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

[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.