WAR TABLE: wtf is happening in the anderfels

[ichaer]

WHO: Ciri, Inessa, Merrill, Rachette, & Alistair
WHAT: After the situation with the Wardens of Weisshaupt went from bad to worse there has been little coming out of the Anderfels. Time to find out just what is going on.
WHEN: /waves hands in a timey wimey wibbly wobbly vague way
WHERE: Andefels, Hossberg
NOTES: Violence, mentions of serious injuries and some gory bits. OOC Plotting here.

Comments

TRAVELING

[ichaer]

They are not wrong to call the Anderfels the most desolate place in the world. Once the party leaves the Imperial Highway nature seems to vanish beneath the arid sands and the sun hangs high in the sky, raising temperatures the further one travels through the northwestern kingdom. There is much distance to cover before reaching the capital city and the only company they have are each other and the Blight weathered steppes, deserted of seemingly all life.

The only reprieve from the red sand, bones and blistering winds are the sights of what might remain of Weisshaupt after the fire and Our Lady of the Anderfels, a giant white sculpture of Andraste, holding an eternal flame, carved into the Merdaine near the Warden fortress.

[circleprodigy]

Ah, the Anderfels. Inessa was rather hoping she would never see this particular corner of Thedas again, at least not without the backing of an Inquisition army. The five of them hardly count as that, however skilled they might be. Memories of Weisshaupt and all that went wrong there trickle back the closer they get, and Inessa grows quieter and more grim as a result. In any case, she sticks close to Ciri whenever possible. Garahel does as well, though he's often looking ahead for them, drawing attention to a better path or warning them off a worse one. Or just bringing back something shiny he found in the dirt.

[ichaer]

Her thoughts are not so different from Inessa's own. She can remember their first march out into these red sands and how alien it had been to see now, despite it being less than a year ago, it feels like a completely different world now. The closer they get the Weisshaupt, the more tension settles in her chest but she tries not to let it show and focuses on a horizon that hardly seems to change.

At some point, she glances over and offers Inessa a tired smile. She's sure that her friend is not feeling so different from how she feels now as they near whatever might be left of Weisshaupt.

"You know, I think when we get back from this mission I'm going to take some time off and go into Ferelden. Go see Denerim." It is said softly as she breathes out a sigh. "Want to come along?"

[circleprodigy]

The tired smile is echoed, glad that she doesn't have to explain what's going on in her mind to Ciri. Of all people here, she would know, better Alistair or Merrill. She nods almost immediately to the question; it's not hard to get Inessa to agree to go anywhere, if Ciri's involved. She takes a moment to answer verbally, though.

"I'd like to make a detour to the alienage. No one is there for me now, but...I want to see the vhenadahl. After all this time, I wonder if it's even still there." Maybe it was destroyed when Denerim was put under siege by darkspawn; she never found out, because no one ever thinks the state of an alienage is newsworthy.

[chainlightning]

At least the Anderfels still look mostly the same. Granted, Merrill thinks it's not likely they could look much worse -- but there aren't any conspicuous corpses nearby, which is nice. In any case, it's a far cry from her last visit to the Anderfels, to Weisshaupt; the company is different, fewer, and there is far more of a sense of dread hanging over even her than optimism.

She slows her horse, Honeysuckle, when they're near what remains of Weisshaupt. She stares for a moment, gently stroking the horse's mane, whispering prayers into the wind for whatever gods will take them. Let the dead be at peace. Let some still be alive, and good, and let us be able to help them. Let us help to save this world.

Eventually, she turns away and catches up to the rest. She's quiet for a while after that sight.

[sistertohermen]

Rachette wants a better look at what remains of Weisshaupt, having wanted to go, having not been able to, having only to hear tidbits and tales. But there's not much left to see, and what there is wouldn't be safe, and would take them off course. Still, she'll likewise slow and stop and see.

The pale elf who was close to Hercules is there, murmuring near soundlessly, lost to the whipping dry winds. Maybe prayers. She doesn't know any that feel applicable to the situation--dwarves do have their own funeral rites, of course; they aren't barbarians. None of it feels like it works, though. She doesn't know who was there. Can't be sure if they deserve words of good will.

"So I realize the Wardens with us are fine," she says eventually. "They're not crazy, free from influences. But is it really a good idea for them to come along?"

[chainlightning]

If the Stone wanted to swallow what remains of the fortress up, Merrill imagines no decent person would mind too much. But it's not for her to ask others to pray for it, either. Still, she quiets a bit when Rachette approaches, only turning her head to look at her once the dwarf speaks up.

"I don't know," she admits, sighing softly. Honeysuckle gets another pat to his neck, more for Merrill's sake than his. "Probably not, in truth, just because of what Corypheus can do if he's close. But at the same time... I think they deserve to try and make things right." They deserve some closure, if nothing else -- to be able to try and help. Still, she worries. Alistair wasn't at Weisshaupt, but Ciri and Inessa came to the Inquisition because of it.

HOSSBERG

[ichaer]

Corypheus' red lyrium dragon can be spotted periodically circling Hossberg, and on the outskirts of the city the team may spot Wardens on patrol and guard duty--with no signs of coercion or mind-control. The absence of any Warden mages may be conspicuous. Casual conversation or eavesdropping will indicate that the city rioted at the sight of the dragon but it has not done any harm since the coup, that First Warden Vidar is occupying the royal palace, and that Tevinter has loaned some of its military to help maintain order. The general atmosphere is one of tense calm.

The mission within the city is to locate Hilde, the queen's handmaid who had been supplying the Inquisition with information concerning the Anderfels situation. Currently, she is in the company of a Tevinter woman named Junia Carus that screams more imprisonment than friendship.

CAMP

[ichaer]

[circleprodigy]

Observing through her spyglass, Inessa shudders as that red lyrium dragon circles the city from above. She's beyond grateful that it's not doing anything they need to react to at the moment, but its very presence will only add to her nightmares. "Sweet Maker...that was in Haven? It's a wonder anyone survived."

If that beast should decide Hossberg needs to go, she has no doubt it could accomplish the task. She...should probably stop observing the creature, but it's difficult to pull her gaze away, horrified though she is.

[chainlightning]

"I was really hoping it would be gone," Merrill agrees, coming up to stand next to the other mage. She doesn't need to see it closely, she promises. Still, there's something in her that wishes she could, if only to take it down.

It's Marian Hawke's influence, no doubt.

After a moment, she outstretches a hand, gently pushing on the spyglass. Inessa doesn't need to keep staring at the beast -- especially since its presence likely means Corypheus is in the city, as well.

[ichaer]

Ciri is pacing.

Though if this is mentioned then she would soundly disagreeing and continue to pace. In her hand, she is idly turning a dagger over and over in some beat only she can hear. They said this dagger would protect them (well, one of them at a time) from whatever might mess with their minds. She cannot help but wondering if there is any truth to it but they have no other choice with only two non-Wardens here for the mission.

Hopefully it would be enough else this could quickly become ugly. Of course, looking back at the dragon circling over the city tells her it is already ugly enough.

TEAM STALK

[ichaer]

[circleprodigy]

[Inessa and Garahel are ready for action by the time permission is granted. The young Warden and her mabari may not be natural rogues, but they make an effective pair and together can assist anyone accompanying them. Her usual armor would attract too much attention, so Inessa wears her old robes instead, and Garahel is without his kaddis in hopes that people see him merely as a pet and not a war hound. She'll wait for anyone who wishes to join them, then slip off to do her assigned task.]

TEAM CONTACT

[ichaer]

TEAM RUCKUS

[ichaer]

[chainlightning]

Merrill is not good at sneaking. She's also not very good at subtlety or lying, for that matter, not on a spur of the moment sort of thing. But she can work with a plan, and it helps that she has a counterpart with a somewhat similar sense of humor.

That's why the beginning of this distraction starts with Merrill, wearing a dress that hides her armor beneath it, shrieking and slapping Alistair across the face.

"You promised! You swore to Andraste!"

As religious as the Anderfels are, she imagines that might get some attention if the rest didn't.

SUMMER FORTRESS

[ichaer]

A shallow river runs south from Hossberg and feeds a lake that the royal family often retired to in the summers. The fortress is presently occupied by a few Venatori, their slaves, and Prince Baldewin, the only surviving member of the royal family. Prince Baldewin is three years old and likes wyverns. Getting to the Prince will require getting into the estate quietly to prevent the Venatori from killing or moving the prince. Should the Venatori be alerted, they--and their slaves, on orders--will put up a great deal of resistance.

Thankfully, the team will get some help by the way of secret passages and escape tunnels built for the Royal family. Hopefully the team will be able to reach the Prince and escape without the lose of another life.

[ichaer]

Ciri honestly did not think she could ever go tripping her way through something darker than the Deep Roads yet here she is. They were lucky, very lucky to have been tipped off about the old secret passages built into the fortress for the royal family but even said secretiveness meant wandering in literally blind.

But that meant going in blind to a fortress that was filled to the brim with Venatori and their slaves. After what happened to Hilde she does not what a repeat especially when their target was a three-year-old.

"So..." Ciri begins, breaking the uneasy silence. "How much trouble do you think we'll be in for kidnapping the heir to a throne?"

[byblow]

"Maybe a little less," Alistair says, "if we stop calling it kidnapping. 'Rescuing' is a good word. I like 'rescuing'--Merrill?"

Where's Merrill, with her elf eyes? He puts both hands straight out in front of him in case the answer is right there. Rachette also has her dwarf eyes, but Alistair thinks she's a lot less inclined to let him touch her. But he is going to fall down and make noise and possibly die if someone doesn't do something.

"Can I hold your hand? I won't tell Mal." Or--"or someone glow, please."

[ichaer]

There is a part of Ciri that is surprised they pulled off retrieving the Prince and making it out of the fortress without Venatori swarming down on them. It's obvious that everything is still on edge since the events that happened in the market the other day involving their source of information out of the Anderfels literally exploding into a mess of blood and giblets.

Now there is another issue. They were treking back toward their camp, trying to avoid bringing any attention to themselves when it hits her. It is a feeling that has been itching at the back of her head like a disgusting poison seeping in and it comes from an unmistakable source. It's worrying that there is darkspawn on the surface out here in the middle of nowhere but it's becoming obvious that the small group isn't moving as they draw closer.

"There's darkspawn up ahead..." She mutters softly if only for the two members of their group that wasn't connected to the darkspawn hotline and she reaches for the hilt of her sword. "Small group, thankfully but they've just been standing around for awhile now. Maybe they're out enjoying the fresh night air and a game of Wicked Grace?"

[circleprodigy]

Of the same sentiment regarding the prince, Inessa refrains from starting that discussion until she knows they're safe. Unfortunately, she picks up on that sensation approximately the same time as Ciri does. She stiffens, Garahel snapping to alertness upon seeing her usual reaction.

"I can dash their hopes with a blizzard before they even realize it." Alistair is the senior Warden in this mission, though, so she's not acting without his leave. And they also have two non-Wardens to protect as well as the prince. She doesn't want anyone infected with the taint that doesn't want to partake in the Joining.

BACK TO SKYHOLD

[ichaer]

With ciphered documents and a Prince in hand, it is time to get out of the Anderfels as quickly as possible. It's a long journey back to Skyhold but at least they have some cuter company than before. Now, it's simply a matter of not buying too many things for him before they even get back to the Frostbacks.

[ichaer]

Traveling with a covered wagon was so much easier considering their child passenger. Of course there is the question of where the wagon came from but that's not important. What is important is that are very quickly running out of run along the wagon's wall due to Baldewin's love of drawing wyverns and nothing else especially more so since they picked up those drawing pencils and paper in Val Royeaux.

She's seated inside with legs hanging out the back of the wagon, resting and giving Kelpie a chance to relax without all that extra weight on her back. Most of her focus has been idly watching the Orlesian countryside pass by or listening out for anyone coming after them but it has been oddly calm since entering Orlais. Well calm enough until she's distracted by a tap on her shoulder, turning to suddenly find a number of papers being shoved in her face and one giggling three-year-old hidden somewhere behind it all.

One glance at them tells her what they are and she sits up, beginning to pass them out to the other four members of the Best Mothers in Thedas group. "Special delivery!" Hope you enjoy cute pictures of everyone riding colorful wvyerns that the Prince has already happily named for everyone.

[circleprodigy]

Sitting beside Ciri while Garahel stretches his legs and runs around alongside the wagon, Inessa alternates between quiet chatter, resting against Ciri and watching the young boy if his current babysitter needs a break. She doesn't have a natural knack with children, but it's not difficult to take advantage of a child's natural fascination for magic, or love of canine company. Either way, that time doesn't pass as slowly as she thought it might.

Fighting off a yawn, Inessa stretches a little and smiles as she's handed a drawing. "A true masterpiece. I'll be certain to thank the young prince." Hearing herself say that, she can't help but laugh a little. "We've made it back to the south and it still hasn't quite sunk in that we got away with that."