[ CLOSED ] Lathbora viran

[serannas]

WHO: Ellana Ashara, Sam Gareth, Korrin Ataash, Mal Reynolds, Katniss Everdeen
WHAT: Gathering herbs leads to an elven ruin
WHEN: mid-Justinian
WHERE: Emprise du Lion
NOTES: ooc info post

The journey to Emprise du Lion is uneventful. The Inquisition has a secure supply line between the region and their base of operations at Skyhold, and that means no battles along the way. Once there, the group stops to rest at the camp near the Tower of Bone before they set out across Judicael's Crossing with satchels or bags in order to gather herbs.


[ ooc: please hold for three top level threads to be posted. all done! go wild. :3 ]

Comments

{ gathering herbs/reaching the ruin }

[serannas]

While plenty of herbs are useful for potions, tonics, and grenades, what they'll mainly be focusing on are arbor's blessing and felandaris. It's already known that the former grows on the walls inside the rings where the Pools of Sun are, and with the Inquisition having already taken care of the dragons, it's a safe place to look.

The felandaris is more rare, but one scout pointed to the east, saying that beyond the last ring was a wall, and beyond the wall, she had seen the twisty, thorny herb. She warned that the area seemed creepy, and she had seen vines overgrown across an old set of doors, but that doesn't surprise Ellana. Felandaris grows where the Veil is thin and that often frightens people. Rumor is that those doors lead to elven ruins, but the unsettling feeling in the air keeps most away. Maybe it's still untouched.

But for now: the arbor's blessing needs gathered.

[gatheringstorm]

Without dragons and Red Templars, Emprise du Lion is a much more pleasant place. It's still far colder than she prefers, but passing through Sahrnia and realizing that air of desperation isn't present anymore makes Korrin smile. She knows they can't linger, but it's enough for her to see it for herself, and pass on that news back to Skyhold when possible.

For now, though, she keeps her focus. Having seen plenty of both herbs during her last visit, Korrin tries to recall their locations, hoping that the more they walk, the more she'll remember. It's been a while, but arbor blessing isn't exactly rare in this place, so she'll point it out as need be. And when the cold finally gets to her, she'll pull out some of that spiced wine to heat up when they make camp.

[aintwejust]

"They train pigs t' sniff out them fancy mushrooms, Orlesians. Now pigs can't smell near as good as a dog and Jayne can track mighty well when he has a mind- or when he's hungry. But why when it'd be of most use he decides t'play nose deaf?" Mal grumbles, again waving a bit of Arbor's blessing under Jayne's nose.

Much like a cat, Jayne turns his face away.

"Kor, you think you can sweet talk him int'a playing along or somth'n? He listens to you."

[gatheringstorm]

"That's because I bribe him. You could learn from that." Korrin's lips twitch as she crouches down by Jayne, scratching him behind the ears. "The sooner we find what we're looking for, the sooner you'll get your treats. You'd like that, wouldn't you, boy? Show Mal he's wrong about you, and you'll get all the jerky and belly rubs you can stand."

[serannas]

Ellana giggles at Jayne's reaction to the herb and shakes her head. Jayne is sweet, if a little stubborn.

"I think it's because he has no interest in eating the arbor's blessing himself, and therefore he's in no mood to look for it." She gives the mabari a smile before heading up the steps of the large ring of stone.

"Did one of you fight the dragon that was up here?"

[aintwejust]

"Oh he's eat'n it before. Makes him all perfumey for awhile, aint' half bad- he just don't feel like do'n work." And yet when Korrin hunkers down to give him love and the promise of treats? That little stub of a tail starts to wag and Jayne whuffs companionably, giving he herb a sniff and bounding off to seek it out.

"...He always listens to you." Mal sighs, shaking his head. "Nah. Me, Merrill, and The Bull took one in a cave- least till it chose t'start fly'n about."

A beat.

"Least I think we didn't fight here. Everything's a might fuzzy after I got knocked inta the wall."

[gatheringstorm]

Watching Jayne go, Korrin chuckles as she gets back to her feet. "It's not hard, Mal. I'm nice and give him incentive. You should try it, sometime." And it helps that she brought along plenty of treats, anticipating that Jayne might need the promise of spoiling. Good thing she was right.

As they head up the stairs, Korrin nods with a proud grin. "Hell yeah, I did. Cassandra, Merrick, Jamie and me. Good times, except when the fucking dragon froze our feet to the ground. But it's dead and we're not, so."

[serannas]

"Oh, yes!" Ellana says, perking up as it's confirmed that this is the location. "You said Merrick saved you." She continues up the stairs, eyes searching as soon as she's at the top, just to make sure no other wildlife have claimed this spot. Not only is it clear, but it seems the team has exhausted this place's stock of arbor's blessing, so Ellana just takes a moment to imagine the scene when there was a dragon up here.

"It must have been so frightening, but so thrilling too." Unlike the Nightmare demon, which was just frightening, because it pulled their fears from their heads and used it against them.

[the_effect_she_has]

"Area's clear."

Katniss stated, as she appeared around the edge of the temple. She hooked her bow back around her shoulder, looking around at the others. One eyebrow lifted up as she gave them all a scrutinizing look.

"What was frightening and thrilling while I was gone?"

{ entering the ruin/doing the puzzles }

[serannas]

Once the vines are cleared away and the doors are pried open by force, the group finds themselves in an outer courtyard, with two sets of stairs leading up to another set of doors. The courtyard is closed in by walls, and several mosaics and paintings line each wall, as well as statues set into alcoves and a large statue, located centrally between the two stairways.

"Look!" Ellana practically squeals, moving towards a mosaic first. "It's one of the Creators." She examines it closely before smiling and taking out a journal from her satchel as well as a piece of charcoal. "It's Falon'Din. You can see his staff." She nods towards the statue of an owl. "And the owl is his sacred animal." Quickly, she begins to sketch out the mosaic (and does it badly).

[gatheringstorm]

As they enter, Korrin remains alert for sights or sounds of anything that shouldn't be there. She'd rather not be caught off-guard if a bunch of demons or undead decided to make this their home, after all. But after a lap around the courtyard, she seems satisfied that they're alone, at least for this particular area. She'll trust the senses of Mal's mabari, as well, knowing that Jayne can sniff out anything strange...even if he tends to uses those superior senses mostly to find food.

Ellana's enthusiasm is adorable, and Korrin looks over with a smile, glad to see that her friend is already getting so much out of this mission. "Falon'Din...that's the death one, right?" Go ahead and tell her all about him, Ellana. She seems to have absorbed basic knowledge of the Creators purely through Dalish company, but little beyond that.

[aintwejust]

"I generally have a rule 'bout these kindsa places- in so much that I don't dig around in 'em and I sure as shit don't poke around in 'em. That's how you get trapped or caught up by undead or ghosts or cursed or somth'n." He shakes his head. "Maybe slightly less chance of that what with Miss Ellana tak'n point but- if somth'n goes wrong. I told y'all so."

But hey, creepy dalish ruin, actual Dalish lady. Maybe it won't be so bad.

Jayne circles around to stand next to Ellana, taking up a wary, alert posture. Guarding, just in case.

[el_tybs]

"He also had a twin brother, right?" He's still not great at remembering the Dalishs' Creators, but at least he knows something - that and the brother's name started with 'Dirth'.

The ruins were beautiful, but in a creepy, forgotten kind of way that sent a shiver up his spine and left the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. So far there hadn't been any issues, but there is still something about the place - maybe residual magic - that doesn't sit exactly right with him.

"We'll just have to be careful of what we touch, or just don't touch anything but the necessary things while we're here, right?" he asks, looking over his shoulder at Malcolm,

[serannas]

When Ellana first asked her friends to come, she realized belatedly that she'd asked none of her fellow Thedas elves to come (there's Katniss, of course, but she wasn't raised in a clan). She could have rectified that, but she didn't want the party to be too large, and she knows that it says something about how far she's gone beyond her clan and the isolation she once lived in. But when both Korrin and Sam correctly identify Falon'Din, she feels her heart lift. She knows she made the right choice in inviting these people, because they've been willing to learn about her culture. And Mal, well, he's not wrong. Places like this are filled with dangers and ancient magic. He's right to stay on guard.

"You're both right," she says, quickly sketching out the Creator's stylized features. "We call him the friend of the dead, because he guides us across the Veil to our rest. And his twin is Dirthamen, the god of secrets. He commanded ravens to serve him, and held the bear in high regard, because it was the only animal entrusted with a secret who kept it."

Turning back to the others, she nods at Mal. "I know there's a good chance we might run into trouble, but that's why you're all here. You're all incredible fighters." More so than Ellana, at any rate. "Let's keep barriers up as often as we can, all right?" she adds to Korrin and Sam before starting up the stairs. "I hope these doors open as easily as the others."

[gatheringstorm]

Though there hadn't been time to do much in the way of research beforehand, Korrin at least tried to do what she could, and she'll make up for any lack through questions and more questions. She may not feel the same pull toward her own heritage, but that doesn't mean Ellana's can't be respected. She listens with interest to what's said, trying to keep it in mind for later. Mention of bears has her lips twitching for a moment as she glances to Mal. "I'll have to tell Asher that one, if he doesn't already know. And not to worry, Sam and I can always trade off on barrier casting."

At least it's not all left up to her, which definitely helps. Having worked with Sam before, she's sure they'll continue to pair well together, especially now that he has that kickass sword. As they start up the stairs, Korrin makes sure everyone's close enough together before casting it. Maybe it won't be needed right away, but...just in case.

[aintwejust]

"Let Jayne keep t'the front, I'll bring up the rear. Somth'n looks off you let me or him go head." Sure, he don't much like the idea of pok'n around and he don't much think he's got much cause to be down here- but if somth'n is gonna go wrong? Better it happens to him. He can walk it off. The Mages? Not so much. Jayne does what he's told, keep'n a few feet ahead of Ellana t'sniff out any danger or keep an eye out for anything what's mov'n that shouldn't-

Mal tightens the setting of his spear on the haft, mak'n sure it's all lined up good and fine for when they find trouble.

Cuz he knows somth'n is gonna go wrong. It's too damn quiet otherwise.

[the_effect_she_has]

Katniss was still standing outside the walls, her eyes wide with wonder as she put her fingers along the cool grey stone. She couldn't feel it - not the way that Ellana or Pel could ... but this answered to her.

In a quiet way, a real way. This was real, she was here.

The others had moved ahead, and she pulled herself out of her daze and moved to catch up, just in time for Mal to talk about taking positions. Both of her eyebrows raised, and she just said, "Trouble?"

While pulling her bow free, of course, and an arrow besides.

{ the final doors open }

[serannas]

With the pulling of the last lever, the gate with the lever prior to this one opens, releasing the person inside. Thankfully, no gate closes on this last lever puller, but instead, there is a gold glow that comes from behind the doors at the end of the room before the doors swing open. The anticipation as to what might be in this room is probably quite high right now, but those who know to be on their guard won't be surprised at all when danger rears its head in a minute.

Of course, the corpses are nice enough to wait until the party is inside the room and the ornate box at the far end is in sight before they suddenly burst up through the floor, bows and swords in hand.

[gatheringstorm]

"Wonderful." Scowling, Korrin immediately throws up a Barrier to encompass everyone close enough before the corpses close in. And since there are several, she holds back from using her spirit blade right away. Instead, the Vashoth mage casts Chain Lightning, acting on the logic that while such creatures are rarely directly vulnerable to the element, they aren't resistant to it either. Better to thin the herd now before she wades in, as will happen in a moment.

[aintwejust]

"What'd I say?" Being right would be more fun if it didn't involve fighting creepy undead. 'least all he has to do is bark a quick order at Jayne to have him fall back and cover Ellana while he shifts his grip on his spear, swinging in hard after the lightening crackles and fades. None of them look all that staggered but he lunges for the one that's closest, spear snapping out sharp and straight for the sternum.

[el_tybs]

Because the puzzles hadn't been bad enough, now there were animated corpses popping out of the floor like daisies. "Can never just be easy," he mutters, pulling out his own weapon like the others. The magic blade hums to life as Sam takes the hilt in both hands, feeling a barrier spell fall over him, and noting that it covers the others as well.

With everyone already protected he sets about casting Haste on Korrin and Malcom, who have already jumped into the fray, and then putting up an aura to help with the battle. After doing so Sam is quick to join in on the fight, magically traversing the space a bit as an arrow goes whizzing by. With a grunt he brings his blade down on the corpse, watching as the blade cuts right through it, followed by the electricity surging over the bones before branching out to another corpse nearby.

[serannas]

Of course Ellana's felt guilty that on this trip it looked like her friends might be forever trapped behind ancient elven gates, or at least one of her friends, because of the way the gates puzzle operated. Now she winces at what's before them. Corpses. Of course. The felandaris growing outside is a clue that the Veil is thin here, and what else can be found where the Veil is thin? Spirits possessing corpses. She's about to cast a barrier when Korrin beats her to it, so she picks one corpse to set on fire instead. Lifting her new staff, she wonders what kind of damage it can do, and as the fire is set, her eyes widen. This staff is definitely stronger than her old one.

Her eyes move to Sam, fascinated by his magic blade, but she reminds herself that now isn't the time to focus on it. She may be completely healed from the demon attack in the Fade, but she's not going to undo Sam's hard work by letting herself be struck down again. She moves quickly up the set of side steps in the room to hide behind a pillar, casting her spells from relative safety. Naturally, she'll have to listen for the floor breaking apart behind her in case one tries to surprise her, but for now, this works.

[gatheringstorm]

Sam's blade is indeed nifty and Korrin's glad that their sparring session happened before this, or the novelty might have distracted her. As it is, she's grateful for the boost he provides, though there's no time for more than a quick nod. When his barrier is down, she'll return the favor.

As it is, after that opening blast, Korrin searches for a decent spot that won't get in the way of her comrades, conjuring a fiery glyph that explodes immediately after she centers it on a pair of corpses. Satisfied that their numbers are diminished, she finally charges in with her glowing blade, relentlessly slicing at the nearest one.

[the_effect_she_has]

Katniss had faded into the shadows the moment the corpses began to rise, and suddenly she came up behind the group of corpses, and started to fire. One after another, plugging them with arrow after arrow as she moved across the stone floor.

"I have them flanked! Lay it on!"

[el_tybs]

"Just be careful!" he yells back to Katniss as he cuts into another corpse. Originally he was going to yell for her to watch her back in case more popped out, but knowing their luck, that would happen exactly if he said it out loud.

After dodging an attack from a rusted blade, Sam drops back, fade stepping behind the others. He takes some time to refresh barriers and spells, tossing out some minor healing here and there. Even if he has a weapon to go on the offensive and learning how to do so, he is still spirit healer - his priority was to make sure everyone was protected.