Phylactery Shenanigans

[circleprodigy]

WHO: Inessa (and Garahel), open to anyone else
WHAT: Suffering various spells, some with area of effect consequences.
WHEN: Over the next several days
WHERE: All over the Gallows
NOTES: OOC notes, CW for mage torture.

Library

Inessa is at her usual spot, books piled up around her table and Garahel curled up on the floor as she reads. It's a typical day, all things considered...at least until a certain point mid-afternoon. She had just stood up, deciding it was time for tea break in her office, when a wave of fatigue overcomes her and she abruptly slumps to the ground. Garahel, in the process of awakening when he heard her stand, falls back into slumber before he can so much as bark. Anyone nearby? Potentially have a sudden nap, as well.

Communal baths

A weary Inessa sinks into the water of the Templar tower baths, feeling the need for such relaxation more than ever. She leans back against the edge and closes her eyes, letting out a sign of contentment as she soaks up to her chin in the heated water. All is quiet for a while, but peace is abruptly shattered when a cone of lightning rips through the area, the water serving as an excellent means to conduct it throughout the bath. Inessa's eyes snap open as she screams, and for a moment nothing exists in her world but pain.

Central Chapel

Checking to see that it's unoccupied, Inessa quietly enters the chapel and takes a seat. That she does so mid-day is unusual; the middle of the night or the wee hours of the morning are more likely to find her there, when she's unable to sleep. However, that need for solace has grown recently. Maybe a few moments here will give her the courage to face the rest of the day, whatever it brings.

She tries to clear her mind, on the verge of succeeding when a cloud of dark energy suddenly expands, blanketing the area. Garahel, seated on the floor by her side, barks in alarm but she barely hears him, overcome by the oppressive weight of the cloud and how it seems to sap the strength right out of her. It takes more than her own strength to fight it and she finds herself unable to move.


Rifts and the Veil office

The day is nearly done and Inessa is collecting her things, nudging Garahel with her foot. It's time to head downstairs for a meal before returning to her quarters, or at least that's the plan. When she hears a knock on her door, the Warden mage perks up and glances over the the door, raising her voice as she lifts her satchel from the back of her desk chair. "Enter." She can certainly take a minute, if it's important.

The moment the door opens, a deafening explosion rips through the office. Inessa is thrown clear off her feet, narrowly missing the chair but slamming against a bookcase as she rolls to avert it. Garahel, reacting quickly, yelps in pain as he tries to shield her from the flames. The singed mabari barks for help; maybe the person who opened the door is better off, or someone down the hall heard them?

Courtyard

Given the incidents that have been occuring, Inessa has tried her best to avoid the courtyard, especially during the busier hours. The magic leveled at her has become increasingly dangerous, after all, and getting others caught up in another blast of whatever isn't something she wants on her conscience. Nevertheless, it's not completely avoidable and during those times she's still not free from what plagues her.

At one point, she's passing through when a violent quake ripples through the area. Crying out, she slips and falls to the ground while Garahel likewise loses his footing. He growls, but that doesn't stop the ground from trembling and knocking them prone when she tries to move again. Deciding to stay put and hope it passes soon, Inessa crouches and glances around desperately just in case someone else is caught up in this as well.

At least at one point, it's not magic that can harm anyone else. She's the sole target, though that's little comfort when she's suddenly trapped in a collapsing cage of telekinetic force, unable to scream or even move as the pressure creates waves of pain throughout her body. Garahel whines loudly, hoping to draw the attention of anyone who can help.

Comments

[justice_is_blond]

"And go where, with what support when this happens again? No."

They've had a conversation similar to this one before and his voice is more stern this time even as the healing continues.

"What, exactly, is the point of sacrificing yourself for nothing? There's nothing noble to it. There's no gain from it. You go off on your own and you're dead. You go off with people you care about and you're hurting them too. Not only that, if the problem literally walks away, the mages leave, it will be out of sight and out of mind and a lower priority. Stay put. Avoid people as much as possible, but leaving will literally help no one."

It's not an order. Yet. But he's not going to see one of the Wardens or one of the mages martyr themselves for absolutely no productive result and he doesn't think Ciri's going to stand by and let Inessa do this either.

[ichaer]

Anders' speech is rough but... he's right. The entire time he talks, Ciri keeps her focus on Inessa with a soft smile to try and help ease some of the tension out of the current situation. Ciri doesn't really know what it's like to feel the way they feel currently, afraid of hurting others and unsure how their powers will react from day to day.

"You know I'd just drag you back here by your ankles," she says lightly. Carefully, she reaches down and takes one of Inessa's hand into her own and squeezes. "I won't let anyone break you down, okay? I promised you back at Weisshaupt that I wouldn't let anyone hurt you and I'll say it again but I'm going to bloody well do everything in my power to figure this out."

[circleprodigy]

The stern words sink in a little more as the healing energy does, soothing her ravaged body. Garahel's soft whine and intense stare and Ciri mentioning Weisshaupt -where it all began for them- wear her down as well, and her slight hand curls around Ciri's own. She draws in a deep breath and nods, still frazzled but realizing it and knowing she should trust in those friends that weren't just trapped in a cage of telekinetic force.

"I...you're right, it would be futile. I'm just so tired. Every day this happens, every night I relive it and dread the next day. This isn't living." Her gaze slides to Anders, sympathetic as well as apologetic. They keep meeting like this, and he's undergoing the same torture. "I won't go anywhere. You keep healing me; the least I can do is return the favor when you need it."

Her gaze slides over to Ciri and she manages a weak squeeze in return. "I know better than to fight that stubbornness. I just hope you get the chance sooner than later." They're all being broken down, and that state of affairs can't last forever. "If I'm going to hole up in our room for the duration, we should probably move anything flammable. And...wards, maybe?" Her head's clearing but it's still fuzzy and this isn't the first attack of the day, so her problem-solving skills aren't at their best.

[justice_is_blond]

The second opinion is welcome. He's too tired and worn thin to be gentle right now, but Ciri's words are a perfect complement to his and Inessa hears them.

"I'm bound to need healing soon enough," he says with a shake of his head. She's right. Anders can only take so much. Each attack drives his reserves lower, and even if he wanted to take some time to sleep in and try to regain his strength the attacks are relentless and he's not going to let his cats or Lady get caught in something.

"Wards should protect others. I don't think they'll help us, the spells aren't being cast here, but I can't even say that for certain." He's never managed to get anything defensive cast when being hit because there's no forewarning. "Definitely keep buckets of water in case. I don't know that there's a pattern to who is bursting into flames and not, but it could change just as quickly as the more severe attacks started."