Return to the Blackmarsh

[circleprodigy]

WHO: Inessa, Anders, Kain, Myr, Melys, Loghain
WHAT: Searching for the orb of the First and dealing with Veil issues.
WHEN: Mid to later October
WHERE: The Blackmarsh
NOTES: Sign-ups here.

As for content mention, violence and references to Awakening.

Comments

[faithlikeaseed]

This isn't Hasmal Circle. This isn't the Blackmarsh, either-- Nothing is real but each breath stinging in a throat made hoarse as if by screaming (but he hasn't been; he remembers--) and the crushing certainty of ruin.

All the rest impinges on someone else: Smells of smoke and fire, wet dog, burned fur, the stench of swamp (the feel of blood and worse on his fingertips); distant shouting, mabari growling, bone snapping flesh parting heartbeat racing (they'll come back and this time there's no driving them from the dark behind eyes no longer there)--

"Hey," and someone breaks through the fog of derealization to touch him, draw close. It makes him start in awful shock and go for his spirit blade--but it's pinned between them, slowing his response until memory can work.

Melys, this is Melys; Melys who came with him to haunted Sundermount, who's eaten spiders, who knows how corrosive pity is. She wasn't there three years ago.

She's here now, anchoring the present in flesh and bone pressed against his side.

(Melys, who's afraid of magic.)

Myr shudders and clutches at her, man to lifeline. "Here," he husks--here, not lost. He's remembered where he is.

[mactears]

He places himself between Myr and Melys, and the last of the wolves who, undaunted by the circle of flames, lunge through it to meet their ends. He will give himself time to feel a pang of bitter pity for the poor creatures once they've been put out of their misery and the danger has passed. For now, he metes out death unrelentingly, until the last of the blight wolves gives a pained groan and collapses to the boggy earth under the weight of his blade.

Winded, he jerks the sword out and drags the back of his gauntleted wrist across his brow, then turns to look to the two the group had formed the protective circle around. He won't patronize them by crouching before them, asking if they're all right; they aren't.

"Clear," he says breathlessly instead, and waits for the flames to recede.

[in_death_sacrifice]

In the midst of battle, that's what Kain focuses on, that's all he has time to worry about. He keeps swinging and striking until his area is clear of wolves as well, and there's no sign of any others slinking out from the shadows. Still, Kain remains wary and watchful, eyeing the area for a few tense moments. Even after the all clear is given, he remains on edge, listening for sounds of anything moving out there. He's spattered with blood: mostly the wolves', some of his own from using his specialized skills... but he's in pretty decent shape, considering that.

He lets out a long breath after another moment, silently nodding agreement. It seems they're safe for now. Relatively. There's no safety out here, after all. He comes back over, looking at Myr and Melys with concern. It's not his place to get in the middle of things... he's not all that great at comfort, either... but he at least wants to see that everything is all right.

"Good, then we can move on... when we're ready." Waiting to collect themselves seems for the best, but they can't linger, either.

[justice_is_blond]

He waits a beat after it's declared all clear. Last time he'd been here there'd been plenty of ambushes, many times where it had looked fine and then more creatures had stormed in, but nothing stirs and he lowers his hands, putting the ring of fire out.

"Is everyone all right? Does anyone need to be seen to?" Myr wouldn't notice if Anders was to look over at him, but Melys would so Anders speaks out toward the marsh itself. Every now and then he doesn't entirely fail at being diplomatic.

[aforethought]

It's a long moment before she notices Kain watching. Her lip curls up reflexive, bares teeth —

"Clear," She echoes at the lot of them, hears herself too late to catch it back. "We're clear."

But she doesn't move from Myr's side just yet. Won't, for half the long walk ahead.

[faithlikeaseed]

"Does anyone need to be seen to?"

A shake of the head; there's no healing spell that will clear the aftereffects of panic from Myr's system and he's magic sufficient to heal his own bitten tongue.

He won't pass up the opportunity to stick to Melys like a burr.

[circleprodigy]

As with Kain, Inessa spends the next few moments intently watching and listening for signs of more blight wolves. But there are no answering howls, no snarls...nothing. The Blackmarsh is unnervingly quiet once more, at least for the time being. She grips her staff and looks back to Melys and Myr, as Garahel makes a Myr sandwich by sticking to his other side.

She shakes her head and straightens, unhurt if tense. Normally, she would give all the time needed, but this isn't an area where they have that luxury. Sooner or later, something else will be drawn to them. "A moment, and then we ought to continue. This marsh doesn't seem a forgiving place to linger."

[in_death_sacrifice]

"No need for healing here." Which is something Kain would say anyway, but it's more or less true at the moment. Actually, he really isn't too bad off this time around, not having had to go quite as crazy with his abilities this time. He's saving his stamina for the really tough battles that surely lay ahead though. Already, he's glancing out there, watching and waiting, expecting the next threat to be upon them soon.

"Yes... who knows what's out there watching..." he says quietly, as he stares into the darkness surrounding them. "Best not to let it get too interested in us." But he'll wait for now, wanting them to be completely certain they're up for heading away.