faderift | [closed-ish] all you can do's try to know who your friends are

WHO: Sina and close CR
WHAT: Explaining an upcoming experiment. It might make her better, it might kill her.
WHEN: late August
WHERE: hither and thither
NOTES: Warning for mention of death/sickness, possibly body horror?

Sina has a lot of ground to cover, and has requested that Adelaide hold off on meeting Fenris until she can make sure she's gotten a chance to put her affairs in order, as they stand.

She looks deceptively healthy for the news she's about to give, and this is why now is the time: not after there's another accident or illness, but now, when she's at what is potentially her peak health with the shard present. They might have a solution, but if they should go through with it, it will be risky.

Each friend she approaches gets the same explanation, before they can interrupt or ask questions: she and Adelaide are going to meet Fenris, and explore the possibility of whether he can use his lyrium tattoos to extract the shard. There's no way to know how it will react, but if this works, she has a chance at a full life and the Inquisition will be armed with more knowledge on how to help the Rifters.
She could also just die from it, she concedes with shaking hands and a distant look, but they'll be conducting some tests first to lessen the chances. This isn't goodbye, or even approaching one, because goodbye means there's no hope, and hope is what brought her across the Waking Sea and half of Ferelden to meet all of you.

(variations in her approach:)

Nari is asked to be present for the meeting, having been Sina's constant companion and source of strength in all things.

Ellana is approached with some amount of awkwardness, but perhaps it's time to put all that aside.

Bruce, Anders, Vivienne, and Pel are told in the context of seeking additional insight or knowledge on how it could go more smoothly, or any other factors they might need to keep in mind.

Araceli and Samwise are told somewhat gently, and perhaps with additional reassurance, being that they are in general quite sensitive people who share Sina's fear of the shards.

Beleth, Korrin, and Jamie are told more directly, with the implication that she finds her own strength and humor in theirs. She feels safer knowing them.

Additionally, there is a note to Leliana explaining the purpose and potential of what they're doing. She is asked to be circumspect and not discuss it with any other influential figure until the procedure is completed, for better or worse. She is also thanked for her help and encouraged to continue fighting for the Elvhen, even if Sina should be absent in the future.

[if I missed anyone please speak up!! I definitely didn't omit you on purpose, I'm just doing this off the top of my head]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"It was really just a large passageway to the next room. Decorated, but empty, except for the two Tevinters we found dead." She gives Sina a look that says Yes, really. "A master and his slave. They had been their awhile. They hadn't managed to disturb anything past that point in the ruin." Here she smirks a little. "I stole the Tevinter's staff."

Sina's eyes go wide. "You did?" she breathes, "...what will you do with it?"

"Use it, of course. It's very powerful, and there's an ancient spell wound into it: one that Arcane Warriors of old used to use. Korrin told me of it. It's called Fade Cloak and it protects me from attacks." She's really glad that in a spur of the moment decision she decided to liberate it. Imagine what the Tevinter would think of an elf using his fancy staff!

Sina is a bit less confident in its benefits, but Ellana seems to know what she's doing. "...but is it safe?" she asks in a near-whisper, "if it's from Tevinter..."
Like many insular communities, Dahlasanor may or may not have blended some hearsay with fact. One never knows what kind of awful magics might come from Tevinter, evil as it is.

"I think it is. The mage wouldn't have used it if he was in danger from it." Magisters are many things, and that includes being shrewd and unwilling to put themselves in harm's way. That's what their slaves are for.

"Don't worry, Sina. I've been using it for a couple months now." She flips to the next page, showing a drawing of Mythal's tree. "This was the style of these golden gates throughout the next room. Each had a lever behind it."

Though perhaps not yet fully convinced, Sina has learned that not everyone welcomes her worries-- and perhaps it's for the best. She nods gingerly, and is more than glad to divert her attention to the new topic. "What did the levers do?" she asks, lightly tracing the drawing with her fingertips.

"One would open the next gate, but close the one with the lever, trapping the person inside. Luckily there were enough people with me that we reached the last lever behind the last gate and that one opened a door and didn't lock the person in." Now Ellana gives Sina an excited look.

"And do you know what we found behind that door?"

Well that sounds horrible. Sina listens raptly, and at Ellana's question, gives a silent shake of her head.

Ellana flips through her notebook to a page where she's faithfully copied down some cryptic clues.

"These words are clues as to where to find the resting place of the Sulevin Blade. If I can find it, think of what it would do to inspire the elves of the Inquisition! We can reclaim it as something good, before it was used with ill intent."

Carefully, Sina traces her fingers over the drawing. "If you think it will help," she concedes, "I suppose it could really be a good thing."

"Yes. That's my hope." She gives Sina a relived smile, glad she doesn't think it should stay buried. Tragedy came from that blade, but that was only its final act. Before then it had meant something good; a symbol of the elves' strength and perseverance.

"I'm researching the clues now. The way the elves used to write is so cryptic and full of double meanings. but I'll keep you updated on my progress."

Sina's not naive enough to think anything in their history will be easily come by or won back-- it's just hard not to fear for her friends when they get involved with it. "Please do," she agrees, "...and let me know if there's any way I can help."

"Oh, I will. It would be nice if we could research things together." And just spend time together again in general. She's missed this.

[closed-ish] all you can do's try to know who your friends are

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