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

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.

Vault

[fleurdesel]

[ For a long moment she holds to her tactic from a week ago- saying nothing and scratching out the beginnings of several possible answers on paper.

Ultimately she mutters. ]

I am not doing this for you. I am doing this for what might come of testing the rituals and because I gave my word. I am not sure if it is worth it for you- but I know it is worth it for anyone else that might be saved by what we learn.

[ ...that was more than she'd meant to say. Shit. ]

[justice_is_blond]

[He looks down because he can't look at her, and his shoulders slump.]

So everything is gone. I'd feared it would be so, and hope has never worked out for me. This should come as no surprise.

[Not even friendship. It hurts more than he'd been prepared for.]

I can release you from your word. You don't have to continue being at risk due to obligation, and any lessons learned can be conveyed to you by Bethany.

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?

[fleurdesel]

Balles de Deiu!

[ Adelaide startles, sharply, flinching away from Galadirel's voice and snapping up a barrier without thought. The faint blue shimmer to the air lingers for a moment or two as she caches her breath and claws for her composure again. Galadriel, no one else.

She has not been quite so tightly wound in...months. As much as it is a point in favor of her settling into some manner of normality it makes the loss of control all the more mortifying. With a vague wave of her hand she dismisses the barrier and breathes through her nose to calm her hammering heart. ]

You frightened me.

[ Understatement, that. ]

I failed, again. If that is a mark of what is to come with the rest of this- [ She flicks her fingers at the notes before her. ] it may be better to not.

[laurenande]

[Galadriel recoils as the barrier abruptly rises, but the magic does no harm and, in the end, dissipates. Adelaide's shock is...less surprising than it should be and the elf offers an apologetic look.]

Ah, forgive me, it was not my intent.

[She moves around the table and, in passing, glances the notes again. While she has become competent in reading the common language of Thedas, personal handwriting is still something of a hindrance and Adelaide's notes are as dense as her own are wont to be.]

Failed? [She arches a brow and turns her attention to the human.] Howso?

Re: Aftermath: Adelaide LeBlanc - OTA

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Yes, Justice could have come out and killed us all in a bloody rampage. That we're not dead should be considered a blessing.

[Bethany murmured from over her book - then closed her eyes before pressing one hand to her forehead.]

... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that outloud.

Aftermath: Adelaide LeBlanc - OTA

[fleurdesel]

No, that is only a likely outcome of the last ritual.

[ Wait that-

Shit.

Without another word she pours a measure of wine into an empty teacup and offers it to Bethany. ]

It is better than singing.

Re: Aftermath: Adelaide LeBlanc - OTA

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Maker's Breath ...

[Bethany breathed out, leaning back to stare at Adelaide for a moment. Then she leans over to take the teacup, and drinks at least half the measure down.]

... Yes, but that depends on who we're speaking with. For example? I really don't want to talk about this in front of Anders, knowing that he will know if that fails? ... I will have to kill him.

vault

[fightingale]

( Perhaps this is unkind. However, they were mired in one attempt together, and Leliana is not entirely without mercy.

She sets a fresh bottle down in front of Adelaide when the first runs low. Orlesian, a good year. )

May I ask you about the ritual?

vault

[fleurdesel]

You may.

[ Not that she is compelled to answer. But upon seeing the bottle- well. Adelaide uncorks the offering with a flick of the wrist and a bit of will before pouring herself a fresh glass. ]

It backfired, again. All of us are compelled to be truthful, likely for a day. Until I know for certain the rest won't do the same or possibly kill us, we are taking a break.

[fightingale]

Singing does not seem so agonising, in retrospect.

( A spymaster compelled to speak the truth? Disaster. Leliana exhales, and after a pause of consideration, speaks again. )

Are there resources that you need for this assessment?

Library

[unharrowed]

[Vasran is flipping through the pages of a particular text, looking for any phrases or words that might have a chance of being relevant.]

Nobody died. And Justice, or Vengeance, or whatever it is now didn't try to kill us all for interfering. So yes, it could be a lot worse.

[fleurdesel]

Precisely. But if they are all going to flip back on us this way...

[ Something is missing. Something innate is off- both rituals had been performed to the letter, the intent was there, the power had been just so. ]

There is a variable we must not be accounting for. Once is a fluke, twice is the beginning of a pattern. The next involves dream walking and I am not going to go through with this until I know for certain what it is I am missing.

[unharrowed]

I'm fascinated by the idea of dream walking. Also frightened. It seems like a good way to attract the attention of demons.

[And at that little admission, a small amount of color rises to her face.]

I hate admitting that I'm scared. [Sigh.]

Library

[eolasemah]

[Sina is passing, a large book under her arm, when she hears Adelaide mumbling to herself and turns to see her. Her face alights in a smile as she comes over to the woman's table, clutching the book to her chest.]

How'd it go? ...no songs today, I hope.

Library

[fleurdesel]

No songs, though I would prefer that. Truth, this time. There seems to be a trend in how these rituals go wrong.

[ And Adelaide shall remain forever vexed until she can pick out the why. ]

[eolasemah]

Truth?

[Sina pauses, then comes to sit down across from Adelaide.]

What kind of truth? Is everyone all right?

[madame_de_fer]

[Vivienne approaches the library bearing an ancient looking tome with obvious scorch marks on the binding and what appears to be a slash in the cover inflicted by some sharp or another. And she's frowning.

But the state of her rescued book is not all of her concern. She's heard of these attempts to purge the Abomination-in-Their-Midst. Foolish and unlikely to succeed. But there is some interest in her at the success of the process. Almost scientific in her calculating curiosity.]

Dare I ask how bad it is, my dear?

[fleurdesel]

As designed there ought to be two options for these rituals. They work or they do not. Pass or fail. I thought last week was an outlier but to have it turned back upon us a second time...

[ Adelaide slumps in her chair, squinting at the ceiling. ]

Once is a fluke, twice is the beginning of a pattern. And before you say anything I know you do not approve but I do not want to hear how pointless you find this, no matter how diplomatically you phrase it.

[ a beat. ]

Merde.

[madame_de_fer]

Pointless? Hardly, my dear. Indeed I am most interested in seeing the results of these little experiments. They're quite risky and I must say the subject is an ideal one.

[Really, if Anders dies in the process? Vivienne won't shed a tear. Better he than some overly-curious apprentice.]

Though, I do wonder, is he worth it?

[After all, great efforts are being put forth to "save" a known terrorist and abomination. It does seem quite the waste. And poor Adelaide seems so weary.]

pretend this isn't terribly late (VAULT)

[amygdalae]

[By the time Bruce comes down here it is pretty late - most of Skyhold has already retired save for the insomniacs and the night patrol. He hadn't seen Adelaide all day and he had been getting a little worried, so after asking around to find out her location he's coming down here while carrying a pot of tea and some cups. Don't ask how he manages that.]

Leblanc? [He calls out quietly once he's inside the room, glancing around the dim light for any sign of her.]

Shh shh it's ok shh

[fleurdesel]

You know you can call me Adelaide. Or Adele. Or anything that isn't 'Addie', yes? We are friends.

[ And she is on the warm and listing side of drunk, tucked up against the wall, notes too one side, a half empty bottle of brandy to the other. ]

/lies dooown

[amygdalae]

[After his... encounter with Anders earlier in the day Bruce knows enough to understand that Adelaide probably didn't mean to voice that out, and he respects her enough to not talk about it. Instead he just uses her voice to better pinpoint where she it and soon he's in her sights, coming towards her with the tea he's brought down with him.

(Seriously, don't ask how he manages it.)]

This is a terrible place to hide. [He manages with only the faintest of wryness in his voice as he goes to set down said pot of tea and cups.] Could have at least tried to go somewhere with fresh air.