[CLOSED] PLAYER PLOT: The Ashes Underneath His Nails

[amygdalae]

WHO: Jim Kirk, Hermione Granger, Adelaide Leblanc, Herian Amsel, Anders, Inessa Serra, Raylan Gibbs, Ciri
WHAT: The Inquisition sends a group of agents to uncover the truth behind a string of mysterious disappearances.
WHEN: Kingsway 1st - 8th
WHERE: Emprise du Lion
NOTES: Plotting post is here - feel free to post in there still for queries and concerns and further stuff where needed. Warnings for blood, violence, talks about death, experimentation horror, abomination-related stuff etc and eventual on-screen child death. ALSO no tag order - just respond when you feel like you should and I'll try to hit it back if it feels appropriate!!

QUICK JUMP LINKS TRAVELLING TO FROMAGE & FROMAGE GENERAL THREAD ROUTE INVESTIGATION SEEKRIT CAVE ENTRANCE INTO THE SEEKRIT CAVE CAVE INVESTIGATION - LEFT TEAM CAVE INVESTIGATION - RIGHT TEAM KID ABOMINATION THREAD BACK TO SKYHOLD

(—he remembers the chill of the frost and snow biting at bare skin, its usual pure white now tinged a horrid pink from the blood on his hands. He's far away from them now, the danger and the pain and everything else, but the blood will forever be on his hands no matter how much he tries to wash it away. His father had been right all along. He truly was a monster of the greatest kind.)

QUEST: THE ASHES UNDERNEATH HIS NAILS (PART I) The message had come swiftly, the letter itself hastily written with a shaky hand. The request itself was simple; a plea for help from a village at the outskirts of Emprise du Lion, whose people have been mysteriously disappearing over the last few weeks. Considering the ongoing civil unrest that's still transpiring in Orlais the Inquisition made its decision to send out a team of agents to look into this message and see exactly what was going on. The eight agents tasked with the mission were given enough time to prepare for the trip ahead. They would all meet up first at the Inquisition camp set within the Emprise and from there travel for about a day until they reached where their destination was - Fromage, a quaint little village that rested at the outskirts of the area. From that point on, it was up to the agents of the Inquisition to solve this ongoing mystery. The mission: to discover the truth behind these disappearances - and to stop it, if possible.

Comments

[justice_is_blond]

He inhales and exhales a little shakily, working to keep a hold on everything as he sips.

"We did. We did." It's as much to convince her as it is to convince him. What if he'd gotten there sooner, spent less time paging through books, been able to find common ground with the boy? The what-ifs aren't something he can afford to dwell on, no matter how there are always more. "And I still..."

He's always going to remember the way the ice cutting into the boy's neck had felt. "We have a ritual. But what's the point if we can't even... I wanted to save him." Anders reaches down, into his pouch, and brings out the small stuffed nug.

[circleprodigy]

"...as did I. I know what it would have meant to everyone -and to you- if that had happened. I'm so sorry." A brief glance at that stuffed nug and suddenly the fire is the most fascinating thing in the world. Inessa bites her lip to keep it from trembling. "For a moment, it seemed as though that might have been possible. If we could save him, then that would be all that mattered. And then I heard that...thing...speak through him, and I might as well have been a child in the tower once more. I froze."

Her apologetic tone persists, hating that despite her Harrowing, Joining and numerous other dark memories, that this was the thing that broke her. She was supposed to be well past this trauma.

[justice_is_blond]

Uldred. He hadn't been there, having been escaped at the time, but he'd heard the stories from other mages, Jonas, and Oghren.

"I don't blame you for freezing." Whenever his greatest fear rears its head, he seizes up. "It would have been..." So nice, but he can't dwell on that. "But it didn't. And now he won't hurt anyone, or hurt any further."

The people who did this are still out there, but right now the trail seems cold. Maybe something in the notes will give their identities away. He shifts the nug in his hands before catching sight of Garahel glancing at it. This is probably cruel, him playing with a stuffed toy and not giving it to the mabari, and he goes to put it away before stopping.

"Inessa. How good is he with scents? If the boy lived near here..." It might not work. There's snow and ice on the ground. The boy might not have been from the village. But maybe they can find the house, find out his name, something. It's a half-formed mess of a thought.

[circleprodigy]

Glancing over at Garahel perking up slightly, the mabari understanding what's asked of him, Inessa smiles a little. "He's the best tracker I could ask for, without a doubt. If there's a scent worth catching and following, he'll find it. Isn't that right, boy?"

Garahel stands and nods, letting out a quiet bark. He wags that tail, eager to help despite his own exhaustion.

I've sent the question to KB of what we can find

[justice_is_blond]

He doesn't know what can come of this, but anything might be a relief. Anything. Anders leans forward, offering the nug to Garahel.

"Can you track this? Can you find his home, or... something?"

[circleprodigy]

Garahel sniffs at the nug, thoroughly, then takes it in his jaws and heads off. Standing, Inessa brushes herself off. "I guess that's a 'yes'. Let's see what he finds, then."

She grabs her staff almost without thinking, not about to leave it behind. The horror may be over, she's a long way from feeling safe.

They won't find anything in the end, alas. The trail is too old to be clear.

[justice_is_blond]

His staff has stayed on his back; despite how it's singed, it's still a useful tool that he wants on hand. Where there's red templars, there's headaches.

"He'll give it back, after?" It's clear that the mabari is being careful with it. Anders just feels a need to keep the nug. He'd killed another innocent after he'd promised himself he wouldn't, because it had been needed. The toy is a tangible reminder of how he needs to do better.

:(

[circleprodigy]

Glancing over and up to Anders, Inessa nods. "He will when I tell him to, yes. Garahel has enough toys and he knows that this won't be one of them." She follows a few paces behind her mabari, watching him pace along in pursuit of that scent. But after several minutes, it's apparent that his searching is more hopefully groping around than it is pursuing an actual trail. Inessa sighs. "If there was a trial to track, he would have found it. If he hasn't found one by now...I don't think he will."

There's a muffled whine from Garahel, who turns and gives them an apologetic stare, tail drooping.

[justice_is_blond]

He exhales, feeling disappointed on top of everything else, but knowing not to show it. Mabari are smart, and Garahel did what he could. There's snow on the ground and the Templars had so long to visit horrors upon the child; the odds weren't in the mabari's favor to start with.

"Thank you for trying, boy. Garahel. I appreciate it." It had been too much to hope.

[circleprodigy]

There's a soft whine from Garahel, sad that he can't do more. He returns to them, pausing before Anders to let him take the nug toy from his mouth. Inessa bends down to stroke his head. "You tried, Garahel. That's all we can ask of you."

Straightening, she sighs. "I still have some of the books from the caves. They were Circle tomes, and I didn't want to leave them among such filth. Maybe I should have, though. Some were written in, notes in the margins, research that somehow helped them do...that, however indirectly. I don't know whether to bury them or turn them in so that researchers can anticipate what others might try."

[justice_is_blond]

He takes the toy, and keeps himself from wiping it off when tucking it back into his pouch. It's not like Garahel slobbered deliberately. Then he's looking back up at Inessa.

"My dilemma was whether I should burn the book I found or try to see if I could research counter actions, ways to deal with red lyrium poisoning, since I've had a patient suffering from it before. Adelaide suggested using it."

Anders exhales. "It doesn't make up for the pain and torment the captives went through." Or the boy. "But if a sliver of good could come from it, destroying the books could be a waste."

[circleprodigy]

Inessa nods dully and sighs, wishing there was more they could do. And as long as she's wishing, perhaps the Red Templars could all spontaneously drop dead. Wouldn't that be nice.

"I can give the books to Adelaide, then. I want nothing to do with them, ever." The thought of having them near her makes her stomach twist again, and she's glad there's nothing in it to bring back up.

[justice_is_blond]

He nods. "If you'd like. Or if you wanted to give them to me and tell Adelaide you did so. If I'm going to start to research counter-agents I might need the notes, as repulsive as they are."

There's regret in his voice, but he knows this isn't going to stop with one group. Especially when the one group had escaped justice. "But I'm not recommending one way or the other, which is to say I'll also not be bothered if you give them to her."

[circleprodigy]

"No, that's fine. You can have them. And...perhaps later, when I can stomach the sight of those books again, I can assist? If some good can come of all this vileness, I would help see that through. You shouldn't have it all on your shoulders." It's hard to think that far ahead, when her trance-like state was really not that long ago, but Inessa clings to purpose where and when she can find it.

[justice_is_blond]

"Of course." The subject matter is dangerous, but that she can give up the books in the first place says she's trustworthy even if he didn't have all of what he'd seen from her already to go by. "I'd appreciate the help. Another mind, another set of eyes, when you're looking for a cure is exceedingly useful, and I've no doubt we're going to see more of this."

He wishes he could doubt that. But this is Thedas. There's always someone looking to hurt someone else for personal profit, here.

"One day the people looking to gain from the suffering of others won't be a step ahead." Not like he has any idea how to get there.

[circleprodigy]

There's a slight shudder at the thought of seeing more such horrors, but Inessa nods grimly. It's going to happen, so she might as well steel herself while she can. The Inquisition can't afford to have her as a liability and she refuses to be one. The whole of crossing the continent was to provide direct aid.

"It will be a day long in coming, I fear. But...I suppose there's nothing to be done but work towards it, little by little. Matters won't improve unless we take them into our own hands."

[justice_is_blond]

It's so very good to hear that sentiment from other mages. So many mourn the loss of Circles as if that's the only way to live, behind bars, and it's not. The world can be fixed, can be improved, and mages can have lives.

After a beat, Anders takes a canteen off his shoulder. It's just got water in it, but that will do enough.

"Shall we drink to this? Working toward that, little by little."

[circleprodigy]

If they get around to Circle discussion, Inessa will have some interesting things to say on the matter. But, drained as she is, that conversation isn't going to happen today. She's very off her game and knows it, and her tired, sad smile says as much. But she nods. "I can agree to that. Small steps, it is."

[justice_is_blond]

Anders takes a sip of water before offering the vessel to her, in case she doesn't have her own on her at the moment. They're tired. Sometimes one just wants to stop hauling liquid around and leave it on the pack horse. Or pack mabari.

[circleprodigy]

Accepting it for the moment, Inessa takes a sip and hands it back with a sheepish smile. "I only thought to have the ginger tea with me, back at the inn. I'm not certain I'm ready to switch it out, just yet." Garahel, watching them both, wags his tail and lets out a soft whine. He'd very much like to return to the fire if there's nothing else he can do to help.

[justice_is_blond]

"Ginger tea was good thinking." He puts the strap back over his shoulder. "I didn't bring anything to add to the water, but perhaps I should have. Lesson learned."

While he doesn't speak mabari, he can tell something's wrong with Garahel. "I'm sorry. I know I took the toy back. I'll get you something later, all right? A... bone, or..." Anders looks over at Inessa for help. "Something do--mabari like."

Despite his loss at what would constitute a decent replacement, Anders is glad of this distraction. An animal, with a simple need. He can deal with that, even if there's slobber involved. Everything else from this trip? He's not sure about.

[circleprodigy]

"A bone is fine, but really, he's spoiled enough. I know he's mostly just hoping that everyone in the tavern will give him belly rubs again." Inessa smiles a little, glad that at least there's one soul not consumed by what they had just been through. Granted, Garahel's still more subdued than usual, but a lot of that is out of worry for Inessa.

[justice_is_blond]

Anders manages a small smile as well, nodding to the dog. "Then I think, likely, I should let you return to the tavern."

He is, quite frankly, not the best company right now. Failure is resting on his shoulders heavily, and it would be nice to stop being social for a time. He's fairly certain she can understand. "Thank you both for trying."