{ CLOSED } a daring rescue

[serannas]

WHO: Ellana Ashara, Merrick Ashara, Araceli Bonaventura, and Jamie McCrimmon
WHAT: O Brother Where Art Thou (Part II (A)) aka Spying on the Avvar in order to rescue the missing scouts.
WHEN: Backdated to before the big scouting missions in Orlais.
WHERE: the Fallow Mire
NOTES: Violence, maybe?

Now that all the clues on the missing scouts' whereabouts have led to the ruined castle in the south of the Mire, the group decides to check it out. They split up before getting too close, with Korrin, Zevran, Walker, and Krem heading west and Ellana, Merrick, Araceli, and Jamie heading east. It would be suicide to just run in and attack with no information on numbers, so after a quick discussion, the east group decides to climb up to the roof top of the castle and look down through the gaps to see how many Avvar are inside.

Comments

[wontforgetyou]

The murderous look gets an arched eyebrow response from Jamie, but he doesn't say anything in response. As tempting as the thought is, now is not the time. Not when they're in as precarious a position as they are right now. So all he does for the moment is respond to the gesture rather than the look, continuing along across the rooftop without saying a further word.

Now that he's been up here for a little bit, that part of it is coming a bit easier, something he's able to associate with things that are already familiar and use to adapt to the situation at hand. As soon as he can, he finds a spot where he can crouch down, using what cover he can up here to stay out of sight and observe - still quietly, for Merrick's sake. There's definitely some sort of argument going on, and that could be useful if they're going to try and take the warriors down. With them distracted by fighting with each other, it's an opportunity for them to get the drop on their opponents. If the other group can get into the right position, they could possibly surprise them by striking from two points at once.

Still, his hand doesn't go towards his sword. For one thing, they still have to contact the others. And even beyond that, it occurs to him that if they're able to watch long enough, they might be able to figure out if the group of scouts is down there. If that's the case, more stealth might be in order. For now, his eyes flick back to Araceli, and then to Ellana before mouthing the word 'Report?' at them.

That may still not be enough for Merrick, but it's going to have to do, because they've still got to communicate in some way, and barring spontaneous magical events that lets them talk in their heads, that's all he's got.

[foxsays]

After watching the aftermath of Gavin's, admittedly spectacular yet horrifying, fall, she can only roll her eyes and mutter something less than complimentary, or rather she mouths it, so as not to offend. If he grabs a man who almost got his head kicked in by the nose, well they don't need any further escalations here that aren't to do with the Avvar.

The landing doesn't look so bad, if it could be timed right and she knows that she and Merrick could likely make it down quietly first, if the guards keep arguing. But there are too many ifs when lives are at stake and this isn't only her backside on the line, and as capable as everyone may be, to pull off a proper ambush you need to know one another well, you need to anticipate. There's enough tension in the air as is.

Araceli can only nod though she points back the way they've come, because it gives them the best chance to report safely if someone is far enough away from them. Not too far but whatever chances they can buy for the others might spare them injuries. The Avvar all look big, even from up here and she's keenly aware of how lightly they're all armoured and outfitted.

[dalishious]

It's useless to stay up here; they can't hear clearly enough to get information on what those avaar are up to, and they're no closer to finding the missing scouts than they were before. Merrick quickly scurries to a relatively stable part of the ruins and beckons the others to join him.

"We could get closer," he tells them. "I've spotted some scaffolding at the back of the room-- Araceli and I could climb down easily. Unless anyone has any other ideas."

[serannas]

Following behind Merrick, she stops beside him and crouches down, looking between him and the other two.

"It sounds good to me. While you do that, I'll contact the other group and Jamie can keep lookout for me so no one finds us."

[wontforgetyou]

Both of those suggestions are ones Jamie can get behind - and Ellana's in particular gets him to bob his head in a quick but agreeable sort of way. It'll give them the chance to get more information that way, and right now that's something they need fairly badly.

"Aye, and once that's done we can signal each other and see about meeting up again and going from there. Araceli, does that sound good to you?"

[foxsays]

Moving to get a better view, she leans down and forward as much as she can, eyes flicking back and forth, lips moving soundlessly as if muttering something to herself. She adjusts her clothing in readiness, settling her weapons so they'll make no sound, just like she would before a job and nods.

"We keep low and quiet enough and it should be possible, I'm hoping that the wood won't creak or that the whole building might when you're in, easy noise to get used to and ignore. Let's go for it, even if they see us in the end, it'll be a distraction for the others."

That might be the very best they can hope for, some sort of a silver lining to the constant dark clouds overhead and she gets into position, briefly shaking out her arms and legs and stretching to make sure she's not stiff from crouching for so long.

[dalishious]

Merrick leads the way to where the ceiling gives way to some precarious-looking scaffolding, and tests it carefully with his foot. He nods at Araceli, then slowly puts his weight on one of the beams, getting his footing before he can slip down to another one below it.

Catlike he manages to get to the ground level, and crouches behind some boxes and debris once he's there.

Now, it's just a matter of getting closer.

[serannas]

While the two head off, Ellana makes sure she and Jamie are concealed before she calls the other team. She relays what they know so far, telling them about the number of Avvar, the exits, and that they can't yet see the scouts. It's not as much information as she would like to give, but it's something, and that's what matters. Every little bit must help in some way; probably in ways she hasn't even thought of herself.

Settling back into as comfortable a position as she can, she whispers to Jamie, "Now we wait to see what Merrick and Araceli find out."

[wontforgetyou]

More information would be better, but it's a start, at least for now. Merrick and Araceli are bound to find out more once they've gotten a bit closer to where the scouts are. With luck, they'll be able to do that without any trouble. He settles in next to Ellana, ready to keep a lookout as best as he can at the ground below. For just a second, though, he glances back and gives her a nod before replying, keeping his own voice to a whisper as well.

"Aye. Hope they'll find it soon, though. Someone's bound to come along. Not sure how long they'll have before that happens."

[foxsays]

This part she knows better, lifting herself up one last time just to make sure she knows exactly where their companions before following after Merrick, able to hear the argument better the further they descend, leaving the worst of the weather behind. Light and quick, she finds any unstable footing fast enough that she moves before it can crumble or give way beneath her, dropping to the ground with a whisper.

One hand on her blades to steady herself, she moves to flank, skirting around and behind what might have been part of the roof once, daring to peer up and over for a better view.

A shame there's not a way for them to make the argument worse, not without potentially drawing attention to themselves before the others manage to get here because these Avvar are big and she's uncomfortably reminded that she herself absolutely is not.