Player Plot: Sulevin Blade Quest

[serannas]

WHO: Ellana Ashara, Galadriel, Merrill, Korrin Ataash, James Kirk, Samouel Gareth
WHAT: Tracking down the Sulevin Blade
WHEN: January 13th/Wintermarch 13th
WHERE: the Dales
NOTES: OOC Post

[ OOC: The plot starts with the first phase below in the comments section. Everybody tag into that one. There doesn't need to be a tag order; just hop in whenever. If we go maybe two full days with no tags, I'll try to hustle things along unless I was the last tagger, of course. When we reach a point that looks good to start the next phase, I'll post it as a new comment and close the previous thread. I'm pretty sure you can go ahead a track the whole entry without a paid account, and this way it'll be less confusing if we stick to one section at a time.

At certain points, I'll leave an ooc note asking for you to roll a d20 or to make some sort of choice so I can tailor the thread to your character. If anything's confusing or you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me via PM or a private plurk to lavellan. :D ]

Comments

[chainlightning]

The roots tighten, Merrill narrowing her eyes. Whatever these people want isn't ideal. Two are already dead, which means they'll have to face the consequences either way. Merrill takes a step forward, staff in hand, to look down at him.

"You know you're speaking with members of the Inquisition, right? You know that you attacked first, right?"

There's a slight huff and Merrill glances back toward the others.

"We can't let him go, either way."

[universal_charm]

Kirk's man was out, which had left only the one tangled in the roots. His stomach twisted as the man spoke, and it wasn't hard to translate the fear and anger in the elven woman's voice even if he couldn't understand the Dalish language. From the way the man was talking, he didn't particularly think she was lying.

He didn't want to have to kill these men, but he couldn't argue that the others were right about not leaving them behind either. They could bring more men and their little party wasn't equipped to take on a full company. Not to mention he wasn't terribly sympathic towards them in the first place. Still, it never sat well with him to take a life, no matter the necessity.

"If we kill them, we need to hide the bodies," he reminded everyone. "Anyone good enough with magic to make a pit and seal it back up? We'd want their compatriots to think they've wandered off. It will buy time."

He tilted his head at the man, standing slightly over him.

"Though if you've deserted once already, that may not come as a surprise. Either way, no evidence and quiet." Lord knows the lightning was loud and bright enough to have drawn attention already. They were probably on a clock, but damn if he knew how many minutes. His grip tightened on his staff.

"I'm going to go keep watch the way they came," he said, leaving the final decision to them as he worked back towards where the men and the girl had come down from.

[el_tybs]

Sam sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose before rubbing at his eyes tiredly. Deserters from the Orlesian civil war? This isn't the first location they've been to where citizens of the country were suffering, but in this case they were taking advantage of others in the area.

He's quiet for a time, hanging back a bit as well, listening to what everyone has to say, though mostly he's staying clear of their new 'friend' with the bow seeing as she was pretty worked up about 'shems' at the moment.

"I don't think we should kill him. Yet," he says finally speaking up, scratching the side of his neck as he continues to consider some things. "I'm sure we can get him to talk with the right... persuasion." They could get inventive and probably scare him into saying something. At that Sam looks away from the man and looks to the rest of the group, as well as keeping a tab on where Kirk was heading off to.

"We're going to have to. His group doesn't know we're out here, so even if we hide the bodies the group will probably think the Dalish out here did it." Even if they were already after the camp the humans might do a lot worse thinking they were under attack - because how dare. "We don't have to do anything head on, but if we know where the main force is we could distract them or sabotage some of their things."

[serannas]

Ellana wishes she could say she was torn on the issue. Usually she's easily persuaded by both sides of an issue. But being Dalish and knowing this man was after the camp makes her want to cut and run. The "cut" part being to cut off his life and bury all evidence. And the running part being where they get into the ruin and back out without trouble.

"Merrill could probably do that easily," she murmurs. "Keeper magic and all." Meaning it was closely tied to the earth and the earth would accommodate Merrill's needs for a quick body disposal. She frowns at Sam's suggestion, again looking at things from the Dalish perspective. They're a small force and around humans who have proven themselves to be hostile, Ellana's solution is to avoid, avoid, avoid.

But there is one way of knowing just what their choices are here, isn't there? "He doesn't need persuading. He doesn't even have to speak at all." And with that she turns her calculating gaze to her powerful, tall elf friend.

"Galadriel? Could you get some information out of him?"

[laurenande]

Galadriel glances sidelong at Ellana but makes no objection. The man at her feet is better restrained by Merrill's vines than her own hold and she draws her staff back as she regards him. For a moment there is naught but silence and, abruptly, the trapped human pales in terror. He maintains his vow of silence but it is a near thing.

"He is but a scout. His forces are a day's hard travel from here, far too distant to pose an immediate threat," she says and breaks the stillness of the scene. The human and he sags in silent relief as Galadriel turns her gaze on the elf who has only just joined them.

"Your camp shall remain hidden," she adds and looks at the group on whole,"As shall we, so long as he remains unable to alert them."

[gatheringstorm]

...well. That display was something and for once, it's not something Korrin's going to say aloud. Eyes on their captive rather than Galadriel, Korrin frowns thoughtfully and crosses her arms as she listens to the information gathered. The news is better than expected, but these forces could still pose an issue.

"Good to know. I'll be with Kirk, do what you want."

Content to leave the man's fate to others, she moves to catch up with him. Her long strides will have her catching up quickly even without use of Fade Step. Spotting him up ahead, she quickens her pace so that she doesn't have to shout to be heard. "He's just a lone scout. We shouldn't expect any immediate trouble, at least. Seeing anything interesting?"

[universal_charm]

Kirk didn't respond to Korrin right away, his eyes on Galadriel, brows knitted in what might register as anger. His grip on his staff was hard, mouth set in an equally sharp line. But he doesn't say anything, not right now. He can read a room as well as the next man, and they didn't need to be derailed over an arguement at the moment.

Slowly he turned back to his original purpose, shaking his head. "Nothing of interest. They've probably run a ways from their own encampment and right now they wouldn't have fires going, so we can't spot it from a distance. But I don't hear or see a large group coming our way either and the birds aren't quiet, so we've got some time. Probably not much. We should move on, quickly."

[el_tybs]

He isn't expecting anyone to agree with him, but seeing the face that Ellana makes has him frowning as well and crossing his arms, fully expecting her to say something against it. His mindset was different then hers, but ultimately he was trying to think what they could do to help the Dalish in the area. What he ends up hearing though has the mage frowning in confusion instead. "What-?"

Sam isn't sure exactly what is going on, but whatever it was he could certainly see the effects and feel it at some level. Perhaps it was Fortitude feeling it and in turn giving him an odd sinking feeling in his stomach. Regardless it was obvious that Galadriel had done something, pulled information out in some way.

He did not like it.

Clearly unsettled Sam stands a bit straighter, leans just a bit slightly back, but doesn't move. Not right away at least. There's a moment where it looks like he's going to say something but ends up biting his tongue and walks off towards where Korrin and Kirk had went off to.

[chainlightning]

"I can hide them," Merrill agrees, though it's quiet. She is watching all of this with one hand tight on her staff. The reactions are telling, and Merrill isn't currently sure if they're more to Galadriel's power or to the death of the scout.

Either way, she figures that if they really wanted him to stay alive, they wouldn't have walked away.

She turns toward the Dalish woman who had been running away from the man and his group and gives her a slight nod. "With information gained, I think it's up to you and your clan to decide his fate. Not us. I can't speak for all of us here, either, but- that's my thought on it. I can put him to sleep also, if you'd like."

[serannas]

Well this sure is a thing. The humans and Vashoth take off, while the elves remain behind. Maybe they all had looked at Galadriel as just another rifter, but the elves see something different when they look at her: she's a representation of all they've lost. Their empire, immortality, most of their culture -- all gone. But Galadriel (and Thranduil for that matter) walk among them looking like the Creators themselves. And why would the elves fear the Creators?

Even the elf woman they saved looks more impressed than scared. "How did you--" She stops herself and shakes her head. "You know, I don't even want to know. Serves him right." She has the information to protect her clan, and she's more than ready to decide his fate. Whether or not the shems want to argue it doesn't matter to her, and she draws back her bowstring once more, smirking at the man.

"Why would I want him asleep for this?" She releases an arrow into his jugular and the impact jerks his head to one side, a gurgling sound coming from him as blood fills his mouth. Ellana cringes just slightly and looks up at the elf, rather than the man.

"Will you return to your clan now...?" The pause is so the woman can introduce herself.

"Nellas," she answers quickly. "And yes, I will, though I think I should repay you somehow for saving me. You can't come with me--" Here she jerks her head towards the group of non-elves that has walked away. "But I could maybe gift you with something?"

"Actually," Ellana says, expression brightening, "we could use your help. We're looking for an entrance to an elven ruin in this area. It's pretty overgrown, but has steps leading down and two large outer doors." At least that's what she saw in Galadriel's mirror. "Do you know of it?"

Nellas's eyes widen a little and she loops her bow across her chest. "I do, but we never go there. Our clan's elders say the spirits are angry, and keep everyone away." Still, she knows these people did her a service and she crosses her arms, gaze dropping to the ground. "I'll take you as close as I dare. Within sight of the steps. But I can't go further, all right?"

"Yes, that would be perfect! Ma serannas."

Now Merrill can get the bodies underground and they can group back up to head that way.

[ ooc: this concludes phase one! go ahead and start phase two here. ]