faderift | OPEN LOG: Establishing a Base in Kirkwall

OPEN LOG: Establishing a Base in Kirkwall

WHO: Many People
WHAT: Cleaning up Kirkwall
WHEN: Cloudreach 1-21
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: This log post is for characters who go early to Kirkwall to assist in preparing it for the rest of those assigned there. We strongly encourage IC discussion of things left to character discretion—someone should definitely do a crystal post to discuss what to do with the personal belongings left behind in the Gallows or what new form the statues should take!

Kirkwall once lived on the edge of the Tevinter Imperium and was home to nearly a million slaves. Stolen from elven lands or shipped from across the sea, all slaves fed the Imperium's unquenchable thirst for expansion. They worked in massive quarries and sweltering foundries that produced stone and steel for the Empire.

The city's complicated past is not easy to forget, history having earmarked many corners of the stone city. A ship approaching the harbor spots the city's namesake: an imposing black wall. It is visible for miles, and carved into the cliff side are a pantheon of vile guardians representing the Old Gods. Over the years, the Chantry has effaced many of these profane sentinels, but it will take many more years to erase them all.

Also carved into the cliff is a channel that permits ships into the city's interior. Flanking the channel are two massive bronze statues—the Twins of Kirkwall. The statues have a practical use. Kirkwall sits next to the narrowest point of the Waking Sea, and a massive chain net can be erected between the statues and the lighthouse, closing off the only narrow navigable lane. This stranglehold on sea traffic is jealously guarded by the ever-changing rulers of the city as the net trolls taxes, tolls, and extortions in from the sea.

—From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by Brother Genitivi

Establishing a presence in Kirkwall is a delicate matter. First, there's Provisional Viscount Bran Cavin—a man so used to batting back friendly offers of entirely harmless occupation of the battered city-state that his first three responses to the Inquisition's leadership appeared to be slightly personalized form letters. Proving that the Inquisition is here to work and not to conquer will be a process. The first step in that process is the second reason the move is delicate: the only building the Provisional Viscount is willing to part with is the Gallows, left quarantined and unoccupied since Knight-Commander Meredith Stannard's famous crystallization into red lyrium in the courtyard. The Gallows have since overgrown with red lyrium. If anyone is going to live and work there, there's a lot of work to do.

↠ Cloudreach 1-3: The Journey There
↠ Cloudreach 3-4: Arrival
↠ Cloudreach 4-14: Haunted
↠ Cloudreach 14-21: Spring Cleaning

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"We are in this together, are we not?"

James yelled back, but now his focus was entirely on the statues in front of him. He called along the line for all the Templars to focus on dimming the magical influence on the creatures, to allow the mages and the long distance fighters an attack, before they moved in on themselves. James's sword flashed frozen and bright, as he slammed his weapon down into the already frozen one. Hoping to make it explode, to burst into shrapnel to take down the others.

Interceptor does his part by literally charging the statue and slamming his body into the joint of the leg, like a mini-battery ram, then snarling and slamming it again. Together they should be able to keep this statue away from Inessa, if not simply through pure annoyance.

The ability to nullify magic is never not an unnerving one for a mage, but right now Inessa is quite grateful for it. She'd like to think that the statues' defenses and enhancements being negated will turn the tide it what could otherwise be a very once-sided fight. While Garahel and Interceptor tag-team that statue, Inessa casts a Misdirection Hex to reduce the likelihood of it harming them in retaliation. The statue's fists swing, but it keeps missing. The blow will still hurt should it manage to connect, though.

There are too many statues to hex individually, though, and Inessa instead casts Pull of the Abyss, creating a small rift to draw them forcefully together, damaging them in the process. That will keep them away from the workers and give the Templars a chance to focus their efforts in one specific place.

Cutting down the magic leaves them just with the power of the red lyrium -- which is of course, still leaving them with giant, person killing metal statues. Enchantments, luckily are not nulled, so his frosted sword is still slamming into the weakened one -- until they all start to shift to one point. Seeing what Inessa is doing, he yells to the Templars to surround the statues, then attack from all sides.

Interceptor slams their statue back towards the rest, barking and snapping. He gets clipped and lets out a pained whine, but he's up again in a moment, slamming into the statue's knee.

Garahel instantly moves to assist, the larger and bulkier mabari eager to see the statue put in its place. In response, the statue swings at them but misses Garahel...just barely, this time. Not about to let up, the mabari barks and slams into it again for what will hopefully be a big, final push.

While that happens, Inessa observes the commotion ahead, carefully timing the moment to prevent any Templars from being caught in range, then quickly casts Veilstrike. A fist, formed from the essence of the Fade, brutally knocks down some of those statues. The ground trembles as they fall, though that's still only a portion of the whole. Those remaining standing are putting up quite the fight, and anything that gets close enough will be flung violently away.

Interceptor moved with Garahel, shifting so they were both hitting the legs at the same time, to bring the statue down, snarling. Hopefully, this would tip the statue into the final pile, to be killed by the Templars and mages.

James is shouting to the others to keep moving - strike and move - and inspired by the mabari - was going for the weaker joint points at their legs. His frozen sword flashed hacking free another piece of metal, then kicked the statue as hard as he could to send it over again.

As the statue tips over into the pile, Inessa smiles...though that smile soon slips away as one of the statues begins striking not the people but the ground. The tremors knock her off her feet and only the fact that Garahel's build is sturdier saves him. He braces against Interceptor and barks insistently at Inessa until she staggers to her feet again.

Wincing, she focuses long enough to cast Stonefist at that pest of a statue. The soaring boulder smashes into it and sends it stumbling back, a fitting payment for the trouble it just caused. After that, she gestures for her mabari to close in again, wanting to keep them on the defensive.

Interceptor lets out a yelp as the ground jerks beneath his feet - but with Garahel there he manages to keep his balance. He growls in turn at the statue, prepared to jump at it if it makes a move towards Garahel or Inessa.

James, however, is built like a steel battering ram, which is what he does with his shield to send the statue down again after the Stone Fist slams into it, and starts cutting at it with his ice-hard sword.

Might as well take advantage while it was down, after all.

For everyone's stake, Inessa renews her barrier while she has a moment to spare, then turns her attention to the statue. While James is on the offensive, she'll give him a boost by adding a Death Hex onto their target. His blows now stand a much greater chance of ridding them of that statue all the sooner. Garahel stands guard, ready to attack other statues that might take advantage of their focus.

Interceptor is busy moving around Inessa, barking off any statues that might get some ideas about attacking her while she is tossing around magic. Look at him, he's practically a full mabari yet.

James is a full grown Templar, and it is that Death Hex that allows him to crack the statue into pieces, shattering under his shield, and the swing of his blade. He doesn't stop swinging, however, until the damned thing stops moving.

Once that statue shatters, Inessa calls out. "Back away for a moment, all of you!" She's wanted to avoid wide-ranging spells before, the the longer this persists, the more likelihood of a fatality on their end. And since she doesn't want to set the Gallows on fire, ice it is. As soon as she's given a chance, Inessa casts Blizzard to slow down the statues and prime them for shattering. Garahel nudges Interceptor back, not wanting him to be caught in the frigid winds.

James whistled to Interceptor to back off, even as he is gesturing the others to back off as well, so Inessa could do her literal magic. Interceptor whined, wanting to go on the attack, but with Garahel blocking him and his master calling him to retreat, he did just that.

Good boy, Interceptor. Inessa will ask to give him an extra treat later on; for now, she'll take advantage of the cleared space to summon a biting ice storm. Any statues in the area begin to slow down, until frost accumulates and they're frozen in place. But it won't last forever, so better act fast.

James did move then, and his entire body was a smashing hammer as his sword and shield bashed into the statues, crushing them to metal pieces.

Interceptor did his part, barking at Garahel to follow him as he ran at one of the smaller statues to slam into it and send it into the ground to shatter as well.

The noise from the shattering statues was unreal, and Inessa would have covered her ears if she wasn't busy shielding her eyes instead. Afterward, for the first time in what seems like ages, there's a semblance of quiet as she peers around, a little dazed.

"...sweet Maker. Does anyone need healing?"

"Interceptor." James reported, as he looked over at his pup. He has some lacerations, and James can tell he's favoring his front leg. Probably from where that damned thing bashed into him. He put up his shield, sheathed his horse, and went to go comfort his pup.

"You did well." He stroked Interceptor's ears, then smiled crookedly at Garahel. "You both did. Bigger bowls tonight, boys." He eyed the other Templars. "A few of them could probably use a spell or two, Inessa, if you would oblige?"

"Interceptor, come here." Inessa gestures to him, as Garahel wags his tail at James. The larger mabari is sporting some cuts but his kaddis and battle experience have kept him in better shape, so he doesn't mind waiting his turn. Gently, she sends her healing energy toward the pup before straightening and looking over to the others.

"Of course. And you're right, they deserve a little extra. Good work, both of you." Bravery and skill in battle should always be rewarded, and she has plenty of mabari crunch treats to pass around. But first, healing those on two legs, not just four.

Interceptor wagged his tail, curling up into Norrington's arms, looking up at his master with nothing but love and appreciation that he hadn't been hurt. Then he barked excitedly because extra food? Always a good thing.

"How many wounded?" He asked, as she finished up with the healing, "Anyone seriously hurt and just hiding it?"

Inessa gestures over to one of the templars leaning against another, pale and drawn. "I suspect that one to have bruised or broken ribs. A true healer at the tents can assess better than I." She's not about to wade into unknown territory with the health of a patient at risk. Her role is to patch people up, not provide intensive, long-term care.

"Well then ... Garahel, keep an eye on this one." He petted Interceptor once more, "I'll be back for him. Inessa, I'm going to get him to the healing tents."

He paused, as he rose, "Excellent work, by the by."

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OPEN LOG: Establishing a Base in Kirkwall

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