Open: Waking Nightmares in Skyhold (reaction log)

[faderifting]

WHO: Characters in Skyhold
WHAT: Before, during, and after the eruption and attack of an Abomination in Skyhold.
WHEN: Haring 11
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Please note that the actual subduing of the Abomination is being completed by mission volunteers. Use this log as a means to react to this event otherwise. You are welcome to be attacked by or attempt to attack the monster yourself, but please refrain from doing anything that would permanently affect it or interfere with the volunteers' plans.

It's so late that it's early when the Abomination begins its path of terror between the gardens and the main hall. It seems intent on heading for Skyhold's heart itself, a continual slow drag weighted down by the way it, for whatever reason, drags the body of a young made woman behind it, by the ankle. Seven foot tall, a twisted monstrousity of human and monster, made of tattered mage robes, bony protrusions, claws, and teeth. Behind it, it leaves a trail of smearing blood and gore over dirt, grass, rock, as well as blackened scorch marks.

It can be distracted, diverted, whether by mere movement or direct attack. It wields magical fire in inelegant gusts of flame, but is just as likely to lash out physically, impossibly strong, fingers twisted into giant claws, or make grabs and attempt to sink fangs into flesh. Always, it will return to where it last dropped the corpse, and make for the main hall.

Eventually, an explosion of flame and broken stone will destroy the connecting entryway between the gardens and the hall, under the onslaught of the Abomination's magic. A deep roar reverberates through the bones of the castle, inviting one and all to join in.

Comments

for those stuck in the undercroft.

[samahl]

Cyril had meant for this just to be a quick trip to drop off supplies needed when the attack had started. Then his desire had been to rush by upstairs and do what he could to help, but that had been foolish. He wouldn't be of use to any one if he was dead.

He wanted updates, to know what was happening, but instead he was stuck down here as the thing crashed around and seemed to shake the entire undercroft.

"I'm all for re-decorating, but not when it's on top of my head." He said, to no one in particular. His coping mechanism probably wasn't the best.

[seesobserves]

Sherlock had been down there all night, mixing up grenades. He had just been finishing up for the morning when the crashes and roars started above.

Given the option, he would prefer to stay out of the Abomination's path. Still... trapped underneath the castle would not have been his first choice. He reached for the sending stone to send out a message. People needed to know there were others down here, in case Skyhold came crashing down on them.

"Get it out of here!" he finished, abruptly ending the broadcast.

As far as things falling on their head... "If it breaks through the foundation, we're more likely to be blown up than crushed. If that's any consolation."

[afilthwizard]

"We'll have no mercy of a swift, painless death. Life's too much a bastard for that."

Bernard had been pointedly ignoring all the people and things going on in the Undercroft all evening, alternating between napping at his work station or drinking from his wine skin. But now there was all this talk of death and damnation and he was forced to at least look up at the noise makers.


"This is what dreaming gets you."

[samahl]

Either way, Cyril wouldn't leave a very pretty corpse. He found it morbid that he even had to consider such a thing. It wasn't like death wasn't a real possibility for any one in Thedas, even more so with an organization like the Inquisition. Given what had happened to Haven, it wasn't even unexpected that their strong hold would be attacked.

Somehow, he had just imagined he wouldn't even up trapped underground while it went down. It was a lesson on how life threw curves at you. He was certain the mage that was the center of this hadn't been expecting to become an abomination today either.

"You both make such charming points," he said to the two men he's currently stuck with. He was still using dry humor to cope with the situation. It was much better than panicking.

Then he focused on Sherlock, "Any ideas on bracing the structure? Blocking the possible explosion?" Or anything useful? They could at least get to work during their last moments.

[seesobserves]

Bracing the structure. Did he look like a mason — ? That thought prompted a glance at the dwarf over at the other work station. But no, there had to be something they could do. Some contingency plan. He looked toward the door, back over his shoulder at the falls.

He unhooked a grenade from his belt. Right.

"Blocking won't do any good, but we can head it off." He pointed toward the wall, the foundation. "Line the entrance with combustion grenades, wait back by the falls. If it gets down here, it'll blow itself up first. We can jump clear."

Might not survive that, but it'd be a better chance than some options.

[samahl]

Cyril nodded at that. It sounded completely mad, but it was also the only idea they had.

"Do you think we could rig up some ropes to help support us? That way instead of falling all the way down we can just get to a safe distance..." He moved to get some of the grenades put together, wanting to work as they talked.