[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

[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."