[OPEN] Smoke and Mirrors: Perendale

[minrathousian]

WHO: OPEN!
WHAT: The Inquisition's forces fight against the Venatori to prevent Corypheus from seizing power in Perendale.
WHEN: Early November.
WHERE: Perendale, Nevarra
NOTES: Violence.

On the edges of Corypheus' territory, Perendale is the site of a major Venatori offensive--a push by Corypheus' forces to take control of the city and push his influence further across Thedas. The Inquisition's forces have rallied to answer the Nevarran governor's desperate plea for support. The battle for Perendale will decide the fate of hundreds within the city's walls.

Comments

Outside Perendale; the Inquisition's camp

[minrathousian]

The Inquisition forces have eked out a camp beyond the rocky hills that overlook the city of Perendale, a Nevarran city that has been under siege by Venatori forces for several days prior to the Inquisition's arrival. The city's great Orlesian gate depicting the Lions slaying of the Dragon have been closed tight against the siege engine currently lodged against it, and scattered around it is evidence that the Venatori are here in earnest; to carry this metaphor forward toward its inevitable conclusion, it seems the Dragon is well on its way to winning, this time.

However, the Inquisition's arrival may have tipped off the Venatori that the balance of power in this particular engagement has just shifted. The bulk of the Venatori's forces have retreated enough to indicate that they're regrouping, though enough troops remain to guard the siege engine to make sabotaging it overnight implausible. The fighting will have to happen in the morning.

For tonight, you have time to prepare yourself for the fight to come by whatever means you prefer.

[OOC: This thread is primarily an opportunity for establishing and developing CR; any tactics for the assault to come have already been hashed out.]

Teren

[doneisdone]

Having left a note on her door explaining what's happening and having asked Loghain to look after Boots, Teren assumes her bases are covered and no one back home in the Wardens will make any assumptions about defecting (or abandoning). Those who know her well know how protective Teren is of Nevarra, how enraged she would become to find out that anyone, Orlais or Tevinter, has overrun it yet again.
So she's here, sharpening her knives outside her tent and being her usual glowery, taciturn self. Rather than take control of organizing the camp, she's very much keeping herself to herself and letting the others do as she please. She'll sneak in and assassinate every last Vint if she has to.
She makes a formidable impression, particularly with her newly-procured eyepatch that covers all but a line of scarring above her brow and on her cheek.

[exequy]

Kostos is being his usual glowery, taciturn self, too, albeit in more mobile form, walking around the camp in a path that circles so wide perhaps no one will recognize it as pacing. The staff in his hand has a blade at one end that could do with sharpening, but it hasn't occurred to him to try to keep himself busy that way. He's a worrier. And a prayer. His lips are moving soundlessly—you have grieved as I have; you, who made worlds out of nothing—but they stop mid-syllable when he nearly walks straight over Teren and her knives.

Whatever words Teren has deigned to speak on the journey here, they were enough for him to combine her accent and her look and hazard (key word) a guess as to her origins, with sufficient confidence to slip into his well-educated dialect of Nevarran and say, "This is not how I wanted to come back."

[doneisdone]

The stumble does indeed yield a snap of surprise and impatience, watch where you're going you fool, and so forth-- but when the mage turns and speaks to her in Nevarran, educated Nevarran, Teren's expression changes. It's not friendly, per se; not that she ever really looks friendly, but even among her own countrymen, there are, well... cautions.
She consdiers a moment, then nods in curt agreement, temporarily keeping her Nevarran to herself.

[exequy]

Kostos nods back.

And stands there for a moment, almost physically wobbling as he's pulled in different directions by the desires to say something more, for the sake of camaraderie and social acceptability, and to never say anything else to anyone again for the rest of his life.

And nods again, and turns to continue walking and worrying.

They're both very good at this.

[doneisdone]

There was something there, and Teren doesn't know what it is. On the surface, she's always felt self-conscious speaking the native tongue with people from other parts of Nevarra, since her own dialect bears the risk of coming off classless and foolish. Below the surface, he could be anyone, from anywhere in Nevarra, and know any number of things about her that she doesn't want people knowing.
And he hesitated near her, which means, on some level, they connected. Or he did to her. This doesn't bode well.

Watching him walk away, Teren narrows her eyes. She won't let her guard down around this one.

[limier]

Courage is fine, preparation better, but neither sinks or soothes the certainty of danger. Why should it? The brave, the prepared — they die too. That’s just how a battle works.

Eventually there’s nothing left to sharpen, no joints or plans to check and double-check; no reason to tread the ground any further to mud. She finds her way to Teren, drops down to sit a short distance beside.

"Some good the future does," Her hands fold, fingers knit on reflex (can’t fidget if they’re locked in place). "When it only changes on you."

It's been on her mind, that final flight to Haven. To mark by that place, everything should have gone wrong by now. Everything might have already.

[doneisdone]

At the moment Teren is oiling all her belts and straps, the holders of her many smaller blades and lockpicks and emergency potions. She's a little surprised to see someone sit beside her, but once she sees it's Wren, the surprise goes away.
"Best that it does," she replies without looking at Wren, "it's nothing I'd care to repeat."

Skadi

[iceblade]

Now, this is more like it. Skadi came for action and it seems she's finally going to see more of it. The Avvar woman is eager and restless at camp, checking and rechecking her supplies to see that all is accounted for and in peak condition. Either that, or she's often seen pacing and going through combat drills, keeping her muscles active and her wits sharp. This is also where her Spirit Warrior abilities can be witnessed, for those who haven't before. Around her well-muscled form is a cloak of arcane energy, the mark of one in touch with the Fade.

Once she's gotten that out of her system, Skadi will join those by the fire and settle down, offering a bottle to the nearest person. "Care for a swig? I've plenty to spare, thanks to Satinalia."

Re: Skadi

[judgemewhole]

James is also walking around - but that is mostly to check in with most people he knows and make sure the troops - his own people and the Inquisition soldiers - are feeling confident and are ready for the battle on the morrow.

He turns only because he hears some 'ooohs' and 'aaaaahs', and he shifts through the crowd to see what the soldiers are staring at. A smirk passed his face, before he quietly shifted through the crowd and pulled his sword, silently saluting the spirit warrior with it. Then he arched an eyebrow, asking her silently if she wanted to spar, or was she content with having everyone gape at her.

Either way, he'll hang around afterwards to get a swig of wine.

[iceblade]

That arched eyebrow is met with a sharp grin. "Bring it on, lowlander. Show me how you fight." She's not fought a templar before, though she's seen them in action on the training fields. Finding out one-on-one is more fun, though. At least her top half isn't relying on war paint alone this time, so hopefully distraction will be kept to a minimum. She readies her ice blade and stance, nodding.

[judgemewhole]

He grins fiercely in turn, before taking his stance with his sword and shield. Sword poised above his head, he started to circle her, tapping his rings on his sword and shield. Frost slid over both, adding another edge and another layer of protection.

[iceblade]

She flashes a smile at that, approving. "You surprise already, lowlander." Her own blade already counts as a frost weapon and though she doesn't have a shield, the Avvar warrior has studied blocking moves with it. Physical protection is light, but one thing she does have on her side is speed, so she'll be ready for him. Usually she's one for offense, but at the moment Skadi's curious to see his own technique.

[tactical_alert]

Milady's furry head rests on Malcolm's lap, snoozing the evening away, occasionally blinking blearily at all these potential friends before yawning and shifting back to sleep. Malcolm looks less content, staring hard in the dark in the direction of the city. But the Avvar woman makes for a good distraction. He's aware of her--hard to miss her, really, though also for being stablemaster.

"Cheers," he says by way of thanks before taking the offered swig. "Shame to fight so near the holidays, but war rarely takes a break."

[iceblade]

Skadi's quick to smile as she holds her hands out to the flame. "Ah, but the timing is a good sign to my Avvar eyes. Hakkon Wintersbreath is the Lord of War and Winter, so we prefer to raid and wage war during the winter. It honors him, and our resistance to cold gives us the advantage. I'm happy to continue that tradition, just never thought I'd do it outside of the Frostbacks."

[tactical_alert]

"I admit my knowledge of Avvar ways is severely limited. You don't send Seekers up into the mountains to deal with them, however much some of our number may have wanted to." Past tense; it's been nothing but himself, Aleron, and Cassandra for quite some time now. "And what I have heard of your ways is very strange to me. But the fighting prowess I've seen is not to be trifled with."

[iceblade]

"Aye, I'm sure they did." From the wolfish grin Skadi flashes, that probably wouldn't have ended well for them. "I don't deny we can be fierce, whatever fighting form that takes. Many from my hold became berserkers, but I was more drawn to a different path. There's something that just felt right about touching the Land of Dreams to make myself a better warrior."

Inessa (Open)

[circleprodigy]

Inessa is typically quiet as she lingers at the firepit near her tent, polishing her gear and making some potions and tonics while there's downtime. Maker knows they won't have any of that before long, so she'll take advantage of that now. While she's busy, Garahel is plopped down by her side but will instantly perk up whenever someone approaches, tail wagging. Before Inessa can stop him, he'll grab a twig and drop it down at their feet, looking up hopefully.

"I hope you don't mind being recruited for a game of fetch? My hands are occupied, at the moment."

[judgemewhole]

"Only if he doesn't mind a little competition."

James drawled, as he and Interceptor walked over. Interceptor ran up to Garahel, happily sniffing his friend and hopping over to Inessa to give her a 'Hello friend!' lick, then turned around to bounce at James as he picked up the stick.

He eyed the both of them, lifting one finger. "No fighting. Whoever gets there first gets to carry it back."

Eying the distance, and open space, he tossed it off into the darkened field, glancing over at Inessa. "I have done that myself at least five times in the past few hours. I do not think my sword has ever been so sharp or my greaves so well oiled in a long time."

[circleprodigy]

Inessa pauses just long enough to pet Interceptor before James sets the terms and sends them rushing off to claim it first. Garahel is fast, but so is Interceptor, so it's a toss-up as to who will win. Whether or not he does, though, Inessa's certain Garahel is happy for the company now.

"It helps to keep the hands busy, one way or another. I'm certain whatever I cannot carry will see use with others. Take as many healing potions as you like; since I have the spell, I'm much less worried for myself."

[judgemewhole]

Interceptor goes charging after the stick, barking happily as he goes into a straight speed to get that stick before Garahel. James watches the dogs prancing around the stick.

"I shall gladly partake of your generosity. I would prefer to go with tonics and potions than lyrium, if I have to." He plucked some of the better bottles. "Have you picked a battle group to go in with yet? If not, I would offer you myself and Interceptor."

[in_death_sacrifice]

"Have you ever known me to refuse a game of fetch with Garahel?" Kain smirks a little as he approaches, noting that she's definitely well occupied. They'll undoubtedly need it, too, so it's best she has enough time to finish.

He turns his attention to Garahel now, reaching down to pet him fondly, before going for that twig. "I hope you're ready for a challenge, you know I throw farther than Inessa."

[circleprodigy]

Garahel barks happily at that, and Inessa shakes her head, a smirk forming. "Blunt, if apt. Wear him out enough, and he'll sleep well for the battle tomorrow." She picks up a new vial. "You know, he wanted me to put on that dragon costume when we left for battle. I had to remind him it would be quickly ruined, unlike his kaddis."

[in_death_sacrifice]

"I'll be sure to do that, then. We'll have a long day ahead of us, after all. And... it was a great costume," Kain remarks, thinking back to the night of the Satinalia revelry. It had all been... rather unexpected. He looks at Garahel, "Your kaddis will also be more useful with its enhancements, unless Inessa managed to enchant that costume of yours."

Which, well, you never know. Kain readies himself with the stick. "Be prepared to go long for this one." He holds it up, winding back and then throwing, giving it a good, steady toss with plenty of momentum.

Fenris

[lyriumcarved]

Being so close and yet so far from the presence of Venatori has Fenris understandably on edge. He's of half a mind to go there now, to attempt doing something on his own... but he knows better than that. The numbers alone are enough to dissuade him. There's just too many of them for anyone to handle alone. So, he'll wait.

That doesn't stop him from pacing around the area, generally unable to simply settle down at the moment.