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

Sina via Sending Crystal, OTA

[eolasemah]

[Sina is keeping a small sending crystal on her in case she is needed for any sort of research or consultation on Dalish diplomacy, not that she doesn't trust Beleth to handle that.
She can also be contacted about anything else, whatever that may be.

Periodically she will also check in, just to make sure everyone hasn't died.]

Hello the expedition? What news?

post-Rift shenanigans

[wickedchase]

[Things did not quite go as planned. That is the way of things. It would be too easy if it had, after all.

While closing the Rift, somehow its energy leaped out and sunk a shard into his hand. It'd left him knocked off his feet, resting, left at the inn in Kaladoun.

Tiredly, he gazes at his hand where the shard is now. Green magic flickers a moment.

Then he hears Sina's voice.

Twisted Fate sighs and grabs for the sending crystal.]

It's been hell of a time.

[eolasemah]

[A sigh of relief can be heard from the other end. She's been waiting for word, and is glad to finally receive it, even if... oh.

He sounds tired, and... weak perhaps? Injured?]

What's happened?

[wickedchase]

We closed the Rift.

But it also-- I have a damned mark on my hand.

[He wants badly to sound angry. Right now, he just sounds exhausted.]

(if she shouldn't know this name lemme know and I'll change the tag!)

[eolasemah]

[Sina doesn't answer right away, but she gives a small intake of breath, her silence dismayed while it lasts.]

...from the Rift? [She sounds like she dreads the answer.] ...Tobrevas, did it hit any other part of you?

this works!

[wickedchase]

[It's still odd to hear his name come from people's mouths. Ten years as Twisted Fate, and here he is as Tobrevas again.]

No. Just my hand. Suppose I'm lucky in comparison to some.

We'll have to worry about it later. Right now... [He sighs.] I could use your advice.

[eolasemah]

[Wearily,] I suppose you are. [Some like herself, anyway.]

But you should return to Skyhold as soon as you can so we can have a look. [A pause.]

What do you need?

[ombranera]

Dalish are stubborn, humans are foolish, demons are annoying and the food is terrible. Other than that this has been a delightful romp through the wilderness where we achieve nothing of note.

[eolasemah]

[A light laugh emanates from the crystal.]

It's important work you're doing, all the same. As one of the People, I can't thank you enough for going out of your way to aid us.

I wish I could be there.

[ombranera]

No, you truly don't. I have met Dalish that didn't care for other Dalish but this is ridiculous. It makes me miss the simplicity of the werewolves.

[eolasemah]

...they don't care for other Dalish? In what way? [She doesn't know what he's talking about with regard to the werewolves, though it rings a bell for some reason.]

[ombranera]

The few with our company have not had the warmest welcome. But then this, at least, is familiar enough to me. Of the People does not make them kith and kin.

[eolasemah]

Perhaps not. [Despite her acceptance, her tone is sad.] Perhaps they have been isolated for too long. I shall mention it to my Keeper.

[gatheringstorm]

Visiting that other clan with Beleth was more fun, I'll say that much. Between grudges and pride and asshole villagers -and demons, can't forget them- it's tense enough where anything can happen. The mayor's blaming the rift on the elves and while not all villagers are buying it, some are bound to be dumbasses.

[eolasemah]

[A frustrated sigh.] How could they blame the rift on the elves? Do any of them even have shards?

[This reminds her of something, and she pauses briefly before speaking again.]

Tobrevas tells me he has acquired one himself. Is he doing all right? Has he needed healing or other assistance? He's not terribly forthcoming on the matter.

[gatheringstorm]

It stung at first, but that's normal. Honestly, he's quiet on it because he's irritated it happened at all. If it changes, I'll let you know.

As for the other elves, none of them have shards at all. The mayor has a grudge since his son died when finding one of those elven traps in the woods, hunting for food. That was some time ago and anger's been brewing ever since. I'm honestly surprised it didn't explode before now, and that the clan's remained this long.

[eolasemah]

...please keep an eye on it, all the same. [As far as Sina knows, this makes him the second Dalish mage to receive a shard, and she hopes he will not face any of her same difficulties.]

I wish I could say any of that sounds surprising. I am certain my clan is guilty of similar, though not without due cause. [Bitter? She's not bitter!] It sounds like you're doing the right thing, though. I've spoken to Sister Nightingale about offering assistance, and will be speaking to Keeper Shoshanna myself when it's convenient.

[gatheringstorm]

I will, I promise.

[And hey, any bitterness is more than justified in Korrin's eyes.]

That ought to help a great deal, Sina. Beleth seemed to break the ice, and having a First from another clan ought to get her attention, especially one that's part of the Inquisition. Support like that could make an end to this bullshit storm possible.

[eolasemah]

We'll do our best, then. I know you'll do yours.

[arlathvhen]

[ When Beleth speaks to Sina, she only does so after she's moved away, from both the group from the Inquisition, and the clan. Her voice is glum, and low, holding the crystal close enough that Sina can hear even though she all but whispers. ]

I'm going to begin charging the Inquisition extra every time I have to tolerate anti-Dalish sentiment. By the end of this whole mess, I should have enough to buy back the Dales.

[eolasemah]

[A small, sympathetic giggle emanates from the crystal.]

We knew what we were getting into. But that's easy for me to say, not being there facing it. [Her voice gentles.]

Stay strong, lethallan. What you're doing benefits us all.

[arlathvhen]

If it were just the villagers, I think I could handle it. I'm no stranger to dealing with ignorant peasants who have never contemplated life outside of five square miles. It's not that hard. You smile and nod and then you can leave them to their idiocy and interbreeding.

That I have to listen to it from my fellow agents? That is asking much of me. I have to live with them, travel with them, while holding my tongue and ignoring their remarks.

[ She nearly barks the words out, voice rising as she continues. Her words and her tone angry and hurt, lashing out with a severity that she rarely shows--which just proves how tense she's been. ]

I would contemplate packing up and leaving, but--You are right, lethallan. [ She swallows her bitterness, and wrestles her tone into something calmer. ] This is too important to leave undone, and more and more it becomes clear how important my role is.

[eolasemah]

I promise you now that when you return to Skyhold, we shall go to one of the empty towers and you can rant and scream as much as you like. Then we'll get some nice hot drinks.

Having said that, I think you're more patient than I.

[arlathvhen]

You're kinder than I deserve, Sina. Ma serannas. I'll take you up on that offer when I return.

--Do you think? I'm trying, but sometimes I'm the one feeling tried. Heh. [ Does that count as a pun or just a terrible joke. ] I just remember that we're doing good work. That helps. And it's really not that bad, for all I grumble.

I do keep thinking, how nice it is to have the Inquisition to come to help out. If we weren't here, who knows how this would be going. I think it will be...troublesome, when the Inquisition dissolves, and won't be able to help these situations. Who else would help?

[eolasemah]

That's why it's important for our clans to contact one another. Arlathvens aren't enough, we need to find unity amongst ourselves. If the nearby clans had sending crystals like the ones we use, they could communicate and assist one another far more easily.