faderift | ( closed ) player plot: the stars go waltzing

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( closed ) player plot: the stars go waltzing

WHO: Adelaide, Araceli, Avery, Bellamy, Bruce, Ciri, Cosima, Daenerys, Jamie, Korrin, Lexa, Martel, Merrill, Ruby, Sabine, Teren.
WHAT: catch all log; the capture of shardbearers, their rescue, and related shenanigans.
WHEN: Gently timey wimey for flexibility, Team Rescue arrives at the outpost on the 10th.
WHERE: Orlais/Nevarra borders (roughly halfway between the Fields of Ghislain and Trevis), and then a Creepy Place.
NOTES: Log for the missing shardbearers player plot; ooc here & here. Only the travel threads for teams one and two are going up for now, the rest will go up on Friday :]b And to clarify - when I say party style, what I mean is subthread to your hearts content!
WARNINGS: HORROR THEMES. Abduction, experimentation/torture, forced ingestion of lyrium, implied past deaths/murder, violence.

SPEEDY LINKS

TEAM ONE: travel to Craintellier
TEAM ONE: rift two attempt & Venatori attack
TEAM ONE: dungeons
TEAM ONE: escape attempt — Cosima, Jamie & Lexa only
TEAM TWO: travel to Craintellier
TEAM TWO: post rift investigation — Adelaide, Bellamy & Sabine, Bruce, Korrin & Teren, Ciri & Merrill
TEAM TWO: take the outpost — Attack & Distract & Stealthy & Stealy
TEAM TWO: regroup & into the dungeons — plus a Lexa-shaped guest star
ALL: finding your shardbearers
ALL: boss fight
ALL: epilogue & return to Skyhold — tba

click for bigger version. full map of Thedas here.

East of Perendale and south of Trevis, next to a river's winding course, there lies the bones of a fortress. It is an old and almost forgotten place, a dramatic, clawed seeming thing reaching up into the sky, harsh against the the rolling hills.

It is an ancient place, dating back to 660TE, a testament to an Empire suffering after civil war and grasping to restore its wealth and influence after it had been so shaken. It stands as a memory of grandeur, rather than an icon of it, and bears the marks of devastation and scarring that so much of the land suffered during the First Blight. It was all but abandoned thereafter, host only to the desperate and the greedy, and never for long. Once ornate mosaics now only hold flecks of gold, flakes that stubbornly resisted the hands of looters trying to pry them away. Other colours, reds, whites, greys and blacks, they all remain.

The site was chosen for its riches, sitting atop a mine that once held immense wealth, seams of gold that would bring wealth back into the Empire and help restore stability. Opulence, the central Tevinter staple (aside from slavery and blood magic, some might say).

But they dug too deep, and when the First Blight came so too did the darkspawn.

It has a new master, now, and he serves the Elder One. Parts of this stronghold may be in ruins now, but remember: it is not what lies on the surface that counts, but what lurks beneath it.

AD VICTORIAM, AD GLORIA.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

They learned about how hubris is bad and wanted to make sure they were super prepared, okay. Being cocky never goes well for villains!
As it turns out, being overly prepared also doesn't go terribly well. They should probably contact their union.

"Bring her in. Unharmed," the lead mage says, a wry kind of mockery on the last word, that suggests perhaps he does not mind too much either way how harmed she is, given the state of her. "Go."

With a strange, precise shift, all blades raise at once, points aimed at Avery and shields high, as the gladiators begin to encircle Avery.

Mage B looks at Mage C. Why are we even here, bro? Idk bro, maybe it's for some inexplicable plot reason.

"Alright, fine," Avery sighs, reaching down with a wince and pulling a small knife from boot. She's got this, you guys, don't even worry about it.

"If that's the way it's to be." Her voice raises as her fingers flex around the handle of the blade and she looks to each of the warriors in front of her. "Bring it on then! Right now!"

Excellent, it's time to act. Korrin steps into view, putting up a Barrier spell around Avery first. She wastes no time after that, summoning flaming meteors to rain fire down upon all enemies in the area for the next several seconds. Whatever destructive force doesn't bring down will have to contend with her as soon as soon as the meteors cease. Her expression is hardened, utterly focused. Absolutely nothing is going to stop her from reaching Araceli, just fucking try.

There's a startled yell from one of the mages, and it makes the mage with authority - Timmy, let's call him Timmy - startle before he's calling orders in Tevene to his fellow mages (Steve and Gus, for the sake of ease.)

The three of them draw together, and the slave warriors raise their shields to protect themselves from the meteors, although one is not quite quick enough, and staggers from his injuries, even as Steve and Gus cast barriers over their warriors.

Timmy, meanwhile, is displeased by this sudden turn of events; he casts despair, and follows with a vicious spray of ice attacks.

Lovely barriers Steve and Gus have. It'd be a terrible thing if they were dispelled. It's a pointed, precise attack all cold fury and focused will, Adelaide snapping out to cut off their magic and drain their mana, bounding each to wisps summoned for Korrin and herself.

She cannot harm them with magic, but she can stall them. Paralyze them.

Avery needs to be out of the way -- she was wonderfully brave, offering to draw the Venatori out, but now the time has come for her to draw back. Merrill will help; Wrath of the Elvhen sends roots and brambles bursting from the ground to attack their foes, the trees themselves almost seeming to sway their branches like flailed weapons. Stepping out from behind one, there's a little nod to herself and then Merrill activates Stone's Throw.

She vanishes, appearing a moment later next to Avery; the earth let her move through it, but it likely won't do the same for the other woman. Still, Merrill extends the hand not holding her staff. "Come on, let's move!"

She had been ready to help when the trap was sprung. To fight. She-- She thought she had been ready? Then suddenly there were blasts of arcane ice flying through the air, the trees and earth itself bursting to furious life, and fire raining from the skies all around her. So much fucking fire. And Avery... just froze. Her mind blank and breaths shallow, unable to move.

This is madness. Absolute madness. And she is not like these people. What is she even doing here?!

It's only Merrill's shout that seems to snap her out of it, and Avery hesitates just a moment before somewhat mechanically taking her hand and starting to move.

Edited 2016-09-10 17:47 (UTC)

Korrin shudders as that Despair spell sinks its hooks into her, those spirits of fear undermining her strength. That, to her, is worse than the ice attacks. Adelaide's wisps are a godsend, and Korrin uses the extra mana to force off the despair with a Dispel effect before it can delay her further. After that, noting that the three have drawn together, the Vashtoth mage takes full advantage of that, casting Static Cage. Not only do they get to be bombarded by the remaining meteors, they'll get shocked if they try to leave the area.

The air seems charged with all the clashing magics that tear through it, and even through the ground. The three mages begin to advance;

Gus casts dispel to try and tear down the static cages, and enable their gladiators to move forward. The first three to advance when he yells orders to them are still shocked quite badly, but the remaining seven start to advance at a run, two of them converging on Korrin, hoping to cut down the mage who is dealing such extensive damage. They wield swords and massive shields, but beyond that their armour is lacking.

Timmy scowls at Adelaide magics she is dealing out to support her own and to undermine his forces. He casts spirit mark on her, setting a spirit on her to inflict ongoing attacks and try to distract her from her efforts.

Steve (why did I pick these names oh my god) stands further back, casting spells to shield and buff their warriors and his fellow Venatori mages; there are three warriors chasing after Merrill and Avery, though, and one ahead of the others that swings his sword in a horizontal arc to try and catch both of them across their backs.

Oh Timmy. Timmy-Tim-Timmy-Tim-Tim-Tim-Tim. You fool You frustrating, irritating, desperate fool. He can scowl and cast as much as he likes- Adelaide returns the favor with a distinctly unladylike snarl as she slams her staff into the ground, a focused snap of spirit energy and pure, unyielding will flaring across the field in a wave of brilliant blue light. Mana Clash is not something she throws out often, if ever but desperate times and desperate measures.

Lovely pools of mana all these horrid mages have.

How terrible for it to be suddenly gone.

Edited 2016-09-11 02:07 (UTC)

Is it weird to feel relieved at someone trying to cut your head off? Because with all this magic nonsense exploding around her, all Avery can think when she sees that sword coming is... phew, just another asshole with a big knife.

Those she's been dealing with for years.

And that thought apparently gives her the focus she needs to ignore the magic for now and get her head back in the game, because in one shockingly smooth motion, Avery shoves Merrill out of the way of the attack and ducks back and under it herself, spinning around to slide her knife right into the backside of this poor bastard's completely unarmored knee.

Good luck chasing anybody after that, pal.

Being pushed isn't something Merrill was expecting, and there's a shriek of surprise -- luckily, the elf is quick on her feet, and she manages to not sprawl face-forward in the grass. Instead she staggers and turns, half bent, one hand on the ground. Avery against three warriors still doesn't look like good odds, even if she's used to it.

The Venatori want to play with Entropy magic? Merrill is more than willing to throw it right back, an ominous Death Cloud spilling from her staff and her hands to cover the area.

When the guards reach her, Korrin is ready for them. She renews her Barrier spell, trusting in her Knight-Enchanter abilities to keep it going at close range. Her empty hilt is activated, summoning forth that glowing blade that cuts through even Pride Demon hide without much fuss. Inferior armor isn't going to stand a chance. To prove her point, she lets out a sharp, predatorial grin as she swings that blade relentlessly at her targets. They can't hide behind those shields forever, not when she can maneuver around them.

Timmy, Gus & Steve all stagger with the sudden collapse of their mana, and for the first time all three of them look very, very concerned. Gus yells orders at the three gladiators still suffering from the effect of Korrin’s static cage, pulling themselves up to start moving towards Adelaide. They move at what looks like a painful stagger, pushed by orders and determination, but a slow sword still cuts.

As that very rude ice mage is seen to, Timmy and Steve throw back potions to restore their mana. Gus does not because Gus is a useless scrub who didn’t bring a potion and the others think he is useless. Gus, go think about what you’ve done.

Although Korrin is viciously attacking the gladiators, there’s no reason to make this easier for her. Steve focuses on her, casting Unblockable Force because clearly she just needs her day to get better.

The three gladiators attacking Merrill & Avery are having a bad time; one is on the floor from the injury Avery inflicted with her knife, holding himself up with one hand and trying to swing his sword with the other. However, he and both of the others are all severely slowed by Merrill’s death cloud, seeming almost as if they are moving through tar rather than air. Any injuries done to them now will be far more effective, with their compromised ability to resist damage.

That said, Timmy (I'm sorry I forgot you, Timmy) starts to cast Walking Bomb. Timmy, stop.

Edited 2016-09-12 22:23 (UTC)

She can do this all fucking day Timmy. Sacrificing mobility for the moment allows her to focus on casting rapidly. A flicked glyph of paralysis toward the feet of the gladiators to offer herself more time, as she glares this frustrating idiot right in the eye as she raises her staff and slams it down- an entirely different glyph flaring to life between him and Steve.

Complicated and curved and artful, the Glyph of Neutralization locks into place. Ambient magic? Gone. Spells in effect? Gone. Mana? Gone. Spells attempted won't work in the slightest.

Yyyyeah, Avery definitely uses the opportunity the slow-motion grants her to scramble backwards and put a little distance between her and the gladiators, though for a second she looks horribly, horribly confused about what it is exactly that's happening right now.

"Um..." She turns and gives Merrill a sort of unsure look as she continues walking backward, leading them along as if they were balloons or, I don't know, kites maybe? "Now what?" She looks around and... picks up a big rock? And, uh, chucks it right at the currently damage-sensitive balls of one of the guys who's still standing??

"Something like that?"

Screw you, Steve. Korrin's beyond grateful to have gotten up that Barrier just moments before, which means that while Steve's spell sends her flying, her ribs remain intact when she hits the ground. All the air has rushed out of her lungs, though, and she staggers back up, glaring at the mage who had knocked her back. You're on borrowed time, Steve.

And Korrin wastes none of hers. She conjures a fiery glyph below the other mage's feet, triggering it to explode and hopefully catching Gus if he's close enough.

"Basically," Merrill agrees, flashing Avery a smile. "Or you could just stab them, I suppose."

But throwing a rock is less messy. It's also, considering where it was aimed, likely to help the Bad and Awful feelings that come along with the entropy magic in the Death Cloud. Bad feelings, however, won't do the deed alone -- and so Merrill straightens and raises her staff, drawing lightning from the Fade as she casts Tempest down on their foes.

They just came out to have a good time anx they're feeling so attacked right now.

Steve is on fire, and in his desperation to get away from the fiery glyph? Strolls (read: staggers) into the glyph of neutralization. It extinguishes the fire and all of his dreams.

Timmy can't believe he's working with such amateurs. His mana is gone, Steve's mana is gone, and these plebs have mana but no manners. While Steve is still in shock, gasping on the ground, he draws a knife, advances on one of the gladiators moving towards Adelaide, and cuts his throat. No mana? Blood may, perhaps, make due. The gladiator topples, collapses, and Gus follows suit, taking down a second. It leaves only one to attack Adelaide (and attack he does, going to shield bash) but:

Gus begins to cast blood slave on Merrill (or to attempt to, at least) while Timmy casts paralysing hemorrhage to inflict paralysis and damage on our intrepid heroes.

The slowed gladiators closest to Avery and Merrill are still slow, and rapidly weakening under the combination of death cloud and tempest and rocks to the balls, and all three are on the ground.

While one of the ones Korrin was contending with is KO'd, the other twists towards her with a brutal barrage of attacks.

Edited 2016-09-13 03:23 (UTC)

So focused on Timmy (the bastard) Adelaide doesn't quite notice the third coming in hard past the edge of her paralysis glyph until it's too late to twist away. The shield comes in hard and she takes the blow to the shoulder, staggering- a reflexive mind blast shoving them further apart.

Dazed but intent- furious at the casual slaughter Adelaide begins to gather her mana for a sharp dispelling only to be struck with Timmy's spell. Finding the will to push past the pain is difficult- so she reaches for spite and rage instead. The dispelling is thrown at the group at large in an attempt to end the damn thing even as she's taken a knee under the force of it.

Oh, Gus. You picked the wrong mage to try that on. She broke the hold of a blood mage once for Hawke; it is far easier for her to do when she can see the blood magic happening. As tempting as it is to boil Gus from the inside using his own blood, Merrill would rather not, considering the present company -- even if a part of her would like to show that not all blood mages are monsters, that killing for power and trying to enslave others doesn't end well.

Adelaide is relatively close to the mages, and Merrill vanishes into the earth once more using Stone's Throw to reappear next to her. She may not have a sword, spirit or otherwise, but she has a staff and the element of surprise -- as soon as she reappears, she leaps toward Gus with a yell of "May the Dread Wolf take you!", swinging with her staff to try and at least surprise the Venatori mage, if not take him out. The earth around her all but explodes, roots flying up and out of the ground to curl around limbs and tighten, to keep moving despite whatever is in the way -- in this case, the body of any Venatori that gets in the way.

Korrin soon finds out that one-on-one isn't necessarily easier. She's accustomed now to fighting on the front lines, but at the end of the day, the fact remains that she's a mage, not a warrior. Her knight enchanter training is the only thing keeping her on her feet, so she doesn't dare lose it, striking as much as she can with that spirit blade to keep her barrier up and hopefully slice through to her target. The sooner he's downed, the sooner she'll move to Adelaide's side.

The wave of paralyzing pain as magic once again turns her own body against itself is blessedly brief this time, and after a moment to recover, Avery realizes she is standing alone. And not just alone, but alone and completely ignored, as everyone else still standing seems to be focused on some other threat.

She looks back and forth, trying to figure out where she could do the most good, and then-- Oh, fuck it!

Avery charges over and drops herself roughly on top of poor, old Steve-O over here before he can recover and stand back up, shoving his face into the dirt and pressing her knife against his throat.

"Tell them to stand down!"

Two gladiators near Steve look to Avery but with a blade to their master's throat they do not move. He makes a choked sound, and looks towards his fellow Venatori.

"Gustavi! Timoteus!" Their names come out more of a strained squeak than anything else.

The gladiator fighting Korrin, seeing what's happening, loses his focus for a moment, creating an opening.

Merrill's plan works; the gladiators near Adelaide are all embroiled in roots and vines and dirt, struggling
Gus is a little engaged, at present; there is a small flying elf (ugh, elves) to contend with, so close and volatile as to make casting difficult. He does, however, have a knife, and so he is trying to wrestle Merrill and stab her if he can, since he can't get a free moment to cast.

Timmy looks at his surrounds, and realises the situation is becoming increasingly futile. "Steverinus, calm yourself. For the glory of our Imperium, we are glad to lay down our lives!"

Steve quietly interjects, "I'm not, actually—"

"We are glad to lay down our lives," Timmy continues, more loudly, hands held high and reaching towards the sky. "Kill him if you must, but his blood will fuel our power, and only build upon the glory of our ancestors. The blood of Tevinter is only the more potent for my magics, and if it must be done, I will honour my friend's memory with victory—"

"Timoteus—"

"With victory, Steverinus, that will make all of Thedas quake! That will—"

Edited (you all saw nothing) 2016-09-13 07:17 (UTC)

Merrill's assistance is timely, and she will make a note to thank her later. For now she fights her way to her feet and scans the field, weighing her mana against her rage and what may yet occur. And then? Tim. Timoteus. A name for this frustrating bastard of a man. Adelaide has, quite frankly, had enough of this pompous Venatori Bullshit. People are missing, whatever they've been doing crackles in terrified thoughts in the back of her mind, and this fool thinks they are going to stand idly by and let him continue to spout this-

This-

She doesn't have words for it. Eyes blazing she shoves herself upright, stalking to this absolute spoiled child of a mage and hauls back with everything she has, slamming her fist into that venomous, lying mouth. The full of her weight is thrust into the blow and it hurts. It is not how she would see things done- but it is the one way she can be certain of silencing him. A suckerpunch does more than quiet him- it knocks him down literally, giving her time and room to slam a foot down upon his sternum and unsheathe the sword Martel gave her. The point rests in the hollow of his throat while her attention flicks to Gustavi. "I would listen to Steverinus were I you."

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I have tracking on this but keep not getting notifs so feel free to plurk punch me!

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blow connecting and felling timmy with GM permission