Ebasit Ben-Hassrath maraas-toh, tal-eb iss mer-toh ari-van.

[issala]

WHO: Kas, Korrin, Gorse, Taashath + possible eavesdroppers
WHAT: Kas is scared and spreads the fear
WHEN: 4th of Firstfall
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Possibly language, anxiety, 'Bull is an evil spy' hijinks Edit: Unapologetic bandit slaughtering

The teen had tried to keep it a secret for a while, frightened of what would happen if he opened his mouth about it. Even if Krem had tried to calm him by saying the Chargers wouldn't stand for their boss slaughtering the qunari here, Kas knew better. If this 'Iron Bull' got orders, he'd do it, and Krem might not even know about it until they were all dead or missing.

The longer he waited, however, the worse his nightmares were getting, and so where the blackouts where he'd find himself in new areas of the castle with his heart beating painfully in his chest. It had been a while since that had been acting up, so the stress couldn't be good for him at all.

He had to get it off his chest; he had to tell Gorse, and Korrin. Maybe the big Tal-Vashoth guy, too. He couldn't leave them in danger just because he was scared.

...so he finally heads off, grabbing his new daggers and the bow he was still borrowing, and hurries to find them. They had to know. The Ben-Hassrath were here!

Comments

[gatheringstorm]

"Ramparts it is, then."

She nods and gestures for him to continue, picking up her own pace to match his own. Kas' demeanor keeps getting him sidelong looks of concern, as she can't recall ever seeing him like this. Where has the mouthy kid gone?

"What's going on, Kas? What has you wound up?"

[issala]

He walks with her, checking back now and then to see if anyone was listening to them. The tension is palpable around him as Kas reaches the ramparts and turns to look at her.

"Y'know the big qunari guy that's leader of that mercenary band? I was watching one of his people train - I think the second-in-command - and we got to talking." The teen sighs, rubbing his nubs. "He told me the guy's Ben-Hassrath. Like... like that wasn't a big deal at all."

He swallows, looking around again. "There's a Ben-Hassrath in Skyhold and nobody told us!"

[gatheringstorm]

Well. There aren't many moments where she's left speechless, but Kas has managed to accomplish it. Korrin just stares in utter shock, for a moment not certain she heard that right.

"You...wait, Krem said this? The Tevinter guy with the maul? Tell me exactly what went on, Kas."

She crosses her arms and sets to pacing, needing something to do with herself as she listens.

[issala]

He sighs at that, nodding. "I saw him in the training ring, and I've never seen a human swing a maul like that. It was amazing!" Kas still has flutters about it, okay? Total hero crush.

Until the hero was crushed.

"I was talking to him about the maul and how it should have a name and things like that. Then we started talking about his team and I asked how it felt t'work for a Tal-Vashoth." He bites his lip a bit. "An' he says he's not a Tal-Vashoth, he's Ben-Hassrath and real proud about it, too. Wouldn't touch me without a reason though, he says."

Without a reason. Like getting orders to wipe them out.

"I got real mad an' then Krem got kind of mad too, saying the Chargers aren't brainwashed or anything and wouldn't come kill me or nothing, and that they would veto shit orders." He almost spits out the last part. "Like a Ben-Hassrath would even care!"

[gatheringstorm]

Heaving a sigh, Korrin drags a hand over her face. Ever since she was little, the Vashoth mage knew about the Ben-Hassrath. Her parents never delved into the horror stories, only told her just enough so that she had warning. But she'd heard those horror stories from others and knew they'd be the greatest threat to her freedom, hers and that of any other Vashoth or Tal-Vashoth.

"Well, shit. I know Krem and like him more than I do most of the people around here, but...a fucking Ben-Hassrath, here? If he's so open about it, that must mean the higher-ups know, too. Andraste's tits."

She grinds her teeth, continuing the pacing. "Believe me, I've heard enough about the Ben-Hassrath to get the picture. He may not touch us now, but you can bet your ass that one Corypheus is gone, any 'truce' between the Inquisition and the Qunari would be gone as well. The Qunari won't stop trying to take all of Thedas, and they'd love to see us brought into the fold." She snorts at that. "Me, a saarebas? That'll be the day."

Korrin would die first, without a doubt.

[issala]

"I know," Kas said, the tone of his voice slightly desperate. "The Ben-Hassrath attacked my kith in Rivain. They killed my mom... and at any moment, he could get orders to kill us, or worse!"

'Worse' meant forcibly converted. He hardly knew Korrin, but it made him sick just to think of her collared and yoked, with her lips sewn shut and a mask blinding her.

All he ever knew of the Qun were horror stories. He had experienced those horror stories - or at least, that's what he remembered. His kith had been mostly unstable assholes, but they had been family.

He thought they all had been dead, until he got their letter.

[gatheringstorm]

As horrified and wound up as Korrin is, hearing Kas snaps her out of further ranting just for the sake of it. Her expression softens, not wanting him any more stressed than he already is, and has every right to be.

"I doubt he will while we can still be of use against Corypheus, but that's no reason to let our guard down. It's best to keep away from the Ben-Hassrath as much as you can, but I don't have to tell you that. I'll do the same. Gorse and Taas ought to be warned to, if you haven't already. I can take the latter if you tell Gorse what you saw, so you don't have to do it all yourself.

We'll all look out for each other, alright? You're not dealing with this alone. I won't let that happen."

[issala]

It made sense, he supposed - and it did give him a bit of strength, hearing that tehy would look out for each other. Still, he's definitely terrified about it and it's not doing him any favors when it comes to his training. Sighing, he wipes his face with his sleeve. Not crying, shut up.

Part of him wishes he was a better fighter. Then maybe he could kill the bastard himself. Avenge his mom and his kith, kind of. Seemed the Ben-Hassrath was an ally to the Inquisition, though, and... well. He would never have a chance.

"I'm gonna tell Gorse but the big warrior guy is kinda an ass and never replies when I try t'talk to him." Kas says, completely unaware that Taas was deaf as a post.

[gatheringstorm]

"He can't hear you, so unless you're where he can read your lips, he won't know you're talking to him. I might have thought the same thing, had I met him differently."

Korrin doesn't acknowledge those tears verbally, knowing he won't thank her for it, but she rests her hands on his shoulders as much to reassure herself as him.

"Let Gorse know we're looking out for him too, okay? I don't want him more riled up about this than he might already be anyway. You did the right thing, Kas. The more of us that know about this, the better we'll be able to watch out for each other."

[issala]

Oh. Well. Now he kind of feels bad for thinking the guy was a complete asshole. It makes him look away a bit, trying to deal with that awkward revelation. "Uh... okay."

She puts her hands on his shoulders and he tenses a bit, but... he needs it. He needs that little bit of safety, just for a moment. Then Kas is pulling away and nodding to her. "I'll tell him. I'll tell him right now!"

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin nods emphatically to this plan, seeing no reason why the others shouldn't know as soon as possible. "Good, and I'll do the same with Taas. If they really want to gather and discuss it, we can meet back here. I don't know what that will accomplish at this point, though. We just need to remain on guard."

And she also needs to find Krem alone, lest it seem like qunari are ganging up on him.

[issala]

"Yeah... be careful!"

With those words, he turns to hurry away, almost looking like a proper scout in his outfit and weapons. If only he wasn't on such a pressing mission, he'd probably be proudly swaggering.

...but no. He needed to find Gorse at once. He had to make sure he was safe, too.