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

[justice_is_blond]

I thought we asked him here to look pretty and to keep the Templars from being too annoyed and poking their noses in too much.

[The danger is greater this time. That means it's time for more jokes.]

[byblow]

[ In the background, Alistair puffs up and smiles and runs an intentionally ridiculous, preening hand through his slicked-back hair.

This tag is very important and plot-advancing. ]

[fleurdesel]

I told you to stop saying that around him. He'll get a big head.

[ a beat. ]

A bigger one.

[ Beat. ]

So you know: I am questioning your taste. And judging you.

[pinprick]

It's not called firing when it's arrows. It's called shooting or loosing.

[This is super important and cannot wait till after the ritual.]

[byblow]

[ Alistair stops midway toward making a face at Adelaide to make a different one at Nathaniel. ]

What if the arrow is on fire?

[hugeinorlais]

That's called being rude.

[Varric, always helpful.]

Or a "Kirkwall Good Morning," whichever.

[fleurdesel]

We are about to attempt an untested ritual to bend the fade to our will...and we are discussing arrow semantics.

[ Adelaide stands at the ready, a little power humming in her palm as she waits for everyone to have their say. ]

[pinprick]

I'm only saying that if you want to give the command, saying fire will not make us shoot anything. It's an important thing to get right.

[justice_is_blond]

We could also discuss the semantics of a Kirkwall Good Morning, because I'm fairly certain that also involved a blood mage, five Coterie thugs trying to beat someone up, a pair of torn trousers, and Templars hanging a mage who wasn't the blood mage for the actual one's crimes minutes before we caught them.

...And if I've gone melty and weird, I'm not going to be ordering anyone to fire.

[hugeinorlais]

No, you only need a pair of trousers if it's a Kirkwall Good Night, but I digress. Really, I'm just going to start shooting if there's, you know, something that requires a few dozen bolts. ...But if someone wants to shout things?

Shouting an obscenity always helps, right?

[Varric is not especially hung up on the nomenclature re: arrows, but someone has to lighten the mood, you know, just in case we all die.]

Also probably easier to remember in the heat of the moment.

[fleurdesel]

Anders, get in the circle. Archers, at the ready- or whatever it is you say that means stand over there and prepare to shoot in case there are demons. Stable boy...

[ She squints at Alistair, light crackling between her fingertips for a moment. ]

You do recall some of your ineffectual training, yes?

[justice_is_blond]

I wouldn't call it a circle; I might get the temptation to run.

[He's not quite ready to stop joking around yet, but he steps inside anyway.]

Has anyone told you that you're at your most attractive when you're taking charge?

[byblow]

I have. [ No, he hasn't. ] Every day. [ He's only not afraid now because there are witnesses.

And he does remember some of his ineffectual training. He steps back from the lot of them, leaves his sword sheathed, but fishes around for a vial and sucks down a dribbly amount of lyrium. Just in case. ]

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Well ... if everyone is making a joke, at least we know it hasn't gone horribly wrong yet.

[Is Bethany's wry response, as she comes out to the ritual space at last, with a number of different potions loaded up in her satchel.]

I'm here, I have your potions, and I promise only to laugh if they're actually being funny, Adelaide.

[failedfirst]

[Velanna has been trying to focus, which is why she hasn't spoken up before now. Magic is Serious Business and considering she's been heckling Anders a little about the singing she has a reputation to uphold here.

She does look up now from where she stands, glaring at no one in particular but rather the air in front of her]

Creators, how about I light you all on fire and we'll be done with this?

[fleurdesel]

Warden Velanna.

[ That is the appearance of the Disappointed Enchanter Voice. It works better on those that have been in circles, truly. ]

Focus, all of you.

[justice_is_blond]

[He takes a breath and then takes a seat, smile fading as he closes his eyes. Justice is there, near the surface, watching everything and simply... waiting. They're not wholly one. There's a divide, and Anders tries to hold that in mind.]

I'm ready.

[Anders' voice is level and calm, not betraying him the way the tension around his eyes and the hasty swallow do.]