OPEN ↠ FALSE GODS, GREAT DEMONS (OPEN LOG 1)

[faderifting]

WHO: Living Residents of the Horrible Future
WHAT: Ah ha ha ha stayin' alive, stayin' alive.
WHEN: ALTERNATE FUTURE, 1-15 Cloudreach 9:48
WHERE: Anywhere, but especially Orzammar
NOTES: This is the first open log for False Gods, Great Demons. Anything that happened prior to Cloudreach 9:48 should go on the flashback meme. Most members of the TTT and their friends in Kirkwall will be arriving in Orzammar on approximately Cloudreach 7. In the meantime, feel free to make your own adventures. If you want to blow up an bridge, assassinate an NPC of your own invention, steal supplies, or anything else--it's all yours, go for it!

SOUTHERN THEDAS is a wasteland. The Blight crawling across the Orleian countryside and into Ferelden leaves nothing alive in its wake, scarring the land like an insatiable fire until no birds sing and the only things that grows is the Red Lyrium that speckles cliff sides and crawls up dying trees until they look like rows of jagged bloody teeth. And where it's still green, where people can still survive, the atmosphere is nearly as stifling. Every city and settlement is watched over by a Venatori or trustworthy collaborator. Those who don't keep their heads down and their dissent a whisper may vanish without warning. They may take their whole families with them. There are flashes of hope--an assassinated lordling here, a village rousing itself to brief and doomed rebellion there--but for every man the Imperium loses, they seem to find two to take his place.

NORTHERN THEDAS is at war. The worst of it doesn't reach west into Tevinter or the Anderfels; the line between the Qunari and the Imperium is drawn straight through Antiva, with Nevarra and Rivain on either side quiet and calm as only lands under martial law can be. The Free Marches vary between complacency and rebellion, but the rebellious ones risk ruin--there are murmurs it won't be long before a whole city is made an example. A steady stream of desperate refugees is fleeing north to the Qun, but plenty are picked off and punished as traitors before they can cross into Qunari-controlled territory. Your best best for a clean escape are the pirates who still hold Llomerynn free from both sides of the conflict.

ORZAMMAR is the only kingdom in Thedas that looks much the same--and Kal-Sharok, but they're not accepting outsiders. The heavy doors at Orzammar's entrance are sealed and guarded, as much against the steady flow of refugees asking for help as against the Venatori. The refugees are turned away. There's no way to know who can be trusted, and even if there were, there's not food enough for people who can't fight. Orzammar Thaig is still the dwarves' home--though with stealing shrinking numbers and poor prospects, King Bhelen has been amenable to allowing casteless surfacers some leeway--but the once-abandoned Ortan Thaig is the Inquisition's. Quietly. The only things stopping a full assault on Orzammar is the Venatori's need for dwarf-mined lyrium and the plausible deniability that the Inquisition's remaining rebel bands are using the Deep Roads with Bhelen's consent.

An hour's walk through caves and deepstalker swarms, Ortan is a city in its own right. A crammed city, one where cots and bunk beds crammed into shared housing are the norm no matter how important someone is and you occasionally have to protect your dinner from a restless, swooping griffon, but one where you can still find a pint of ale or a game of cards if you've time to waste on them. It's just that not many people do. There's the watch to keep; the tunnels that creep further into the deep teem with darkspawn who are held back at barricades, while the hidden, narrow tunnels that lead to the surface are watched at all hours so anyone coming or going can be identified. There are weapons to forge and sharpen. Plans to make. Bands to lead. Maybe you weren't a leader five years ago, but these days, there aren't that many people with more than five years' experience still alive to give orders. Fewer every week.

And so we burned. We raised nations, we waged wars,
We dreamed up false gods, great demons
Who could cross the Veil into the waking world,
Turned our devotion upon them, and forgot you.
Threnodies 1:8

Comments

Orzammar - Iskandar - OTA

[conqueredhearts]

If ever there was one to stand out it was Iskandar. In the darkest of times he was the one with the smile still on his face. He'd pulled people through a lot of terrible times that way, had held people through deaths, had offered song and story to those who needed distractions. When things seemed impossible there he was a reminder that hope was still somewhere. Maybe they couldn't see it yet but at least he was there to keep the door from closing completely.

All that positivity made him stand out more than the average person and it had certainly made him an easy target as a Rifter. Still, he never let any of that get him down as he moved with friends and loved ones to Orzammar. It was here he could continue to lend a hand for the fights as well as just a general welcoming face to those who needed it.

There were times when he went out on missions and he was a fearsome warrior. It was dangerous for the enemy to be before him when he came riding through on his horse. One could be sure he'd do all he could to save them from falling when he was there. It was the least he could do.

The rest of the time he was here underground. Singing songs or telling stories. Sometimes he even trained people to fight. And if one was nervous about approaching him? Good news! He was already headed their way. Then again, he was even if they weren't nervous so there was that.

[sistertohermen]

Iskandar's about as big as a qunari, the likes of which Rachette is sure nobody in the depths of Orzammar had seen before anyway. She can remember, back before it all went to piss, finding him utterly confusing, and in some ways that was a charm. Now his songs, his stories, his positivity, and yes even his confounding attitudes and insights were a bright spot in her life.

She finds she needs that now more than ever, surrounded by reminders of what she'd tried so hard to leave behind. She's a grinning fool, waving him over. "Come look at this--some of the locals have gotten creative."

There's always plenty of dust, and she herself recalls spending some time drawing shapes in the dirt in old Dusttown. Here are a few drawings lined out from some bored rascals, clearly of some of the Inquisition. There's an elf with crudely exaggerated ears and long long hair. Someone maybe human training with a long stick. There's a big one, though, with a lot of muscle, and most of the face seems to be one big grin. Wonder who that could be?

"Think some Orlesian nobility might pay good coin for that," she jokes.

[conqueredhearts]

"Have they?"

Of course he followed after her to see what it was that she'd found. Leaning down when he got there, he looked over the drawings, sort of recognizing some. However, it was the big one with the muscle and smile that made him burst out laughing.

"Look at that! They even found a way to have my red hair there!"

Crouching now so he can see it even better, he grinned at the drawing of himself. "Too bad we don't know who did these! I should love to thank them for their portrayals!"

[sistertohermen]

Dusters will always get creative with their dust. "I could find out. Might not be too hard." The kids--because they've got to be kids--will want to come back to their handiwork if for no other reason than to erase and start again. Her brand, however marred, is still apparent and makes her more welcome, even with her time on the surface, than any of the nobility. More trusted.

She's never wanted kids of her own, but she kind of digs the tykes here. She wants better for them. Sometimes better means help the Inquisition out.

"What I really want is a way to preserve this. It won't have the same...feel, but a little spared paper and some chalk or charcoal might do the trick to replicate it."

[conqueredhearts]

"Is there paper to be found? I'm sure we could find something to grab the drawing with but it is the paper I'm not sure of." It wasn't like they had easy access to things that would allow them to make the stuff these days. Unless the dwarf people were using something he wasn't familiar with for paper in that library of theirs. He'd been spending his days keeping so many people up in spirit he hadn't really had the time to go and look through it.

"If there is I could fetch it and bring it to you. Then we'd be sure to have it!"

Yes, he was all for this idea.

[sistertohermen]

She huffs a little sigh. "I know, parchment is a little...hard to spare these days." Not when they use what they can for updates, secret encoded messages, attempts to get through to anyone else not ransacked or turned or killed out there, drawing up battle plans. And kids probably don't even care enough to keep their drawings preserved like that. It's not like it'd be something they're used to.

So she kicks up a little more dust, expanding the 'canvas' as it were, and plops down on the ground. "How are your drawing skills?"

[conqueredhearts]

"Mmmm. Possibly not the best but I could say I'm at least as talented as these fine artists."

He laughed softly and went to sit down on the ground with her, not at all minding the fact that he would now be filthy. Pondering for a moment, he studied his 'canvas' then put his finger to the dust to start drawing. "So even if I am not very good at least I can enjoy the act."

Re: Orzammar - Iskandar - OTA

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"You really shouldn't be sneaking up on me like this." Is Bethany's wry response, when she sees Iskandar's shadow looming over her as she stands at her stone table, carefully testing a piece of red lyrium with another concoction that she and Merrill had been dabbling with. A lot of the sun had dimmed in Bethany, and the red streak across her cheeks was a sign of her mourning her lost family.

Yet for him, she always managed a smile, because he managed a smile for everyone else. "What brings you to my dark little corner?"

[conqueredhearts]

He laughed softly and stepped further out so he could have a better view of what she was up to. Perhaps he might not understand it but he always at least put an effort into trying. It was the least he could do for everyone really. Just try for them so they could know there was at least one person who cared when things were dark.

"I thought I could spend some time with you. You are one of my favorite people, after all." It was the complete truth too. He genuinely adored her and always had. Of course he would want to spend time with her when he had the chance to like he did now.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

He could see that she had vials of blood, and red lyrium before her. She was also wearing very thick gloves when handling all of it, as so not to risk any infection through touch. She looked up at him, her smile touching at the sides with sadness.

"Well isn't that complimentary ... I am afraid to say, I'm rather caught up right now... "

[conqueredhearts]

"Ah then perhaps it is best I stay quiet. I would not mind simply watching you."

Watching mages at work happened to be one of his favorite things actually. What they did was something he wasn't capable of. It was wonderful and he couldn't help but to want to witness what she could do with this experiment she seemed to be undertaking.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"You do know how to compliment a woman."

She teased, quietly, and not with the same sunshine as before. Still, for Iskander, there's an effort not put out for many these days.

She carefully lifted the mixture that she and Merrill had been working on, and poured a little bit on the end of the red lyrium. Then, she stepped back, then wisely pushed Iskander behind her as well.

[conqueredhearts]

How she would keep him covered when he towered over her, he had no idea but he stayed behind her anyway to let her protect him. It made her feel better and that was what mattered here.

However, that size let him look over to see what it was she was doing. Well, more like what might happen with this experiment of hers. An explosion? Nothing? Magical light? He certainly wasn't aware of what they should be looking for that was for certain.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

With magic of course, silly king. She herself folded her arms over her ample chest, watching with keen brown eyes as the mixture fizzled atop the piece of red lyrium.

For a moment, the red faded, and then returned to deep blue, before starting to shift somewhere inbetween.

"... Almost there. Almost."

[conqueredhearts]

He blinked a few times then looked down at her.

"What was it supposed to do?"

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"It was supposed to clear the corruption from the red lyrium entirely. I just ... haven't managed to figure out the last part of it yet." She sighed. "So now it takes away most of the taint, but not all, and then leaves it inert."

Closed to Kirk and Waver - Pre TTT arrival

[conqueredhearts]

He'd been told to form a small team to investigate some claims of activity outside of Perendale. Something about people being burned on pyres. He'd read the full details but even now he still found it painful. After all, it wasn't just people. No, these were people with anchors. Just like the three of them on his team. Because of this he had a personal connection to it and he looked over the land from where he sat on his horse before looking to the other two.

"There does seem to be a building over there. Are you two ready for a closer look?" Which likely meant he was going to break down the front door any moment now because subtlety was not his style.

[kartereo]

"A look, yes," Waver intoned, his voice deadly serious and hushed. "I do not want to approach that thing without knowing all the possible exits and having at least two escape routes on hand - even if one is simply using you to make another door."

Waver's goal was survival, first, foremost, and always. It had been since the Grail War and Thedas had made it only more so. There was tension running through his entire body, and Waver did not want to downplay that feeling.

"And as a point of clarification before we go in: is this merely observation, or do we intend to include a rescue element if at all possible?"

[universal_charm]

What details Iskandar had explained turned is stomach, and made him all the more determined to go with his lover and their friend. As if he would let him walk into something like that alone, and more than that, if it did involve Rifters, he felt an obligation to go.

"We do need to scope out what we're up against," Kirk threw his support to Waver, hoping to keep Iskandar from rushing in head first like a bull. He loved the man, but sometimes it was a difficult thing. "And if we see someone we can rescue, we will be doing so."

Atlas shifted beneath him, sensing his restlessness. "Anyone we rescue might be able to tell us more information about what's happening than we could get from simple observation alone, as well." An element of the pragmatic, though Kirk would have suggested it without too.

[conqueredhearts]

"Agreed. If we can rescue anyone we will." But if it turned out they couldn't then difficult decisions would have to be made. For that reason he was glad that he was the one in charge here because he would have to be the one to make the final say on matters.

"Mm. I suppose we could scope it out. But I would really be the one most suited to that since I can go invisible for a time. Even then we have surprise on our side currently."

Waaaas he debating ignoring them and bursting through the door? Yes. Yes he was.

[kartereo]

Waver squinted at Iskandar, as if trying to divine what to make of the invisibilty suggestion. It was, in fact, an excellent point and a huge advantage. But if the temptation was too great, well then--

"You would be, but bear in mind that we'd be hanging back here. If you went in immediately from there, or if the two of us were delayed in joining you, those inside would have time to regroup and mount a defense. I imagine there'd be some suspicion that you aren't alone."

Not a good argument to keep Iskandar from running in headfirst, but Waver hoped Kirk might be able to add on.

[universal_charm]

He knows that tone. He's heard it plenty of times because when Iskandar planned to do something and was already tuning them out, despite the logic of their arguments. He gave a flat, unimpressed look at his lover. Please don't make this harder than it had to be, Iskandar.

"Waver's right," Kirk once again backed him. "You're an excellent fighter, Iskandar, but we have no idea how many there are or what weapons and magic they have. It would be wiser to scout and come up with a fresh plan of attack from there." His tone suggested that Iskandar, being a strategical genius, should know better.

"We need to understand what we are up against and where the victims are. Running in blind puts them in more danger than not."

[conqueredhearts]

He laughed at what they had to say. Not at them of course. He would never mock the advice of others. Even after all these years that was just another thing that had not changed about him. "You are correct that we do not know what we face. However, we have an advantage on our side you forget."

He gave a wink at them. "My army."

Now, that army was only an illusion but it was a powerful one. Not only would it allow them to burst through the front door but he'd be able to read what the enemy had without having to take guesses or hoping that there were magics that would reveal him somehow. He was resistant to magic but it was hardly his best skill. No, he knew why he wanted to do what he did and he was not doing this simply from an impatient desire.

"That buys us enough time to get into favorable spots, to read the area, and to provide us with further advantage. After all, how much time do we really have to scout when lives are on the line? If these deaths are due to them killing innocents then they will continue to do so no matter what. This one bold move is our best opportunity." He smiled brilliantly at them. "So will you really stay back here or will you charge forward with me?"

[kartereo]

For a beat, Waver looked to Kirk and mouthed him a silent thank you. This wasn't going to be an easy argument at all, and frankly, he didn't enjoy this reminder of what trying to get Iskandar to do things was like back when he was nineteen.

"And where will we position them?" Waver said, trying to be reasonable. If he was younger, his patience would be gone already. "I know how the Hetairoi works, but how long will it hold here? And what if it fails?"

Waver paused, then cut to the point. "If there are lives at stake, then it behooves us to do due diligence to ensure that there's no errors made in those first, crucial moments when we come through the door. Moreover, if we know who's in there, that means we can dedicate one person to rescue while the others take care of fighting if need be. It also jeopardizes our," Waver indicated himself and Kirk, "Safety. We're not you, and we don't have your abilities. So please. Humor us."

[universal_charm]

Kirk could feel a headache forming and his eyebrow twitching. He loved Iskandar, he truly did, but sometimes the man's ego got ahead of his common sense and things like this happened. He could already sense there was probably no point in fighting. But he felt he had to anyways, on the off chance Iskandar would be reasonable just this once.

"It behooves us to take the time to understand what we're up against and have a proper plan in place. Running in with no plan and causing chaos is a sure way to get anyone who needs rescuing killed, or even myself and Waver," Kirk said firmly, looking hard at Iskandar. "This isn't an open field with the enemy laid out before you and their numbers known. It could just as easily be a trap. I agree you have the advantage for scouting with your ability to go invisible, and so you should do it, but we need a more solid plan than just running in and hoping for the best."