A Cruel Twist of Fate [closed]

[wickedchase]

WHO: Twisted Fate, Nerva, Korrin, Zevran, Beleth, Cyril, Ruby, Sera, Katniss, and special sending crystal guest star, Sina!
WHAT: A companion quest and elven relations all wrapped up in one.
WHEN: Post-Illness plot. The band of merry travelers will be gone from Clouch 23 to Clouchreach 28.
WHERE: Traveling to and from the Serpentine River.
NOTES: The plotting post.

Comments

[wickedchase]

[Many of the villagers seem a little hesitant to respond at first, but considering how clearly Korrin is not from the region probably helps.

The herbs merchant says:]

Mayor said that it were th' knife-ears in the woods. 'Course, don't blame him much for thinkin' so, seein' as what they done to his son was demon work if y'ask me.

Elves or not, rift's there, and folk more scared to leave than usual. Which is sayin' somethin'.

[gatheringstorm]

[Korrin's not even trying to loom or use her height to intimidate...though the 'knife-ear' comment makes it tempting. Were it not for the nature of her mission, she would have introduced her fist to the merchant's face. But she needs them to talk more than she wants to give in to her temper, so her only response so far is her lips forming a thin line as she listens, crossing her arms.]

Understandable, though we have means of dealing with rifts. This isn't the first one to be sealed, and it won't be the last.

What did they do to his son, exactly?

[wickedchase]

[The merchant pauses mid-organizing of his deathroot, then looks a bit wary before he answers.]

Happened a long time ago. We needed meat, and village's too poor to make trade, so he led a hunt in the woods. Didn't come back after a couple of days, so we sent a search party.

Found 'em caught in a trap left by them elves. They leave 'em everywhere in there. Tried to save the mayor's son, but there weren't any fixin' that. Poor man passed on not long after we brought 'im home.

[gatheringstorm]

[That particularly unfortunate set of events doesn't excuse bigotry, but it explains a lot. She nods, expression softening. As much as it seems common sense to not enter the elves' territory, that does mean she has no sympathy for what must have been a harsh death.]

We've seen those traps. It must have been an agonizing way to go.

[wickedchase]

Can't even imagine. Those river rats been like that for years. Mayor's thinkin' the demons are their fault, too, but I know them rifts only showed up after what happened at the Temple of Sacred Ashes.

Still, suppose he's lookin' for an excuse to deal with 'em.

[gatheringstorm]

[Korrin sighs at that, though she's inwardly glad to see that at least one person isn't falling for the mayor's crap.]

Of course he would. I saw what happened at the Temple of Sacred Ashes with my own eyes, though, and I've seen the one at fault. He isn't a Dalish elf, I know that much.

Is anyone else buying that, though?

[wickedchase]

A good angry handful who've been dealt wrong by 'em. I've got no love for the elves myself, but I ain't stupid. That Rift's not their doing.

But some of the other merchants and hunters? They'll buy it.

[gatheringstorm]

[She nods grimly at that, knowing they have an uphill battle before them.]

Then the agents of the Inquisition will have clarify things. Perhaps when that rift is sealed, they'll be more likely to listen?

[wickedchase]

Hard to say. Anger's been brewin' for years, but with Inquisition here handlin' the rift, it'll help matters. Could be the mayor would be more inclined to listen.

Don't know that the elves will, but if Inquisition's going to make things right, I'll put in a good word.

[gatheringstorm]

[That's more than Korrin was expecting to hear, and she smiles, nodding.]

Every bit counts. Thank you, and thank you for your time.

[wickedchase]

Maker watch over you, Inquisition. I'm here if you've need anything else.