faderift | [OPEN] Smoke and Mirrors: Perendale

Whether the siege engines have been destroyed or not, some Inquisition soldiers have managed to fight their way through the skirmish transpiring outside the main gates. What they discover is a city, once beautiful and historic, aflame and on the cusp of ruin. The streets are filled with pedestrians desperate to find shelter in the section of the city still under the control of the Perendale city guard, their flagging ranks now bolstered by Inquisition and Nevarran soldiers.

A bloodied young Inquisition captain is giving directions to the wounded and able-bodied alike, and it is she who informs the newest arrivals that the Venatori were able to smuggle a number of their forces into the city by nightfall. The Inquisition's arrival has made them wild and desperate--clearly, the added opposition was not expected--but that desperation has made them formidable, too. The Venatori are led by a magister commander who has set up his base of operations within Perendale inside the city archives, well on the other side of a field of urban combat. Kill or capture him, the captain says, and their numbers will fall apart from disorganization.

There is also the Perendale governor's offices to consider, though the bulk of the city's defensive forces are concentrated around that building to prevent the officials from being captured or killed. Nevertheless, there is doubtless an effort being put forth by the Venatori to break their ranks; another potential place for you to exert your strength and lay waste to Corypheus' minions.

[OOC: The primary objective here is to fight your way through the city to the Perendale Archives. At certain stages, there will be DM tags indicating obstacles ahead of you that will need to be overcome.]

By the time she reaches the city's main boulevard, Nell is covered in blood. It's spattered across her forehead and smeared across a cheek, the contrast of it--true, brilliant crimson--making her hair look more orange than usual. Darker blood drips steadily down one sleeve and the side of her ribcage, invisible against the black of her blouse except for where the light catches, and soaked patches lacquered to skin by the steady but sluggish flow glisten in the sun. Blood dries on her hands, beneath nails, cracking where knuckles bend. It sprays in artful arcs as her staff is thrust and spun, the bladed ends, one steel and one spirit, slicing through air and flesh alike with deadly precision.

She's just tugging the true blade free from the body of a soldier, a shove with the sole of her boot required to send him off to join the other corpses littering the ground at her feet, a pocket of enemy resistance summarily dispatched.

Or so it seems. There's one more, a mage tucked just out of sight behind the rubble torn from a stately home and the remains of a carriage. Nell doesn't see him until it's nearly too late, some small noise or maybe the prickle of magic being drawn or just the sixth sense of a survivor alerting her at the last possible second. But that doesn't save her either: she turns so abruptly that her boot slips on blood-soaked cobbles, tumbling onto her ass, the barrage of energy bolts she'd aimed spraying uselessly into the sky, no time to raise a barrier.

His hands raise, power lifts at the edge of perception. A static crackle —

— And a foot of steel extends abruptly through his chest, gleaming with silver fire to smother the pull of the Fade. Wren snarls, frees her blade with the hard shove of a shield.

"Clear," Shouted over the din of the city around them; it won't be true for long. She doesn’t linger, picks over a splintered beam, a fallen body (then another), to draw close. Her shield lowers, ready to grant cover, but to stoop and offer Nell a hand can’t be afforded so close to the fray. If the girl’s done herself some injury, Wren can’t tell for all the blood. "Can you walk?"

Can you still fight?, is the better question, put paid to by the ring of dead. Her own armor is a familiar battering of steel and spine, and as much streaked with viscera. Uniforms have been a kindness of the enemy, but as the battle wears on, everyone begins to affect the same shades.

Edited 2017-11-05 18:26 (UTC)

Further down Perendale's central boulevard, the Venatori have set up a barricade designed to keep the Inquisition's forces from taking the most straight-forward route to the archives. There are a number of other side roads that could be taken instead.

[OOC: The route clearest of immediate opponents is to the west, winding through the city's market district; however, the market square itself contains a small contingent of zealots and one very competent spellcaster. Combat with these two opponents would require DM tags. This route to the archives is more circuitous.

To the east they will meet heavier resistance in the narrower corridors of some shabby residential neighbourhoods. However, this is the more straightforward of the remaining routes to the archives. No DM tags required for this route.]

"I'm fine," Nell replies, using the butt of her staff to lever herself back up off the ground. She scuffs the soles of her boots across a dry scrap of robe, the wide sleeve of a fallen mage spread across the cobbles, its pointed cuff just shy of the spreading puddle of blood. Nell side-steps it and climbs over the bodies of his fellows to meet Wren where she stands.

It would be a stretch to say that Nell is happy to see her in particular, but a familiar face is not altogether unwelcome, and Wren did just save her life. Nell is many things, and believe it or not, team player is actually still one of them. "Thanks," she says, and it's more reflex than anything, but she follows it up with a nod of acknowledgment as she lifts her weapon. The handle is bloody and so is her hand, and she spends another moment wiping both on a dry bit of her pants before re-settling her grip on the staff. She uses it to point down the road.

"I saw a few others head that way as I arrived, retreating back to the city center through the market. It's open, but the other way is through the old city, too many choke points, places for an ambush." She seems to assume Wren will be coming along now, and if the easy way she falls into that assumption and the sense of familiarity that comes with it set her teeth on edge, she doesn't show it.

A nod back, glance down the road,

"We will do better out of close quarters," She agrees. The girl’s yet clear-headed, and the assessment’s fair: Swords and spells alike require room to move. One needn't be trying friendly fire in times like these, and flames won’t take stone so easily as shacks. (Smothering to death, what an Orlesian way to go — )

The market's the smart play, it also means they’ll be seen coming. She takes point, doesn’t bother about unnecessary explanations as they start off: One to draw attention, the other to repay it.

If Wren hasn’t recognized who Nell is, the what’s far less a mystery.

They are seen coming.

The Spellcaster has secured the square, but perhaps got a bit cocky in the process. While she maintains a small contingent of zealots at her disposal, she appears to have over-estimated the security of her position.

When Wren and Nell are seen, she's quick to cast a barrier across herself and four of her sword-wielding zealots, who all charge forward to accost the interlopers. She lays fire and ice mines to protect herself.

Nell falls into formation, a few paces back on Wren's flank, ranging as wide as the street allows, the better to keep a clear line of sight to any enemies ahead. It would be a shame for Wren to get caught in her crossfire, after all. At least right now.

When their enemy appears, Nell's not as quick to cast a barrier as their foe, instead firing off a barrage of energy bolts and flinging a hail of stones and debris at the mage opposite, pummeling her shield with projectiles. It's only at the last second, once the soldiers are nearly within reach, that Nell throws a barrier into place around Wren and steps near enough to put herself within its cover as well, spirit blade suddenly glowing to life on the flat end of her staff as she prepares to engage from closer quarters.

Here they go —

It's been too long since she was in the field before today. Nerves grind, heart slams a rapid pace beneath plate and bone. But it always does: What the body doesn't learn, the mind doesn't listen to. Fear's a funny thing,

And you learn to tune it out.

The first of them, the fastest, meets shield with blade — with an opening low and stupid, to step into and shove him down. Stomp on his face (once, twice) to find the second’s already cut within her guard. Turn the blade, step aside (a third now) only to catch another across chain and that’ll leave a mark but not one written in her arteries, so it'll do; gives her a wide slash, a feint. Gives someone else a reason to fall on rent on hamstrings.

Spit and hiss the whole while in a bid to look the fucking madwoman, to keep them off the true threat behind. The girl's shown herself more than capable, still, better not to be swarmed.

Wren jams a blow, pushes ahead with stubborn insistence. Pale light gleams to collect about each swing. It’s not enough to keep them all (one, two) from slipping aside her, bearing down towards Nell.

Interceptor had made the path into the city for them, and James was in right after his mabari, shield up as he took in the situation. With Inessa, they had both gone quickly to their own Inquisition Captain, and gotten the gist of the situation. James pointed to where they had taken out the siege engines as places to make sure the Venatori didn't escape - and that civilians could get out to, before he and Inessa took off once more.

He called out to a few others, looking like they were ready to move out, "Come on, this way!"

Then he turned to Inessa, "What do you think? To the archives or to the governor's office?"

Inessa waits until everyone is sufficiently closer together before renewing the Barrier spell. Garahel remains before her, ready to distract and maul whatever is in their path. Knowing they don't have a lot of time, she makes a snap decision.

"The governor's office. It's closer, I believe."

The governor's office is situated due south of their current position, at an ostentatious (and very Orlesian looking) building that is presently surrounded by barricades erected by the Perendale city guard. Already, there are Inquisition soldiers, likely forces mustered from Skyhold, en route, and the sound of battle from just outside the barricade. The Venatori have not broken through yet, but under the command of a competent-looking spellcaster, it's only a matter of time before they do.

[OOC: Combat with the spellcaster will require occasional DM tags, but the rest of the combat can be threaded as you see fit!]

Oh goody, of course they have a spellcaster.

Carver's internally grumbling as always as he trots up next to Inessa. Unlike her and James, he left Dog at home, and for the better. Old codger's not cut out for this crap anymore. "That barricade's not going to last long, not if they have a mage." Which, no kidding, it's a cultist group from Tevinter. "I can help route some of those Venatori if the mage can be reined in."

With a good handle on the situation now, Kain nods decisively. "I can do likewise. I'd even be up for taking a stab at him, too if I can get close enough... Inessa? Care to start dealing with him?"

It takes fire to fight fire and all, especially when it comes to magic. But a mage is bound to be rather weak against physical attacks, that is, once they get through to him. Kain is more than willing to take down some Venatori in the meantime.

Inessa nods grimly. "Dispelling his enchantments and hexing him ought to tip the odds a little more in our favor. Give me a clear line of sight, that's all I ask." Whatever some might think about entropy magic, it's a convenient tool to mess with other mages and she intends to make full use of it.

There are a fair number of Venatori attempting to breach the barricade by the time you arrive outside the office. Spotting your approach, the Spellcaster shouts in Tevene, and four zealots wielding swords and shields--and one carrying a great sword--surge forward to engage you. The Spellcaster stands back lays out several fire traps to block your access forward.

And so the fun begins. Carver runs forward, sword drawn out and ready to go. But once the fire traps appear, he slows, much more cautious now for, well, fairly obvious reasons. They're pretty well in the way, and Carver supposes he could try and go around. Or, he does the straightforward approach and just dives over one or two of the traps. Naturally, they activate, but by then he's already aiming for the ground. Always stop, drop, and roll, kids. Or in this case, dive headfirst into the ground and roll around until the flames are out. But hey, there's a clear path forward now! And while he's down there, he's going to take that sword of his and swing at the legs of some of the charging Venatori.

Oh Good Grief.

James sighed, as he looked from Inessa to Cain, and stated dryly, "How about I go take care of that, hm?"

And with that, the templar moved forward, pointed his sword at the spellcaster and shouted, "Those who oppose thee shall know the Wrath of Heaven!"

And with that, a wave of dispelling magic moved forward to slam into the spellcaster, taking out all the fire mines. James, for his part, set down his shield and yelled, charging after one of the other Venatori soldiers, so he could get to the Spellcaster directly.

Inessa starts to shout when Carver runs forward...but he's too fast. Resisting the urge to ask if that was truly necessary, she hits him with a Heal spell before setting down her own array of ice mines, just before her.

And before them is Garahel, standing ready to leap upon the nearest zealot the moment they get too close.

"Not bad," Kain remarks under his breath, at the reckless move from Carver. Sure, it's a bit foolhardy for someone who's not a reaver like himself, who doesn't stand to gain from potential injuries. But it got the job done, and that's all that matters.

But for now, there are some more pressing demands on his attention, and Kain rushes in, met by that greatsword-wielding zealot first thing. He'll have to get past him to even have a chance at the spellcaster, but it's just as well... he can work on thinning out the ranks of these zealots first.

Kain whirls around with his heavy blade to strike at the zealot, who comes right at him with a counterattack immediately after. Ah, this one will be a challenge... but it's one he's prepared to meet. He makes sure his ring of pain is in full force for this one... he has a feeling he's going to need it.

Thank you, Kain. He's glad someone appreciates his efforts.

But also thank you Inessa because honestly, it kind of stung a little.

At least he's now in the thick of the zealots, bringing his sword up to block the heavy swing of the two-hander warrior who's a wee bit annoyed with Carver at the moment. Carver grunts under the weight, but manages to shove him back with a hard push, staggering to his feet to prepare for the battle. His opponent wastes no time in coming at him again, trying to take him down with punishing swings. Carver counters with a swing of his own, managing to pelt him in the side. But that's the most he can manage at the moment with the zealot's thick armor protecting him.

Listen you would get more credit, Carver, if you waited for the templar and the mage to clear the field. As it was, now James was playing catch-up behind you, going to fight his way on the outside of the wall of zealots to get to you and have your back.

Thankfully, he's got Kain right beside him, and as one zealot tries to take Carver from behind, James is open to smash him down into the ground with his shield. He shouts, "To the Maker!" and around him, his companions might feel the strength of his faith - and his powers - give them a little more protection than they might have before.

Meanwhile, Interceptor is standing in front of Inessa, growling and facing down any of the zealots that happen to get past the three warriors, ready to take them down with a well-timed jump to the throat.

Between the ice mines and mabari, Inessa feels reasonably protected but she's not going to just sit back and let the others do all the work for her, of course. She casts a Death Hex on Kain's greatsword-wielding target, then a Misdirection Hex at Carver's foe. After that, the Warden mage lets loose a barrage of attacks from her lightning-elemental staff.

Although he's never been as devout himself as he ought to be, Kan still feels that surge of protection strike him regardless. Well, the Maker is helpful for some things, once in a while, it would seem.

The zealots are definitely no weaklings, and they're proving to be pretty tough, keeping them well back from getting to that mage for the time being. Kain is focused entirely on his opponent, who's matching him blow for blow. But the more the other fighter hits Kain, the stronger Kain is getting. Looks like his power is kicking in, and with good timing. He suddenly breaks the flow of their fight, blocking the next hit for once instead of just taking it, and then he slashes with a much heavier than usual counterattack. This sends his opponent staggering, and now Kain gives a hard downward strike to finish him off.

Of course, there are the others to deal with, so he immediately looks to take on the next one in his path.

Something something, one good time asking the Maker for anything works, grumble grumble. Carver's far too occupied to think much on it, aside from nodding to James in thanks for the protection and for getting that enemy coming at him from behind.

That still leaves him with the enemy two-hander. But thanks to Inessa's hex, said enemy seems to be swinging and missing a whole lot. While also leaving plenty of openings for Carver to take advantage of. Eventually some of the armor wears down, and Carver's able to really land punishing blows. Eventually, the big guy falls to his knees and Carver goes for the kill, bringing his sword down on the back of his neck.

Needless to say, there's a mess, but hey, the scary dude is down. Carver pants, but he's quickly moving towards more zealots, hoping to draw them towards him and not Inessa.

[OPEN] Smoke and Mirrors: Perendale

Reaching the Venatori commander; inside Perendale

for wren - heading for the archives

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Inessa, Kain, and Carver

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outside the governor's office;

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