faderift | OPEN ↠ HEART LIKE ICE

OPEN ↠ HEART LIKE ICE

WHO: New Rifters & Inquisition Members
WHAT: A journey south to make new friends and kick some ass
WHEN: Drakonis 15-25
WHERE: Sunless Lands
NOTES: Violence and language assumed. Warn for anyting else. OOC post.

The Sunless Lands are not, in fact, sunless. This time of year there can be as many as eight hours of daylight, some of it blinding where it reflects off of snow and ice that stretches from the southern edge of the Kocari Wilds as far as anyone can see, broken only occasionally by rocky masses of land jutting out of the snow cover or barren tundra peeking out in patches where constant, unforgiving wind has pushed it aside. You'll be traversing this span primarily on foot—there are sleighs, too, pulled by hardy dogs, but they're carrying essential supplies rather than spare people. The only way to get a ride is to successfully feign passing out.

Beyond the dogs, the area isn't devoid of native wildlife: white fennecs hunt rodents underground, and a herd of excessively fluffy wild druffalo is seeking out whatever vegetation it can find. But hunting down a meal or two early and preserving rations for further south would not be a bad idea, because the further south the team travels, the more inhospitable the terrain grows, and the less life can be seen. And sometimes not much of anything can be seen, when clouds roll by and burst with snow thick enough to halt progress entirely for hours.

The nights are cloudy as often as clear, but when they are clear the sky is split by green and purple ribbons of light.

I. THE RESCUE

Two days' journey south, the monotonously icy horizon is broken by something new: smoke rising in interrupted puffs, an intentional signal. Someone is out there. Chances are, it's the rifters, with or without their first group of intended rescuers. But there's no way to be sure. And approaching with caution is wise either way. Rifters have strange powers (and strange personalities), and they've been out here for days now, dealing with demons and Maker knows what else on their own. For all anyone knows, they could be the reason for the rescue team's disappearance. Orders are to approach carefully.

Then, once contact has been made and initial concerns have been allayed, make sure those poor people have something to eat, and try to figure out where their original rescuers disappeared to.

II. THE STORM

After the rifters are recovered, there's still the matter of the red lyrium mine to address. Another two days' journey south will put the group within good range of the mine: not so close as to be seen, but close enough to be able to get there in a couple of hours as needed.

Halfway there, however, in the middle of the day, progress comes to an abrupt half when the darkest clouds yet gather suddenly on the horizon and barrel down on the group, bringing with them a glut of snow that reduces visibility to only a few feet and wind that roars so loudly you have to shout to be heard. Magic can help some with heat, but the storm shows little sign of quickly abating and with hours of deadly cold conditions to deal with, digging in and getting cozy for a few hours might be the most feasible solution for everyone.

III. THE VILLAGE

Shortly before the point everyone is aiming for—one marked by an enormous stone carving of an owl, several times taller than a man, that's inexplicably been left by the ancients in the center of the tundra—something else appears not far to the west. On closer inspection, it turns out to be a circle of low-sitting animal-skin tents pressed down into the snow to protect them from wind, rocky fire pits, and abandoned sleighs. Overall, it's a cross between camp and village indicative of a nomadic group that's staying a while but not forever.

It's empty now, with a coating of snow on most of the structures that indicates it's been at least a few days since anyone was here. Closer inspection reveals personal belongings inside the tents, including toys and clothing belonging to children—and, in many tents, chunks of red lyrium in the center or beneath the skins that form the beds, each piece emanating heat. They probably thought it was safer than fire.

Wherever they went, they don't come back while the Inquisition is there. But the activity does get noticed. A few hours after arrival, enormous white bears apparently moving in a pack come within a hundred yards of the camp and pace at a distance, watching the interlopers with wary interest. Some of them are wearing collars or harnesses decorated in the same style as the tents. For enough food, they may come closer, and they'll turn out to be abnormally tame.

IV. THE BATTLE

The red lyrium mine that Corypheus' followers built when their operations were crippled in Emprise du Lion is nestled in an icy canyon, with massive scaffolding built up the sides of the cliff and too many cages to count, though few of them hold living prisoners anymore. It's a massive operation, but one that's been crippled by its distance from civilization. It's sparsely guarded compared to its size, and other than the cliffs, it has minimal natural protection. The enemy has magic-silencing Templars, enormous behemoths, and a chained white-furred giant, but they are clearly not prepared to be attacked.

Ahead of the onslaught, traps are set and any surviving prisoners are evacuated under cover of darkness. Everyone else sent to fight either creeps down shortly before dawn, rappelling quietly to avoid notice in the dark, or waits at the top for the first surprise strike to provide enough distraction for them to descend more openly. If anyone has been particularly nice to the bears (see above) then it is entirely possible they'll allow themselves to be ridden into battle.

Once their presence is known, their orders are pretty simple. Destroy it all. Leave no one behind and nothing worth returning for.

Fire is a good strategy. Red lyrium doesn't do well in heat.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

She had never really been in the position to discuss and share her own powers before; it was something she felt, and while Adrian had taught her a few things she had never really had to describe it aloud before. Hesitant, she gives herself a moment to think before she speaks.

"I was able to sense evil and good, and heal wounds." Another pause, and then a soft sigh. "I was able to protect others from attacks and no disease could harm me. That was all I was capable of as I was still learning."

"Protecting others, healing wounds...all that stuff is possible in Thedas." Korrin nods, hopeful that this woman will be able to manage that much. Healing is a potent power, and they need every healer they can get. "Disease immunity isn't a thing, though, and you need to be careful around red lyrium. That shit is highly toxic and if you're infected...it never ends well."

"Then I will learn." Six is determined about that if nothing else. She will learn to find a way to regain what she was lost - and if that means rediscovering her God in this place then she would do that, too. She already feels a little lost because of the connection being stolen from her, and her heart is heavy with the knowledge. "I will avoid it where possible. Are there any other common dangers I should know?"

"I can also teach you how to make grenades and potions when we get back. That's something anyone can do, and they can make a hell of a difference on the battlefield." It's a good reminder to keep up those classes, too. Korrin's let that slide, but with a new batch of rifters, it seems prudent to offer.

"Yeah; in a word, darkspawn. They're corrupted beings that exist to create Blights and spread taint. I'll point them out if I see them, though they aren't here. The real danger is that if any of their blood gets in you, you'll become corrupted too...if you live. The only people who can resist that are the Grey Wardens, and they're not saying how that's done."

"I would appreciate that." Six has to think for a moment if there is anything she can give in return - there is not much, not given the fact that her powers have been taken from her, but perhaps there is something that she might be able to give at a later date. "Anything that might be done to help those that cannot help themselves."

It's part of her nature, her Oath, her order; she wants to protect those that cannot protect themselves, and her focus is on that entirely. It's what makes her perk up, just a little, at the mention of those who protect people from such a great evil.

"Darkspawn and Grey Wardens." Frowning, she tilts her head, thoughtful for a moment. "Are there any of these Grey Wardens I might speak to?"

"Sure, I think there's a few around." Korrin gestures vaguely, not having kept track of any in particular. "They have blue and grey uniforms, with griffons on them. I'm pretty sure the griffons themselves were left behind, back in Kirkwall."

Hearing Six, she smiles. "I like your priorities. Sad to say, there are a lot of people who need help back where we're stationed, and outside it too. The Inquisition's mostly focused on finding and stopping the asshole who created this whole mess, but that also means getting nations in Thedas to cooperate and that means lending stability where it's needed. To put it bluntly, you won't run out of things to do with us, and powers or no powers, everyone is needed."

She makes a mental note to keep an eye out for any that they find; being a Warden sounds vaguely similar to being a Paladin, and if she can find out more information she might be able to find a way to make whatever her position is here work in this world. It's a long shot, so to speak, but at least it's something to work towards.

"Then I will help." It seems an easy solution for Six; she had been trained to recognise helplessness in others and do what she can to help support them and bring them out of their misery. Her Oath had been based on that - and her losses - and she doesn't think that waking up somewhere new ought to change that. "If there is something that can be done then I shall do what I can." Especially since these people have already helped her.

"Thanks, it helps to hear that. And we'll back you up, too. I know you guys didn't ask to be here, and all this is a lot to throw at you, but I'll explain how I can and if there's something I don't know, I probably know someone else who can give you the answer."

"If I have any questions I will be sure to ask." But, oh, actually, she considers for a moment before she leans forward. "Where will we be taken once we have all been gathered? I doubt your base of operations is in this wasteland." She hopes not, at least.

"Oh, fuck no." Korrin's nose wrinkles at the very thought of spending any significant time in this frozen wasteland. "We're mostly in the city of Kirkwall, in the Free Marches across the Waking Sea. Some of the Inquisition is in Skyhold, a fortress in the Frostbacks, but they're assigning all new people to Kirkwall, so you don't have to worry about freezing anything off."

As she speaks, she bends down to make a very basic tracing in the snow, a map showing where they are now, and where they're going.

The quick answer has Six almost smiling, her mouth twitching a little before she settles down and turns her attention to focus on the basic map. It's enough to give her some sense of the area, at least, and should she find any kind of paper later she might attempt to write it down, to make sure she understands where she is in relation to the rest of the world.

"So we will be returning to Kirkwall?" She nods, gazing at the map. "It must be a large stronghold to house so many."

"The stronghold itself -the Gallows- is on an island a boat trip away from the city itself. That's why we moved; it's a hell of a lot easier to be involved in saving the world if we're not so damn far from everything. Most people live in the Gallows, but those who want to leave it and fill out the paperwork can stay anywhere in the city...though Hightown doesn't work unless you're rich, human and native." She gestures to herself; ten guesses where she isn't living?

"Then I will not fit there." Six says it easily, even if it comes with a touch of discomfort. She is none of the above - not rich, nor human, nor native, even if it's only the very slight shape of her ear that gives away the hint of elven blood. Shaking her head, she turns to look around at the rest of the people gathered. "Is there space for all the newcomers?"

"There is, both at the Gallows and the housing area at the docks. The latter has less privacy, but it's more connected to the city at large. So, go with whatever's more important to you." There's a note of distaste at mention of the Gallows, but she knows context mostly matters to natives and that a newcoming rifter will just need a place to rest.

Privacy, she thinks, would be better, especially with her instinctive discomfort when it comes to other people being too close to her. It'll depend on what she sees when she gets there, she supposes, and the hesitation she feels comes from frustration with the unknown more than any kind of fear. At least she has the politeness to nod her head and offer something that resembles a smile.

"Thank you for your kindness."

"You're welcome." Korrin is quick to smile back, sympathetic. "And if you have questions on the way back, I'll do my best to help answer them. No one -no one reasonable, anyway- would expect you to just adjust to this place instantly, no problem. But I bet you'll find your footing, sooner than later."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

OPEN ↠ HEART LIKE ICE

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