in the country. Still, the Serault area... certainly may pose its own challenges. I know what to expect in the war-torn areas, but the people of this area are known for being strange and stubborn." He has to smirk a little at that, the fact that he would consider anyone more stubborn than himself really says something. "But I like a challenge. I guess we'll see what that entails soon enough."

[arcaneadvisor]

Morrigan's own mount, an Inquisition horse of no particular distinction beyond being apparently rather infamously ill-tempered and thus chosen for that trait alone, snorts from where she's tethered it for the time being. At least it isn't frightened of the more unique creatures among their party.

"I am certain that dinner parties and even a visit to a doddering old dowager." All it would take would be a stray ball of wool, rolled just right so that it unwound enough to pull tight and trip someone. (Leliana look what you and your adopted country have done to her.) "We might find ourselves in good company in the eyes of some; if the Inquisition is made up of heretics, what better place than Serault where heretical Chantry groups lurk upon the margins as bandits and pirates do upon their lands. Have you heard of them?" Perhaps they aren't quite so well-known when Serault is so very desperate to reclaim their status but it had been something that had caught Morrigan's interest, if only to alleviate some of the boredom during her stay.

[in_death_sacrifice]

That's probably true enough, about good company. Their particular group would probably seem... very peculiar to an outsider, what with the mix of elves and mages and so on. Heretical indeed. Kain furrows his brow, thinking about what he remembers of the odd practices of Serault.

"Somewhat... I know there's that one group who have shrines throughout the forests to their hunter-version of Andraste." It all probably should seem creepy given the stories about them, but Kain... well, he comes from a family of odd beliefs. He's never been one to care too much about how people choose to worship, or what. Still, he knows all too well how the Chantry must view such practices.

velanna and bruce and anyone else who wants idfk

[failedfirst]

[Being that Velanna barely knows most of the people they're traveling with, even the Wardens, she's mostly riding alongside Bruce for this whole venture. The Dalish all-bred she's borrowed from the stable seems to have mostly gotten over it's skittishness towards Bruce's Dracolisk, almost seems to like him, now.

The elf however is getting a little more uneasy, though it's come and gone for most of the trip. Depends on the day and how many travelers they meet on the road, really. Still, Serault has quite the checkered past, and she's unsure what that holds for them. The woods they're traveling through aren't exactly giving way to optimism.]

I feel as though we should be placing bets on the measure to which this will go wrong. That's what Oghren used to do whenever we walked into a place such as this. [She's mostly talking to Bruce, but she's not really keeping her voice down much.]

lineface bros

[amygdalae]

[Bruce appreciates the company. He sort of knows some of the party here - Ciri, Sabine, Morrigan - but they're not exactly close and they all probably have other things to be concerned about. The other Warden he still... doesn't know what to make of him, given his weird uncanny resemblance to a certain Rifter in the past, and the other Orelsian.

Well.

It's just easier to stick with Velanna, let's just put it that way.]

If you have something to bet with, I don't mind. [He says in response to Velanna's remark.] Though I suppose it would be foolish to hope that something can actually go as planned for once.

[From all the things he's done so far since being in the Inquisition, things going wrong almost seem to be a norm, now. In a way its almost sad.]

[failedfirst]

I wouldn't waste your money. [Velanna wrinkles her nose, shaking her head.]

Remote village with a past of having an abomination for a leader? I've done this before. If we end up in the Fade with a spirit of Justice helping us I will- [She sighs] Be annoyed but unsurprised. Surprising would be things going well and all of us having a pleasant time.

[Since you know, regardless she's predisposed to having a bad time always.]

[amygdalae]

[Bruce very nearly winces at Velanna's response, though his manages not too - even if internally he's very definitely wincing. Spirits... yeah. Bruce certainly hopes that spirits aren't going to come into play. Those tend to not end well for him.]

Well, let's just hope history won't repeat itself. [Is what he says instead, as plaintively as he can manage.] I doubt any of us will particularly enjoy that either.

[failedfirst]

I certainly didn't enjoy it the first time. [Seriously fuck the Blackmarsh they should've burned the whole place down a second time. Velanna will suggest a similar fate to this place, should anything similar happen. Given their company maybe they'd actually listen to her on that front.]

There is life here, though. That was something noticeably absent in the Blackmarsh.

arrival in Serault;

[arcaneadvisor]

[If asked, Morrigan will admit to having enjoyed her prior trip to Serault though this is a place that clearly doesn't live up to the potential it may have. Yet there is something off about the air here as she draws the group to a halt on the outskirts.

The war doesn't seem to have touched Serault the way it might other towns, not so far to the west as it is but still there is something very much amiss. Why else would she have brought such a team as this for a friendly invitation quite out of the blue to thank her for her patronage?]

[Feel free to have some chatter back and forth before our npc friend shows up to escort everyone in. He is going to be so thrilled at some of you. Look at those mages. Those elves. That dalish elf mage. What is the lesser evil in his life Maker have mercy.]

[in_death_sacrifice]

"Something's not right," Kain grumbles as they approach the area. He's not sure he can even quite put his finger on it, but he generally has a good sense for when it seems like trouble is about to erupt. His hand goes instinctively to his sword. He glances toward the others to see what they think.

[amygdalae]

Bruce was pretty much a stranger to the Serrault area - he had passed by before once or twice in the past, but never lingered long, so he couldn't know enough to know what was really wrong or not.

But if they were saying so... "Best to not jump to conclusions yet." There was certainly an odd tension in the air, but as far as he heard Serrault was a pretty weird place in general. "Best to better see what's happening before deciding what to do."

[arcaneadvisor]

When last Morrigan had been to Serault, there had been work to be done though that hadn't stopped her from poking at a few other things that had invited her curiosity. This time there is no one to greet them and that--

Well, with the invitation that prompted their departure from Skyhold, it has her sighing sharply through her nose. "Last I came here, I remember more children playing in the streets." A place she might even have brought Kieran had circumstances been different, had her reputation not made that something of an impossibility. "Perhaps the demand in glass is far less at a time like this. Serault has little else to offer but a surfeit of shame."

[glandival]

"Wars are not prosperous times."

This from Sabine, who leans low in her saddle to cross her arms against its horn as she squints at their destination, loosely wrapped in mist. She is nearly nondescript in her forest greens and greys, robust leathers, but she has a quiver of arrows lashed amongst her travel effects and hasn't taken pains to pretend she is an elven servant instead of an agent of the Inquisition. Her shard, at least, is wrapped and covered.

Her tone of voice is a hint skeptical, anyway. They know -- they think they know -- what they're walking into, and excusing their better instincts seems unwise. "For most," she amends. Wars are prosperous times to some, Maker knows.

boss fight;

[arcaneadvisor]

[Of course it doesn't take long for the situation to go south because such is the life of the Inquisition, and such is the way of things in Serault. Whatever hopes there were for negotiations? Those are long gone.

The Venatori reveal themselves with a spellbinder leading them, flanked either side by a marksman as he readies himself to cast barriers on them. Three zealots are take formation, their swords brandished and there's the lighter movements of a stalker, slinking in the shadows.

They might lack raw power it would seem, but they aren't alone. As before when they almost snatched Morrigan's eluvian from her grasp, there are Red Templars with them. Mercifully only three but there are two guards with heavy shields as well as a knight with red lyrium crystals growing out of them, already shrieking and howling in a way that's more beast than person.

Outnumbered it would appear and they have another problem in the glassworkers chained to their workbenches as well. And you might want to watch out for the equipment. And the glass. Have fun.]

aftermath;

[arcaneadvisor]

[The day is saved, the battle is won though perhaps only just. Probably time to sit down and take a breath. Do a spot of healing.

Definitely time to start freeing folks and get some information out of them if you can, you might find a few tripping over themselves in their gratitude too.]

Venatori Agent & Retainer;

[arcaneadvisor]

[It comes from more than one mouth in the end; someone knew that Morrigan came to Serault to work on something, orders of the Empress and everything. But it wasn't one of them that said it, no, not them.

But perhaps a name is known to any involved in the intrigues of the Imperial Court. Oh and they didn't come alone, no, there was someone with them-- Please excuse them, they must take a moment, this is all very upsetting.

Time to put the clue hats on kids, we're going to go hunt down some notes if we can or to keep asking questions of the npcs.]

epilogue;

[arcaneadvisor]

Not yet pls

[Epilogue content tba, also covers threads for the journey back]