OPEN ↠ FALSE GODS, GREAT DEMONS (PART II)

[faderifting]

WHO: Everyone in the Dark Future
WHAT: Doom and gloom
WHEN: ALTERNATE FUTURE, 25-28 Cloudreach 9:48
WHERE: The Thaigs, Jader, the Frostbacks, and Haven
NOTES: This is the second open log and second plot log, combined, for False Gods, Great Demons.

ORTAN THAIG has been buzzing since the time travelers arrived—with gossip, skepticism, resentment, hope. The Herald traveled through time once before and brought back a blueprint for victory that might have worked if she’d lived. Maybe they can do the same. The now-Tranquil Dorian seems to think so, passing along an amulet and spells to a group of mages. If they can return to Haven, if they can recreate the magic—

Discussions of strategy and timing are underway when reports arrive from Orlais that Tevinter is on the move. Units of mages, corrupted Red Templars, and Tevinter foot soldiers are cutting east toward the passes through the Frostbacks; more are swinging north to cross through Jader without braving the mountains.

A dragon is with them.

There’s one day to wonder what’s happening, to try to plan or prioritize, and then the decision is made for the Inquisition: they have to leave. They have to leave because the passage of the dragon over the Deep Roads brings with it an underground wave of darkspawn, nearly crawling over one another as they swarm over the barricade and toward both the thaigs. Ortan will fall first. Then Orzammar. There is no if. And there are Tevinter troops blocking the main doors.

Get out alive. Get the time travelers out with you. Take one of the narrow tunnels that opens up into the mountains or woods outside of Tevinter's reach. Or stay behind to hold the line.

Elsewhere, in JADER, Tevinter forces march through the city streets on their way south. They have somewhere to be. But they also have to sleep and eat, and the Inquisition has people in the city—spies, traveling scouts, maybe a ship nearby—and this one last chance to cut their numbers. Burn bridges. Burn inns. Slip poison into what glasses you're able. Every man you kill here is a man who won't make it to the mountains. In THE FROSTBACKS there are fewer options, a larger force, and a dragon overhead. But dropping an avalanche on them worked once. It might be worth it to try again. Anything to keep them from reaching HAVEN.

If you’re unlucky, no one will remember that you died a hero. If you’re lucky, this will never have happened at all.

For their dreams had been devoured
By a demon that prowled the Fade
As a wolf hunts a herd of deer.
Taking first the weakest and frailest of hopes,
And when there was nothing left,
Destroying the bright and bold
By subtlety and ambush and cruel arts.
Exaltations 1

Comments

[universal_charm]

Everything was happening fast. To fast. For the first time in a long time he felt real and true panic, but he kept it clamped down tight inside his chest as he pushed Atlas along with the group, Samouel situated behind him riding pillion. Already he knew there was but one option for them - survive. Samouel was with them, Samouel who fell through time and had to go back. Had to stop all of this from happening.

"Maybe he can be as brave as you," Kirk smiled at Sina, Atlas shifting nervously beneath him and Samouel. He looked to Iskandar, eyes flicking back behind them. "They're gaining," he said, hoping Sina did not have the ears to hear it.

[judgemewhole]

James came riding back through the tunnels towards them on Dauntless - the old warhorse was still as steady and strong as a bronto - and at the horse's heels was Interceptor. He pulled up in front of the group, shifting around so he was slightly in front, "The path ahead is clear ... "

But now he could hear the horde, and he shifted his gaze over to Jim and Iskander, then to Sam, to Sina. Over to Cyril, before he pulled Dauntless to a halt, giving a smile to Sina, "How would you like Cyril to teach you how to ride, little one? You two can ride Dauntless out of here, like all the heroes from those Dalish tales. Alas, he's sorry he's not a halla."

Giving a meaningful look to Cyril, as he slid out of the saddle. "Tight hold, when you go fast."

[el_tybs]

Running and escaping the Darkspawn brings back a myriad of memories back to Sam, back from when he was younger, but this seems so much worse. He's not sure if it's because they are underground or because literally there are enemies at every door and their escape routes becoming less and less by the minute. As dire as it seems though, Sam is relatively calm, more focused on what they could do now.

Being behind Kirk means he's able to hear quite clearly what he's saying towards Iskandar, to which the mage shifts so that he can look over his shoulder. They couldn't see the Darkspawn, but from the noises of battle and screams, it was obvious that they weren't too far behind if they didn't start moving.

Seeing Norrington come riding down the tunnel brings a little bit of relief, but only a little seeing as the man dismounted. It was a good plan giving Cyril a horse - they needed to get Sina out - but...

"James, what are you going to do?"

with massive apologies for being late

[kartereo]

"I expect the strategical thing," Waver said, having been dead quiet the entire time up until this point. The smart thing to do was to split up and buy time for whoever wasn't going to stare down the Darkspawn. There was also approximately no bullshitting around the reality of what that meant for whoever decided to be merchants for time.

"Which I believe boils down to splitting the group. Am I incorrect here?"

[mythalenaste]

Sina sees what's happening, hears the conversation, and begins to cry. Splitting the group is bad. Splitting the group means some people might not come back. Her arms, tight around Cyril's neck, unwind so her hands can reach for Norrington.

"Uncle Jamie," she cries, because she understands what it means for him to give his horse away. It means he'll be in the group that splits away.

lol so late

[samahl]

Cyril already knew he would very likely never see some of these people again once this was over. He wished he had time to tell them all how much they meant to him. He glace James a little nod that he hoped communicated some of it as he came closer to get on the horse.

"Sam needs to make it out of this too," he pointed out. There was a general understanding that at least one of the group who had been tossed into the future needed to make it out, to find a way back and warn them. There was also an incredibly selfish part of Cyril that didn't want to risk losing Sam again.

Cyril focuses more on trying to soothe Sina once she starts to cry though. He strokes her hair a bit. "It's all right da'len, let's focus on the ride." He needs a bit of help to get up on the horse while still holding her, but he assumes that he can rely on James for that.

[conqueredhearts]

"Divide and conquer is the way the saying goes, I think."

Riding over to Sina he gave her a warm smile then pulled off his cloak to wrap it around her and Cyril. Just a little bit of extra protect in this chaotic madness they now had to face. It would likely be the last thing he could do for them but he knew he could do this much.

"I will hold the back as well."

[universal_charm]

Kirk was no fool. He knew what Iskandar meant to do, because it was something he would have done as well if Iskandar wasn't stealing his thunder. He grit his teeth, hands tight on the reins, wanting to rail and scream at the other - but knowing it would change nothing. Iskandar cared to much, and if he looked at things practically they needed someone to buy time. Iskandar had the greatest chance of success, given his abilities.

But god it hurt. It hurt so much. And despite himself tears pricked the corners of his eyes. He turned Atlas and came alongside Iskandar, reaching out for him, to nuzzle his ear one last time, to kiss him, but refusing to say goodbye. A small mercy, if only for himself.

"Catch up to us, when it's over."

He knew he wouldn't. Most likely not. But still, a fraction of hope to spur them on, to see them those last miles.