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

[ Aro notes the way she tenses, and grimaces a little. Maybe that was a sore subject. He should've been more careful. ]

If you'd speak it around her, I think we'd both appreciate it.

[ He looks up with smile, while Iessa snuffles around Six's feet and swishes her tail around. It catches Aro's knees, but he doesn't seem to mind. ]

What's your name? I'm Aro. Well, Arohaerd, but Aro's good enough.

I would be glad to, if she would permit the company.

[ Earning the respect of something as wonderful as a dragon is no easy thing, no matter how naturally the language might come to her now. Shifting, she turns enough to nod her head - a greeting, despite the awkward angle of her trying to pet the little thing as she can.

It probably looks horrifically undignified, but at this point Six doesn't quite have the energy to care too much. ]

I am Six - just Six. [ She smiles, just a little; at least she's found someone she can be friendly with. ] It is good to meet you, Aro.

[ Now Iessa's just being spoiled. She sits up, curling her tail around her lower legs, and stretching out her neck. The little rumbles she makes are a sign of approval. Used to that, and also used to being the one giving into it, Aro makes no judgement. He's pleased to find someone who likes Iessa so much. Not everyone is this endeared by dragons. ]

It's good to meet you, too. [ He says, smiling a little. ] It's even good to know we're from the same world. We're very used to traveling around, but we've never managed to come quite so far. Is she your first dragon? Not everyone's so comfortable with her.

[ Or willing to touch and pet her, even if they like her. ]

[ Clearly, Six is delighted by this; she keeps scratching and petting the dragon as if she was a puppy rather than any kind of supernatural being. She has no reason to be afraid, not when she is so small and her keeper is at her side - and with the understanding that she has a language that Iessa recognises. ]

It is good to know we are not entirely alone. [ She felt bereft when she'd first awoken, with Sarenrae ripped from her side. Having someone else from a world she knows is comforting in some way. ] I've not met a dragon before, but I had imagined you would have said if she was dangerous.

[ She lifts a shoulder, her lips widening into an actual smile. ]

I am rarely afraid when I ought to be.

[ Aro can't help smiling back. He'd expect a paladin to be brave, of course, but that's an attitude he'd like in anyone. ]

Only dangerous to her enemies. Sometimes I think she's too friendly for her own good.

[ He says, of the dragon who's preening while Six pets her. She's delighted by all this attention; she doesn't even stop to swish her tail at Aro's knees for talking about her. ]

Bronzes like her have better natures than some of the others. I think you've gotten to her good side, anyway. You're going to spoil her.

She is still small with much to learn. It is sad to think that the world will restrain her friendliness in the future.

[ She can remember being a small child, bright and cheerful, and feeling that joy being taken from her. There is no means of protecting something as dangerous and strong as a dragon forever, despite the hopes they might cling to.

Moving back, she turns her head to look up at Aro again, thoughtful and considering before she breathes out a sigh. ]

Knowing her language makes our acquaintance easier, I expect. Had I cooed at her in Common I doubt it would have been as effective.

[ Aro smiles. ]

I don't know about that. I think she'd always respond to kindness.

[ Most creatures do, after all, and Iessa is intelligent. ]

I've...heard that her kind aren't readily welcomed in this world. Not that they're very popular in my world, either, but it seems they've been hunted almost to extinction here. I'll have to be careful with her. It's nice to know she has at least one other friend.

That is not a terrible thing.

[ Kindness should be celebrated, she thinks, especially when the world leaves it in such short supply. ]

I will do what I can to keep her safe. [ She means that, and she tilts her head up to look at Aro. ] She is no threat to anyone, not when she is but a child. I will do what I can to ensure no harm comes to her.

Thank you.

[ He means it, and gives Six a genuine smile touched with relief. It's already clear to him that Iessa will need allies here. There's also a possibility that Aro might need allies here too, but he doesn't tend to think in those times. It's much easier to focus on his child. ]

We're lucky we ran into you. She's not defenceless, but against dedicated hunters? I'd worry.

I just can't imagine hunting down a creature so young. It's terrible what fear and ignorancce can do to a person.

There is no need to thank me.

[ Her Oath had been made because she had wished to protect people - those that were suffering, those that were lost, those that were alone and uncertain and those that could not defend themselves. For now, Iessa is a small being that cannot defend herself properly, that has a world around her that could easily turn against her.

Nodding her head, Six finally leaves one last scratch on the dragon's chin. ]

They're unaware of the intelligence of these creatures. Perhaps, when she was older, she might be a threat, but now? She is young and growing and could become a dear friend. Ignorance will be the end of some.

Yes, it will. It's foolish to make an enemy of a creature that could be a friend. Any creature. If you start out thinking they're all bad, you'll be the one losing out.

[ Aro understands plenty about prejudice. He's experienced it his whole life for being what he is, though thankfully it hasn't turned into anyone wanting to kill him. He's just been unwelcome, which is a lesser evil than all around hatred.

He has to protect Iessa. The dragon likes Six, and makes a sound like a purr when she stops petting her. Having firmly decided this woman is a friend, she returns to Aro's side. ]

I think you've made a friend of Iessa, anyway.

[ It's not as if Six has avoided prejudice herself; she's a half-elf that looks far too human for most to accept her. Humans scorned her - especially those in her village, who saw her as no more than her father's daughter - and any elven folk she met treated her with hatred and disgust. She has no reason to express any kindness towards them.

Six watches the dragon fondly, having to force herself to look back up at Aro. ]

I am glad to be a friend to her. And you, should you need it. I am sure you will protect her well, but there may be some who would harm you for her.

[ Aro nods, pursing his lips as though thoughtful. ]

I am sure they will, and if that is the case, then I should like to see them try.

[ Aro might look long and thin, and not particularly strong, but he has more about him than a couple of knives waiting inside hi sleeves. He'd take on anyone who tried to threaten Iessa. ]

I've already heard terrible things about what happens to dragons here. I'm not letting that happen to Iessa.

Together you will have the strength to defend her. I am sure of that.

[ Six has not heard much of the dragons of this world, but given the nature of the beasts in her own... She does not expect many to be friendly to them. No, she expects nothing more than fear and distrust from the beginning, and Iessa does not deserve that.

She is so small, and so young. Six's heart bleeds, just a little. ]

I would offer more if I could.

[ Aro shakes his head, smiling. ]

No, you've offered more than enough. I'm very glad we met you.

[ Iessa nudges up into his hand and he laughs, petting her again. ]

I suppose we should get back to work. Thank you, for being so kind.

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OPEN ↠ HEART LIKE ICE

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