Let No Soul Hunger For Justice: Nothing But The Truth

[justice_is_blond]

WHO: Adelaide, Alistair, Anders, Bethany, Nathaniel, Varric, Vasran, Velanna
WHAT: The Second Ritual
WHEN: 10th of Bloomingtide (May 10th)
WHERE: half an hour outside of Skyhold
NOTES: Plotting post.

They've kept to the same clearing as the last, because the location's good. Far enough away that no one could stumble upon them by accident, near enough in case something went seriously wrong, it works.

He has scarcely more hope this time than he did the last, but at least there's no singing involved. This can't go as strangely. In theory.

Comments

Arrival/discussion

[justice_is_blond]

[Somehow, despite the after-effects of the last round, there are still people willing to work with them and try to figure out how to separate a spirit from a host. The initial discussion on the crystals has been useful, but while they're out here setting up herbs and candles and the like, it can't hurt to talk more, theorize more, or complain about this not being held in warmer weather.

You know. As you do.]

[fleurdesel]

[ With all the notes she has taken from the earlier discussion laid out to cross reference the multitude of definitions against the outline for the ritual, Adelaide is...less than certain. At least before they had a definitive process. This? Is a bit more abstract.

She does not care for abstraction in magic.

More than a little perturbed she goes back over the barrier runes in the usual circle for Anders and Justice one last time. ]

The Ritual Itself

[justice_is_blond]

[It comes down to magic and preparation, trying to determine how to draw Justice out... but it's not without risk.]

I suppose we start with seeing if we can feel the difference. And Varric and Nate stand ready to fire if some other difference happens.

[His thoughts are not the most cheerful, but he's trying. It's not that easy when there's little he can actually do here.]

The Ritual Itself

[fleurdesel]

And Alistair if something goes awry. [ Between she and he nullifying whatever might go wrong is a comforting safety net. ]

The Aftermath

[justice_is_blond]

[At least it's not singing...]

[fleurdesel]

[ Well...that was- ]

Is everyone alright?

[ No singing. Excellent. ]

Aftermath: Varric Tethras - OTA

[hugeinorlais]

[Varric is not normally one to rant to himself. In fact, he's not normally one to talk to himself, but today, oh today, he can't risk ranting to anyone else. He'd just been there as backup (and, ostensibly, as moral support), but, well:]

Messing around with the Fade never works out. Never.

It beats singing, yeah, but telling the truth? I'm ruined if anyone wants to talk to me.

[He's not even muttering, really, just full on conversing with himself as he paces.]

Ancestors, if anyone asks me questions--I wonder if I can still deflect? Deflecting is only mostly lying, it probably counts, but I'm going to try anyway because that's what I do.

[He said that out loud didn't he? Yup. He sure did.]

Shit.

[fleurdesel]

You can always opt to say nothing. We were not compelled to sing last time when spoken to- I managed to get through most of the day by avoiding everyone or writing what I needed to say.

[ It took more time, certainly, but it was worth not singing. ]

Though I can see how that may still be a problem for you.

[stabsbooks]

Varric?

[ Cassandra has kept far from the ritual itself - she knows where her strengths lie, and dealing with magical rituals and possession (and, frankly, Anders) is not it.

But she's kept herself informed from a distance, and Varric talking and gesturing seemingly to thin air in the aftermath of the attempt to remove Justice is -

Well. It is unsettling. ]

Are you all right?

[serannas]

[ Varric doesn't seem the type to just talk to himself out loud, so Ellana comes over, a little amused, but also a little confused. ]

What do you do?

[ She only caught the last bit of that. ]

[justice_is_blond]

[He exhales heavily.]

I'm sorry, Varric. Again. Maker. That's about all I say to you anymore.

[fightingale]

( Leliana is essentially a bloodhound for opportunity. One of her scouts mentioned Varric and 'honesty' and it is (intially) more curiosity that draws her out of the Rookery than a particular bone she might have to pick.

Then again, if she makes the effort to come out here...

She starts with speaking from the shadows, because that's how she does things, these days. Also because it's fun, sometimes, but don't tell anyone. )

Lovely day, isn't it?

[arlathvhen]

I think that, truth be told--since that is the theme today--this is even worse then having to sing.

[ Beleth helpfully observes. She'd been worried that they would die or otherwise be horribly maimed, and she's not sure which was worse. ]

If you can't stop speaking, you can just stay away from people.

Re: Aftermath: Varric Tethras - OTA

[sunshinethroughgrey]

[Oh dear ... Bethany bit her lip, as she went over to her friend, putting one hand on his shoulder.]

Varric - why don't you just pretend to have a cold? Or a very sore throat? Drink lots of tea, with some honey ... it's only lying if we're speaking, yes?

[She paused, then winced.] Of course if someone asks me what's wrong with you - I will have to tell them -- maybe I should pretend to have a cold..

[doneisdone]

[Passing by with her provision records, Teren is somewhat surprised to see a short man talking to himself. She stares at him for several moments, then remarks,]

it will be quite a bit easier if you don't announce it, wouldn't you think?

[obi_wanmanshow]

[Obi-Wan, who had been minding his own business, happens to be present when he encounters a dwarf who would be reliably described as muttering to himself if only he weren't doing so at volume.]

Having trouble?

[As if he couldn't guess.]

Aftermath: Adelaide LeBlanc - OTA

[fleurdesel]

[ Library ]

[ Two attempts, two failures. At least there hadn't been music involved but this does not bode well for the rest. Adelaide spends most of the remainder of the day silent and scowling at her notes of the rituals they've performed and the ones they've yet to do.

Calling a break to the entire exercise seemed wisest. They cannot afford to fail again and yet- they might. They probably would.

Hunched and alternating between cold tea or warmed wine, the last thing Adelaide needs is anyone to ask her exactly what is wrong. She might feel compelled to answer. ]

It could be worse. [ She sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. ] It could always be worse.


[ Vault ]

[ Here the tea has been abandoned entirely for a bottle of wine and a fresh set of notes. By the light of a wisp she goes over, for the fifth or sixth time, the next ritual. She cannot fail in this. ]

Vault

[justice_is_blond]

[He plops down near her, ungracefully, with his own set of books.]

I'm just worried that the next price might be too high. Is this worth it? Should I keep putting people I care about at risk for my own survival? Not like he'd let me remove the threat. But I don't know, Adelaide. I don't know.

Library

[laurenande]

[Galadriel has been, admittedly, preoccupied of late. She'd spent a great deal of time completing gifts for others but had, as of yet, to find Adelaide. The last she'd seen of the woman had been a harrowing dream and, as she heard her muttering amid the books, Galadriel's vague sense of worry was only amplified.

She found Adelaide bent over her table, twin beverages at her arm and a bevvy of notes spread across the remaining available surface. A set of candles burned low in a tray just past her drinks. When she approaches it is quietly.

Perhaps too quietly, as Adelaide doesn't seem aware of her, even as she stands beside her.]

A dire statement, but often true.

[She doesn't lean to read the notes, but she glances the contents that she can see while standing alongside the table. They are not Adelaide's notes about Rifters, but what then, if not that?]

Has something unfortunate happened?

Aftermath: Nathaniel Howe - OTA

[pinprick]

[Nathaniel would like to think he has nothing to be dishonest about. He's Fereldan, he's always tried to live up to it. But there's something incredibly unnerving about knowing he has no choice now.

He sits back and lights up his pipe, hoping he can make it through this with a little more dignity than when he had to sing.]

Re: Aftermath: Nathaniel Howe - OTA

[sunshinethroughgrey]

[Bethany flops down next to him, giving him a faintly miserable look, but keeping her mouth firmly shut. Maybe they can spend the next few days communicating just by looks? They had gotten fairly good at it, over the years.]

Aftermath: Anders - OTA

[justice_is_blond]

[Healing Tents]

[He feels guilty, as if it's his fault, which means that for a fair portion of the rest of the day he's by the healing tents despite how draining the attempt had been. It's gone wrong again. No one's dead, and he's still him, but that doesn't change that it went wrong and he's not the only person paying.

It means he's also tense as he heals and works, and trying very hard not to be too blunt about ailments presented to him.]

Next?

[Camp Shady Fucker]

[Kicking rocks is ineffective, but it's a little satisfying so he's doing it while not paying the greatest of attention as to where they're going, so long as they're not flying into the camp. He's muttering as he does so:]

...only goes up, and who is going to want to help then? But who can blame them? Easier if we just had a corpse and you would try that...

camp

[unbrokenoath]

I can make you a corpse!!!

[ Kaisa offers, having apparated out of the fucking air at the prospect of giving people dead animals (or dead people) as a sign of fondness. ]

Bethany - OTA

[sunshinethroughgrey]

[Bethany, by her very nature, was an honest person. She tended to tell the truth whenever she could, and if she lied? It was to protect someone she cared about. Yet she would never purposefully hurt someone with a lie.

However ... when stuck in a position where she could not lie at all - not to protect, not to be tactful, and most importantly, when there were so many things she had kept to herself that would just burst out at any moment?

She ... was uncharacteristically silent, as she went about her duties, her usual light and airy manner dimmed by worry.]

[lifeofendurance]

[Worry? Yes that's certainly a word. Not one that Aleron would admit, not even to himself. But he has friends and-yes, friends-mixed into this madness they are attempting. Which he does not hold out much hope for, but then he has always been brutally practical. But there are dangers involved.

And even with what little he does know of Bethany's past, he knows enough to realize she's had more than her fair share of troubles. More should not be added to them.

Okay, he's worried about her, and what's going to come of these experimental rituals. That niggling emotion only shows up in the form of perpetual lineface.]

Lady Amell, are you alright?

[Maybe someday he'll lose the formality. No he won't.]

Vasran | The Library | OTA

[unharrowed]

[That the ritual had some effect, albeit not the desired one, made Vasran even more determined to stay involved. She hangs at Adelaide's side in the aftermath, contributing what ideas and insights she can, but mostly being either a sounding board or a gofer. At the moment, she's the latter, moving gradually but purposefully along the shelves to locate texts on a particular subject.

She is also talking to herself. Muttering, but the library is quiet enough that one wouldn't need to invade her personal space in order to hear.]

In a way, it's refreshing. [A note of surprise — she's admitting these truths to herself even as she speaks them.] I've been keeping quiet for too long. Watching my words, playing the good little apprentice. It's about time I start acting like a real mage — it's the only way I'm ever going to be one.

[tactical_alert]

[Malcolm doesn't find conversation in the library odd. There are always plenty of people browsing the books for studies together, investigations into this or that. He won't admit that he's here to find something more...entertaining, but here he is, browsing nevertheless. It's the fact that nobody answers her that catches his attention. That and her words in particular are...noteworthy.

He leans out from the nook he's in to pinpoint her and wanders over, keeping his voice low.] Pardon me, but do tell, how does a 'real mage' act that you feel you aren't being one?

Velanna Aftermath | OTA

[failedfirst]

Library
[Despite wanting to avoid human interaction until the effects of the ritual wore away, Velanna finds herself in the Library, pulling books on anything spirit-related she can find.

She then sits at her usual table out of the way and hopefully largely ignored by others. She tries not to draw attention, but she can be occasionally heard talking to herself.]

Creators damned rituals and circle magic. If magic were only properly understood by all mages...

[Yes she's going to blame the circle trained mages for this. sorry guys.]

Camp Shady Fuckers

[Most of her time is spent sitting at her camp. It's safe, people usually don't approach her, so her quietly sitting and reading out front isn't any different than any other day. Hopefully this won't be the day when other Wardens or general rabble decide to get brave and talk to her.]

Library

[unharrowed]

[And, what do y'know, Vasran happens to be passing by at exactly that moment.]

If anyone properly understood magic in its entirety, the world would be a very different place.

[She's going to ignore the pointed comment about Circle magic. For now.]

aftermath!

[byblow]

[ After they realize what's happened, Alistair initially goes to his tent and puts his head and the big, stupid mouth attached to it under a blanket, where it can't hurt anyone. He has only slightly more tact than a badly-trained mabari and doesn't keep a lot of secrets. But the ones he does keep—about the Wardens, from the Wardens—matter quite a lot. The smart thing to do would be to sleep until it's fixed.

But he can't sleep.

And he gets bored.

Soooooooo booooooored.

When he emerges, he lingers at the camp long enough to not look like he's rushing to escape it, poking the fire here and tending to some loose ties on someone else's tent there. Then he does escape it—gracefully, maybe—out and down lower in the valley, where the refugees are beginning to have something resembling a makeshift village, where it's possible to get a (bad) drink and barter with hungry children selling handmade souvenirs for religious pilgrims. If he's lucky, there's no one there he really knows. ]

[serannas]

[ Sorry, Alistair, but Ellana is there, helping to hand out a few supplies here and there. She's been here with Mia before, so she has a good idea of which refugee families aren't going to spit on her, and she gives her offerings from the Inquisition's supply to them.

Spotting Alistair, she ends her conversation with the others and comes over to him. ]

Alistair, hello! How are you doing?