THE SEAS SHALL RISE & DEVOUR, Part I

[faderifting]

WHO: Any Inquisition members + all rifters
WHAT: A semi-involuntary tropical island vacation
WHEN: Kingsway 20 onward
WHERE: The sea and an island east of Rivain
NOTES: OOC post.

I. THE JOURNEY

Two ships depart from Kirkwall on the morning tide, sturdy vessels crewed by veteran sailors--but a mere skeleton crew, as it turns out, or so a few of them would have you believe. They're prone to assigning tasks to anyone who happens not to look busy, shoving ropes into hands without a care for station or experience, barking out instructions and expecting to be obeyed. With plenty of work to do the journey seems quick, and besides the unexpected chores it's otherwise smooth sailing through the Waking Sea. Some claim to've spotted the Windline Marcher one night, but it could just as easily have been clouds on the horizon, and that's it for excitement until the ships round the island of Brandel's Reach and out into open ocean, the ever-present coastline finally falling away behind.

The sky is bigger out there and the waves are too, especially when a storm strikes a few days out, dark clouds and driving rain sending any inexperienced sailors below decks to wait it out. The worst of it being the pitch of the ship rolling up and crashing down the massive waves, and the way the hold fills with the stench of people being sick. But the next morning dawns calm and clear and with no lasting damage done.

The group is bound for a desert island, drawn on maps with a big deep cove like a bite chomped out the side it, and a narrow channel through the surrounding reefs to reach it. That's the only moment of true tension on the voyage: as soundings are taken every few feet and the helmsmen adjust and readjust in response, carefully threading the needle to avoid running aground on ship-killing banks of sharp coral.

Both ships make it, and anchor offshore in the bay in the sheltering lee of a cliff, safe from future storms. The first party ashore reports back that Qunari are present in the area, but while they've displayed a palpable wariness, hostility does not seem their aim today, and they retreat back up to the hills above the beach as Inquisition forces arrive. Anyone able-bodied is tasked with assisting in unloading, and those less hale with helping the quartermaster's assistants track the process to make sure nothing goes astray between hold and shore.

Camp is to be a collection of tents: large ones beneath which makeshift facilities for cooking, eating, and working are set up, and many small ones designed to hold 2-4 Inquisition agents. They're still hammering stakes into the sand and tying off ropes to the sturdier palms when a shout goes up, though anyone present who possesses an anchor shard will not need to be told: a rift has opened nearby, a couple hundred yards out into the bay, a knot of shapes splashing about it. Better hope the rifters can swim.

II. ARRIVAL

Rifters

You were asleep--deeply or fitfully, for the last time or just resting your eyes for a moment-- and then you were not. And wherever you were was not, anymore, replaced by nothing but the sensation of falling, tumbling into endless, bottomless nothing. If this were still a dream, you would wake before you hit the ground. You can't die in a dream, they say. In some worlds.

In this world, when the afterimage left by a flare of too-bright, greenish light fades, you will find yourself at sea. Not metaphorically (though perhaps that too) but literally: dropped into what is unmistakably the ocean, from the salt in your mouth and the incessant slosh of waves into your face, the squawk of gulls circling overhead. You had better start treading water.

Thankfully, if you can keep your head above the waves long enough to make a quick inspection, it turns out that land is in sight, only a few hundred yards off. Unfortunately, between you and it is a strange slash of greenish light. It sticks up out of the water but seems to continue beneath as well, turning the otherwise-turquoise waters the same pale greenish shade of a man gone seasick. The cluster of demons emerging from the rift are tall, spindly stick-things with too many eyes who flail about like stickbugs dropped in pond, but use the long reach of their arms to attack. Some are hunched and hooded with no eyes at all, their shrouds sodden and draped in seaweed. Others are mere wisps of greenish light that float easily over the surface. While you might get the impression they are as surprised as you to find themselves in the drink, any humor that might bring is probably outweighed by how angry it seems to make them.

If that were not enough to contend with, there is also the narrow splinter of light the same sickly green as whatever brought you here that now glows out of the palm of your left hand. It aches, a bone-deep pain that gnaws even through all the distractions. But there is some good news: from the beach over yonder boats are launching. Perhaps they'll save you.

Rescue

As if rescuing rifters from drowning and demons weren't hard enough work, all the commotion in the water inevitably draws the attention of the local predators. But what arrives isn't the usual eel or ray or even a shark: it's something much bigger and much...redder?

Slinking through the water comes the flash of a fin and the glint of a scaly back, so quick and sinuous it's hard to say how many of the sea serpents there are. As wide around as the circle of a man's arms, with snapping jaws lined with an unnatural number of curving teeth, but what should be smooth snakey curves are instead jagged with the jut of brilliant red crystals that catch the light and make the sea seem to be already splattered with blood. They're studded all over its body, making any even glancing blow carry twice the danger: there's not just the stunning force of the strike to worry about or the possibility of being coiled in a crushing grip, but also being sliced and gored by red lyrium.

And the serpents aren't alone. While all eyes are on the churning water and the incredible sight of demons battling it out with sea monsters (because everything in that water is fair game to the beasts, not just the Inquisition), one sailor is suddenly plucked out his boat and carried screaming down into the depths by a great, crystal-encrusted tentacle. Cleansing runes are effective, but the monsters are canny enough to avoid capture, falling back into deeper water before attacking again. The arrival of a red lyrium-tainted kraken is just about the final straw for the ship's crew, and after seeing the monsters come dangerously close to cleverly flipping one of the longboats, they insist that the Inquisition row back for shore.

If flight is hard to stomach, consider it a tactical retreat: in shallower water the great bulks of the monsters become a liability, thrashing about among the rocks as they try to give chase. Escape back to the beach is possible, and surely the safer course, but it may be possible to lure one of the sea serpents into a tide pool or to beach itself up on the sands. The rest continue to prowl the bay, visible circling the ships at anchor and making any return impossible for the time being.

III. STRANDED

Once everyone is safely on land and out of the monsters' reach—after any wounds have been seen to, with particular attention given to any that may have been exposed to red lyrium—it's obvious that there's no way to leave for the time being. There isn't much to do but to try to make the most of things and try to accomplish what you came here for.

Some of the team will be tasked with continuing to set up camp. Now that the stay might be longer than a single night, it needs to be a little sturdier. The beach and cove are protected from harsh winds and exposure by a half-circle of rocky cliffs, and the Qunari communicate in grunts and one-word answers that large predators make sleeping in the jungle itself a bad idea. They've only been here a few days (that much can be gleaned despite their reticence), but some of the untamed jungle has been cut through to make clear paths to fresh water and fruit sources.

Penetrating the rest of the island is slow, difficult work—though magic may make it easier. The goal is near the top of the formerly volcanic peak in the island's center, but hacking through the growth to create a path may abruptly become a waste of time when it gives way to a steep drop-off or an equally steep incline and forces everyone to double back and try another route. If there was ever a clear road to the top, it's gone now, grown over during centuries of abandonment. But there are signs of past habitation: the lower portions of the island are spotted with crumbling ruins, chunks of moss-coated wall rising out of the forest floor, the occasional pillar looming up amongst the trees. Some have architecture and faded murals that are distinctly elven. Others, more recent, are clearly human, including a statue of Andraste in the center of a clearing. Others are harder to identify.

The predators the Qunari were trying to warn everyone about turn out to be real--they're large, jet-black cats about the size of a height of a mabari but longer, with short manes, near-scaley skin, and horns almost like the Qunari's. And before anyone gets any ideas about keeping one, they're fiercely territorial—always likely to try to eat your face, but doubly so if you come near their adorable kittens. Feeding them may buy a moment or two for escape, but nothing is going to win them over.

Comments

A

[iceblade]

Skadi manages to head over at some point, looking winded but still grinning. How can she not be, after such an epic battle? And if she's going to seek out healing, it might as well be from another Avvar, with methods she's familiar with and a proper relationship to the gods. Entering the tent, Skadi plops down where she can, trying not to make a mess in the process.

"Eh, I've just got a few marks here and there. I don't think any of that red shite got in me; you'd notice right off, wouldn't you?

...had to use the damn shard, too." She glances down at her palm and frowns warily at the glow. "Does it look any different, to your eyes? I've tried not to use it, not sure what it'll do to me." While aware that rifters and others are managing with their own marks, it's still unknown magic, the long-term effects of which are yet to be seen. It'll likely never sit well with her."

[theexile]

"I would know if it it was in you."

At least from what she'd been gathering that was rather obvious. It apparently was quite the dramatic thing which helped her know what to look for. Kattrin smiled at the woman then sat before her to look at her shard first. Luckily she'd seen it once already so at least she could compare it to that time.

"I notice no changes with it." She frowned though but only because this strange magic was something she disliked. It was just...so hard to understand. With a shake of her head, she murmured a soft prayer before directing glowing hands to the woman to treat the minor things she had.

[iceblade]

Kattrin's news on both fronts relaxes Skadi a fair bit, and the healing energy soothes the rest. She smiles warmly, grateful. "My thanks, for all of that. I've never been on one of these missions; it's exciting, but I don't know what to expect, all the same. How're you holding up?"

Even if she hadn't been injured enough to warrant a trip to the tent, Skadi would have checked in sooner or later. The healer has a calm way about her and a good heart, both reasons not to regret her company.

[theexile]

"It has been tiring but I have managed." Once Skadi was healed she offered her some water and a piece of dried meat. The warrior needed to keep up her energy and Kattrin could help with that.

"I am not one of use for fighting so I waited here. I am glad you returned well."

[iceblade]

Offering a smile of thanks, Skadi eagerly downs some water before munching at the dried meat. Her appetite is rarely anything other than enthusiastic, especially after a battle such as the one she just experienced.

"I almost didn't, those damned tentacles kept trying to knock me overboard and I don't swim. But between the shard and the gifts the gods gave me, enough were affected to make a getaway happen. It made me wish I could take down the lot of them, see if I could gain another legend-mark. Skadi, Kraken-slayer?"

She chuckles, wishing more Avvar could have seen them just so they'd know she wasn't making it up.

[theexile]

"That would be impressive. How often can one say they have earned not one but two legend-marks?" She actually laughed after that. Really these were just things only Avvar would truly understand and she was glad to be able to talk about them. It almost seemed like ages since she last had.

"Perhaps I should teach you to swim. The hold I was born to spent time near a body of water and the fishing was plentiful because of it."

Basically she was saying she was really rather good at swimming.

[iceblade]

That laugh provokes another grin, Skadi thinking Kattrin needs to smile and laugh more often. "I'll take you up on that, when we've less tainted beasts roaming the waters. Since we're based at a port, I guess it wouldn't hurt to learn. Have you met any of the rifter folk yet?"

[theexile]

"I went to offer food to one. I feel as if though his life has been a hard one." That aversion to touch... Kattrin frowned a little but it was out of concern really. Such reactions were worrisome for one like her who just wanted to help take care of others around her.

[iceblade]

She nods while finishing up what Kattrin's given her. "Hard or not, I'm sure you being there helped even if he didn't say it. After arriving to sea monsters, how can a friendly face not be some comfort, eh?"

[theexile]

She offered a soft smile at that. "I am not certain if I am as friendly as you but I can offer comfort at least."

Besides, she liked doing that. Comforting others. It was what made her feel complete and it always had. It was also what made things hard here since there were many who mistrusted her for being born Avvar, something she couldn't help and didn't intend to do anything about. Still, she did her best. She could at least turn these moments into some sort of humor anyway with Skadi.

"Though perhaps it is my being so small for one born an Avvar that can be comforting."

[iceblade]

Skadi laughs at that, not unkindly. "Good things come in packages of all sizes, you know. And you're not wrong; I met an elven girl crying at the docks, and must've scared her half to death when I went to see what caused it. She might've responded better to you, more her size and without all the tattoos. We did bond a little over both having shards, though."

[theexile]

"I am glad you could help her. Times are hard enough without further fear." She smiled gently then finally just sat back a moment. To breathe, to let herself have just a moment to rest. It was so easy to get lost in her work of helping others. It helped her with her guilt. But even she knew she needed to take time to rest as well if she was going to be of any help to the others here.

"Will you come with me later to search for more food? It will help to have supplies and I think we who were born as Avvar may be the most practiced in a sudden gathering of food."

[iceblade]

"Aye, of course." No hesitation there. She's not about to have Kattrin wander off alone in hostile territory, nor does she know anyone else here well enough to entrust them with that. "If there's anything worth hunting, I'll find it and haul it back. We'll check it all carefully before we use it, just in case that red lyrium isn't just limited to the sea around here."

A horrible thought, but Skadi would rather be paranoid than die through those means.

[theexile]

"Agreed. I have no desire to feed such beasts to the people here. Or anyone." She hardly feared them but there was no denying that those creatures were created from a terrible distortion that shouldn't be. Kattrin wouldn't wish such a fate on those in the Inquisition.

"I hope to gather supplies to make traps to catch food we can gather later as well."

[iceblade]

"If you're pressed for time, focus on the healing and I'll see what I can do there. I'll bring you whatever I find, eh?" Trap-making isn't too difficult, at least the basic stuff, and Kattrin doesn't need to do it all. Skadi makes a mental note to keep in mind good places to set them, as well.

[theexile]

"My thanks." Her face lit up at the offer of help. Yes that would be very good and it meant she'd be able to focus on healing and making for a time. Besides, she knew she could trust an Avvar to be good with traps. Even those who weren't hunters were trained in that much.