On The Road - Emprise du Lion and Western Approach

[the_effect_she_has]

WHO: Christine Delacroix, Merrick Ashara, Samouel Gareth, Korrin Ataash, Kain Highwind, Katniss Everdeen, Cremisius Aclassi, Rachette Dakal, Salvatore, Dismas, Clint Barton, and Fenris
WHAT: Movin' right along, to our separate missions ...
WHEN: First week of Haring
WHERE: The Frostbacks - riding, camping, general hijinks
NOTES: Warnings for sarcasm and probable showing off.

The journey through the Frostbacks is, of course, a grueling one, but only if you are traveling alone. The Inquisition scouting forces are, without a doubt, not alone. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

So clearly, new stories and new friendships or hatreds are just waiting to be written...

Comments

Camp

[dragoon_pride]

"...Please tell me that's not maraas-lok again."

Look, he might be a real man and all, but that stuff was harsh by any standards. Still, he did drink it and live to tell the tale, even though he definitely felt like death the day after drinking. Whatever the case, Kain is ready to settle in for the night after a long day of traveling... so perhaps anything would be welcome.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin can't hide her snicker at that comment, though she is a little impressed that Kain lasted as long as he did. It wasn't that long compared to qunari standards, but still. It could have been worse.

"Maker, no. I wouldn't bring anything that strong on a scouting mission. What would be the point in sabatoging ourselves? No, this is just spiced wine. Something to warm us up, because the campfires along aren't doing the trick."

[dragoon_pride]

It could have been far worse. Really, overall, Kain is glad he went for it and tried the stuff, even if he'd spent the whole next morning cursing himself for it and having the worse hangover of his life. But no regrets, really.

"That sounds much more inviting at the moment." Kain nods. "I could use some... I hadn't realized it would be like this. The terrain, I can handle, but the cold..." They just don't have this kind of snow or anything where he's from, even on the mountain that he prefers as his general hangout area.

[gatheringstorm]

"Skyhold doesn't really prepare you, does it? Sure, it's in the middle of the Frostbacks, but there's something about the place that keeps it warmer than its surroundings. Old elven magic, maybe. Or the hot spring. Or both."

While she speaks, Korrin dips a mug into the wine and fills it up, offering it before doing the same for herself. "I'm not much of a cook, but this I know how to do."

[dragoon_pride]

“Yes, it’s overall more comfortable there… I can see why it makes for a good base of operations.” Kain takes the offered mug, sipping much, much more slowly than usual. But he notices right away that it’s a lot more like standard, regular old wine. Fortunately. “That makes two of us. I’ve survived in the wilderness on my own for a while,” Which of course is why pretending to be a hunter is easy, that’s been his life, “but usually I just put something on a stick over a fire and have done with it.” It works at least, and makes things edible.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin does her best not to make her lips twitch at Kain's caution, though it's difficult. She covers it with sipping from her own, needing that warm-up. "I've done that, too, though it gets old after a while. Besides, I can't promise that there will be much game in the area. It's been very quiet so far. The rifts and the demons they spew out could be scaring off the wildlife. So, I'm not sure how far we can carry this 'band of hunters/merchants' thing going, but we'll see."

[dragoon_pride]

"Well... if and when it comes to a more direct confrontation, I'll be ready for that." They'd have to rise to defend themselves against any demons, after all. Kain isn't planning to make it happen himself, but he's pretty convinced it's going to happen anyway. "We'll have to do our best in the meantime..." Yes, he needs a bit more to drink then. At least it's helping him feel warmer.

[gatheringstorm]

"That reminds me, stay as far away from those red lyrium spires as you can. That substance is massively dangerous, and we still don't know as much about it as we should. Considering that there are massive, moving hulks of it that used to be human? We can't be too careful."

Even Korrin shudders, not wanting to imagine such a fate. Some extra wine helps that horror recede just a bit.

[dragoon_pride]

Kain sips slowly at his drink now, watching her curiously. Ok. He couldn’t ever imagine her being fearful of anything… she’s a good foot taller than even him, for god’s sake! So this must indeed be really dangerous. They’d talked about the Red Templars already back in Skyhold, but hm…

“..Is there nothing that can be done for anyone who’s exposed?”

[gatheringstorm]

An extra foot's height does nothing to shield her against the corrupting influence of red lyrium, sadly. Korrin wouldn't mind if it did. She shrugs and sighs, not having a satisfactory answer.

"Honestly, I have no idea. Anyone I've seen has been far too gone to help, and they've all been trying to kill us. So, there hasn't been a lot of research in this area, so far."

[dragoon_pride]

“Nor can I imagine… keeping someone alive in such a state to accomplish that research. That would be far too barbaric.” And yet, how else would they find out what they need to know? It’s not a very pleasant situation all around. Kain is making a mental note to avoid this lyrium at all costs. He’s had enough problems in the past.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin answers that with a frown and firm nod. "It'd be no mercy, from what I've seen. Regular lyrium can mess you up pretty badly, but you have to ingest the stuff. Just being near the red sort seems to cause that, and far more drastically. Research or not, there might not be any way of coming back from that."

[dragoon_pride]

Kain frowns deeply, not liking the sound of this sort of thing at all. He really must make sure to avoid touching it, for certain, knowing this. "What is lyrium, in general? Where does it come from? Everything I've heard, it sounds like a crystal of some sort... but there must be something more to it than that."

Siiiigh magical crystals of any sort, so it goes again... At least these ones, he doubts he'll be tempted to steal.

[gatheringstorm]

There's a moment's pause, as Korrin's never had to explain what is -for her- such a basic aspect of Thedosian life. "Lyrium is a useful but dangerous mineral that the dwarves mine. In its raw form, it's extremely volatile and could easily kill a mage but when processed, it can be used to enhance our magic. It's also what give the Templars their ability to resist and dispel magic, though they end up addicted and it eventually destroys their minds. I'd feel sorrier for them about that, if they didn't so often and so readily abuse that power."

[dragoon_pride]

Ah, so it's probably even worse than he'd been thinking. Kain can see why they'd use it, he supposes, but it still doesn't sound any good at all. "I can't imagine subjecting one's self to such a thing, knowing those potential consequences... That's a fate worse than death." There are some things worth the risk, and obviously if it were only death, he could see no problem. But something like that... "If it's so terrible, have there been no attempts to stop its use?"

[gatheringstorm]

"Not really, that I've seen. Everyone profited too much from its circulation; the dwarves, the Chantry, the Templars and yes, mages. At least, that was then. The Templar Order isn't part of the Chantry anymore, but I imagine those in the Inquisition have a deal with the dwarves or something. You'd have to ask them; I don't talk to people who see me as someone to be imprisoned more than I must."

Not wanting her wine to cool too much before it's finished, Korrin falls into silence and has a swig.

[dragoon_pride]

Kain also pauses to take a swig. He’s heard a lot of things by this point, either way, about templars and mages, their conflict. None of it sounds any good. But he definitely has come to his own conclusions based on what he’s seeing and hearing.

“Those templars... overdo it, don’t they? Can they not accept some compromise? A less restrictive way to ensure mages can train in a safe environment…” The imprisonment seems heavy-handed, but the demonic possession potential also horrifies him. Mages definitely need to learn what they’re capable of, but so they can protect themselves

[gatheringstorm]

The demonic possession potential horrifies Korrin as well, she just doesn't allow Templars to use it as a means to keep her prisoner. "That's what the mage council is hoping for, though the loudest Templars are always the ones who want to bring the Circles back and put everything as it was. Nevermind that it would be impossible right now, anyway. If they can learn to work with us as equals, there's a chance, but I don't want any of them thinking that I'll accept their authority. Fuck that."

[dragoon_pride]

"Surely you're more useful to them when you're willing and working together of your own will instead of being forced into it... People should always be given freedom of willpower." Yes, even these supposedly dangerous mages. Kain gets it, magic can be dangerous but... so can a lot of other things. Trained warriors are dangerous too. "The Templars sound like they're not about to give up anytime soon."

[gatheringstorm]

"You're preaching to the choir, you know." Kain's perspective is a welcome one and Korrin meets it with a wry smile as she nods. "Not likely, but for all their clamoring they don't have the authority to do anything about it, at least yet. They left the Chantry, which isn't accepting the Inquisition anyway. But you're right, free will is always important. Maybe we'll get the less idiotic ones to see that in the upcoming battle against Corypheus. Though I won't be holding my breath on that...."

[dragoon_pride]

Kain definitely doesn’t think he wants to choose sides, even now, but the Templars are sounding more crazy the more he hears. At least the structure of it all. But then Kain is one who prefers to fight his own battles and to have others do the same. Holding them back, repressing them, seems just foolhardy.

“Ah, so this Chantry… your religious organization, isn’t it?... they’re… not directly with the Inquisition?” He’s seen people in robes around, almost mistaking them for white mage robes the first he’d seen them.

[gatheringstorm]

The Templars are never going to sound any better, at least from Korrin's point of view. If Kain wants a more nuanced one, he's going to have to ask someone else. When it comes to this, Korrin's very black and white. Templars restrict freedom and abuse mages, therefor they should be dismantled. End of story.

"Ha! No. They call us heretics, haven't you heard? Oh, some of their folk are with us, but the Chantry overall, no. Nevermind that Divine Justinia encouraged the founding of the Inquisition. They can't stand the thought of us getting things done without conforming to their way, nevermind that they're useless right now with all the infighting over who's going to be the next Divine. Like that matters if Corypheus makes another breach to swallow the world.

[dragoon_pride]

It’s fine with Kain to hear her perspective, even if it’s only from one strong side. He’s gathering a lot of information from everyone he’s talked with, and it’s certainly helping him form his own opinions on things. He still thinks his war is only against this main foe, but the more he hears of certain things like blood magic or red lyrium, the more he realizes there may be more enemies out there, horrific things that he’d gladly battle and take down.

“So many factions, all concerned with their own needs… when the real enemy is the one it seems everyone ought to be direct their efforts toward vanquishing.” Even the mage versus templars thing seems like a distraction from the real threat, in Kain’s opinion. “Perhaps it’s for the best that this Chantry is without a leader, that surely makes them less organized, and less of a nuisance…”

[gatheringstorm]

"Some remember who we need to fight, but they're so focused on what comes after that they need to be reminded that we have to actually defeat the bastard first." Korrin can acknowledge that much, even as invested as she is in mage freedom. Such talk about the Chantry gets a grin out of her and she chuckles after taking another sip.

"Careful who you say that around, some of the more devout might take offense. But you won't have me disagreeing, at all. Their interference is best kept to a minimum."

[dragoon_pride]

“We need to focus our efforts on that, yes. The sooner this enemy is defeated, the better.” Kain has no interest in the religion or politics of this world, or any similar arguments which seem quite petty to him… but when it comes to fighting threats, dealing with dangerous enemies such as this Corypheus… well, that’s something he can handle. Something he was made for. Perhaps even the reason he’d ended up here instead of home.

“I’m certain that my very presence is an offense to some of these people.” Some seemed to be suspicious of rifters, after all.