faderift | [open]

WHO: Cade Harimann, you?
WHAT: A weary and disoriented Templar shambles through the gates of Skyhold, seeking Commander Cullen. Most would be advised not to agitate him, but mages in particular are likely to find themselves at swordpoint.
WHEN: Not long after everyone left for the Fallow Mire.
WHERE: Skyhold gates
NOTES:This might be weird but I want to request that responders keep the scene to one thread, since I imagine he's only going to arrive once and I think it would be cool if things happen simultaneously. (please let me know if this isn't cool for some reason)

The journey alone from Redcliffe had been taxing in itself, and the long and winding way up the mountain pass to Skyhold had Cade near collapse. He had defected from his company in the Hinterlands, and while common sense stated he should go into hiding and leave the life behind, his blood yearned for lyrium and he knew he still belonged to the Order-- whatever state it was in, and whatever it chose to do with him now.

Wearing his lighter traveling armor, Cade wandered in the front gates and peered around the open courtyard. There was a strange look in his eyes as he took it in, and became aware that this couldn't be real; there couldn't be a Qunari over there next to a Circle mage, with no armored templars in sight. Something was terribly wrong with this place.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Stop it," Cade insisted hoarsely, now fully turning to face River, wild-eyed and sword dangerously aloft. He glanced furtively back between her and the elf, still trying to puzzle out the scenario. What deal was there to be made, what was this Dalish playing at to be so helpful? He was being toyed with, he knew it, by this maleficar and her companion.
As the thought hit him, it was like a switch had been flipped; without waiting for so much as a response, he drove his blade toward the ground. A bright flash of light emanated from where it made contact, and every mage in the close vicinity would, however briefly, suddenly find themselves unable to cast.
A clamor of surprise and aggravation rose from the nearby healing tents.

[Note: I'm having him do a Spell Purge. If anyone takes issue with this please say so and/or correct me!]

Definitely a strange girl. He glances over River, his eyes curious, but he waits. He'll have to with this fool templar waving his sword about.

And before he can react, the damned idiot is using his abilities, shutting out magic in the immediately vicinity. Twisted Fate clenches his fists; he hates that's a thing any of them can do, but he can't fuss about it right now. Snapping and yelling at him isn't going to make him any calmer.

That, and Twisted Fate has one less thing he can use at all to protect himself. Fantastic.

"She can't hurt you, or are a few words from a girl enough to unravel the big tough templar?" he says flatly, holding up his hands openly to continue to attempt to display himself as harmless. "If you'll just sit and mind yourself, we can look into fetching Cullen to sooth your paranoia. Wouldn't that be nice for everyone?"

For a moment, everything in her head goes completely blank. Silent as a grave. The energy that shifts and shimmers around her vision suddenly goes gray and stiff, and it feels like the air being punched out of her lungs.

This was the power of the templars. This was what her brother feared, men filled with power older than they knew, a thirst born of something larger...with a wince she clapped her hands to her ears and sank back, shoulders hunched, a faint whimper slipping free.

Posturing was the least of Cade's concerns, but at least now he could hear himself think without worrying that others could as well. He stepped forward, his sword-hand shaking and his steps shuffling from the expense of energy that had taken. A strong wind could blow him over at this point, if he'd stop panicking long enough to let it.

"Go, then," he hissed, gesturing at the elf as the world began to swim around him anew. He shouldn't have tapped into the Fade with such low lyrium, that much was certain. His sword felt loose in his hand as he gave it a threatening swipe in front of him, urging Twisted Fate along, though he betrayed himself a moment after by stumbling to one knee. He would die here, he knew. Like this, alone, at the hands of whatever other apostates these two were keeping hidden just out of sight.

The elf lets out a sigh before he's crouching by River. For now, the templar's not much of a threat.

"Hey now, bean. You feel like comin' with me away from this excitable guy?" For what it's worth, his intentions are sincere enough. It seems like getting the girl far away from the templar would be a smart idea at this point while he's stuck trying to find someone who knows where the hell Cullen is.

"It stopped. He pulled it out and made it stop, pushed it back, keeping them at bay, but he hurts. He's hurting..."

It's breathless babbling to herself until the elf kneels beside her. Her whole body feels wrong without that tie to the Fade, but it's coming back, creeping back in as the templar's purge starts to fade. She stares at Twisted Fate for a moment, swallowing thickly before her eyes shift back to Cade.

"He needs help."

Cade remained on his knees, now feeling that to stand again would cost too much energy. Panting lightly from exhaustion and stress, he turned his head slowly to look at the girl.
He felt drunk as he watched her, and despite the kindness of her words, they terrified him; if she knew some things, then she knew everything. One quivering hand rose to cover his face. He'd really done it this time.

The way she speaks is certainly strange, but not all of it is meaningless drivel. Somehow, she can interpret a person, despite whatever is wrong with her. A very intuitive person indeed.

"And he's going to get it." Whether Twisted Fate thinks he should have it or not. "Look, y'can watch him if you want, but if I come back and he's got his sword in you, I ain't saying sorry to you, bean."

He glances at the templar. "You get that? Try to keep your pointy bits to yourself. Be best that way."

To that she says nothing. She and Simon had encountered trouble on the road, people who meant to hurt them. Cade was lashing out in fear, terrified he'd stumbled into a trap. He'd see, given time.

The elf gets a shaky nod in response. She's not alright, she won't lie and say so, but he's done all the damage he's going to do for now. He needs someone to watch him, and she can do that from a distance.

Cade certainly seemed not to have any intention of enacting further violence, and in fact looked more like he was ready to have his own head lopped off. He rested pitifully on his knees, his sword in front of him, breathing measuredly in and out as he struggled to maintain his presence of mind. He could get up and walk forward, further into Skyhold, but Maker only knew what he would find there. He could turn around and walk back out to eventually die of starvation or exposure, whichever got him first. There were no options that didn't end in total disgrace, so remaining where he was and taking a breather seemed perhaps the best course of action.

So afraid. So empty and alone. The songs filled up the hollow spaces and pushed everything else away, like he'd tried to push them. Now things could creep in, doubts and fears where strength had started to falter.

"They'll bring it back," she murmured, after a moment. "Stop the shaking. They don't like it when people hurt."

Her tongue darted quickly over her chapped lips, toes curling against the stone. No good trying to get closer, he'd spook. Let him have his little bubble.

Cade waited, and the longer he did, the more the girl affected him. He buried his face in his hands and hunched forward, riding out the panic that continued to surge through him. He was certain he was about to die, or worse, despite what she said.

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Sorry for slowness, holiday traveling!