The Twiblight Saga

[tactical_alert]

WHO: Colin, Malcolm, D'Artagnan, The Priest, Daniel
WHAT: A traditionally anti-Inquisition Revered Mother is asking for help with darkspawn attacks. Let's go play hero and earn some goodwill! (OOC post here)
WHEN: Early Solace
WHERE: Churneau, northern Orlais
NOTES: Darkspawn creepiness, inevitable talk of war

Churneau, just northwest of Ghislain along the Highway, is a city that has seen better days. It appears as any other Orlesian city, with perhaps less of the flair and more Nevarran influence in some designs of buildings and roads, long since recovered from the Third Blight that so ravaged it Ages ago. But even approaching the city, you can see signs of recent neglect. And attack.

What doesn’t help is the thread of panic almost palpable once you hit the city limits and walk the streets yourselves. It’s not a steady stream, but you can follow a line of people heading for the chantry near the center of Churneau, those fleeing from the fighting, the encroaching war from the Anderfels, as well as those seeking refuge from the darkspawn attacks you know have been taking place beyond the borders of the city. Orlesians, Nevarrans, even Anders trying to avoid the conflict; men and women and children, young and old. Locals seem afraid to even be outside their homes, hurriedly doing their business and then heading back inside.

Best to follow the refugees in and speak to Revered Mother Riccarda.

Comments

[mousquetaire]

D'Artagnan sends a wary glance in the Priest's direction. She's been a strange companion, unwilling to ride and insisting on walking on feet that aren't even shod. If she isn't blistered and half-crippled by the time they get there, he'll be amazed. Still, she makes a relevant point.

"I'd like an answer to that, too, he says, glancing at their native companions. "Particular if one of the infected is us. Is there a way to protect against it if that happens?"

There's no use in them turning up to help only to become part of the problem, after all.

[tactical_alert]

Malcolm, from atop his horse, glances over at Colin before giving a weary shrug. "To my knowledge? Those who contract the darkspawn taint have only two options of treatment. A swift and merciful death, or to be locked away in quarantine until they die. Or become one of them and then be killed."

He's seen what happens when someone is stowed away by their beloveds because they couldn't let go. What that girl had become in that basement...

"Take care not to touch their blood if it can be helped."

[keenly]

"Prevention," Colin pipes up. "Suit up like a butcher if you can. Long leather gloves, a shield for your face. Don't touch them or their blood. If it happens, scour the area as immediately as possible. If you contract the Blight, the only cure is to become a Grey Warden, which is its own curse, especially now."

Not that Anders was clear about what Wardens do to cure the Blight in themselves, or become immune to it after. But Wardens are prone to being taken over by Corypheus right now, in addition to fighting another war--a war that will never end.

"The only medical treatment is palliative."

[mousquetaire]

Of course, the problem with all of this is that every battle d'Artagnan's ever been involved in has been bloody. He finds it notably difficult to avoid that, and generally judges the success of an encounter on whether or not he managed to bleed less.

This is going to be a problem.

"Not exactly reassuring," he says, dryly, masking his very real concern. He glances up at the Priest. "We just have to stop the Darkspawn, before they infect anyone else. If there's no cure, that's all we can do."

[keenly]

"Make sure they don't infect you, either," Colin says flatly. He will gladly comfort the sick, but here, he would rather prevent than comfort. "The Blight spreads from infected to infected. If you are infected, you can spread it."