PRIDE BEFORE A FALL | Closed.

[limier]

WHO: Lakshmi + Coupe, Kitty, Gwenaelle, Helena, Iorveth, Marcoulf, Merrill, Solas.
WHAT: Fade cannonball
WHEN: You can't make me date you
WHERE: The Free Marches
NOTES: OOC Post, Discussion plurk.

This is routine.

A rift, high above the ruins of the Hammer’s Edge Bridge. It cuts into the sky, green and pulsing as a wound to spit out spirits like misery. This is routine — but the position is precarious, so near to a cliff ledge. Watch your footing, a fall promises only sharp rocks and water below.

The task is straightforward: Close the tear, or provide a diversion for the Rifters doing so. Keep yourself alive, and keep your hand to the task, no matter how it aches. When respite comes, it’s a matter of seconds: The Rift stabilizes, and,

And Lakshmi breaks from the group. Moving fast (too considered for the pace, every demon dodged, never a misstep on the odd root or rock) as she sprints for the edge. Maybe you tried to grab her, stop her, stop someone else from grabbing her.

She launches herself legs out, flatly determined in her aim —

Maybe it’s only that like it or not, she’s going through that rift. Maybe it’s that there’s no good reason not to join her. Maybe it’s that everyone else is jumping too.

Routine, right?

 

Comments

[rathercommon]

"Oh." She looks around, then, trying to discern some unity of vision in this place, like it was made by a single consciousness. She supposes she can sort of see it, as long as the vision the spirit was going for was crumbly and depressing.

"So then - would it help us if we found that spirit? Could we negotiate with it, somehow, to bring us home? When we want to go home, that is." She adds that somewhat belatedly, because it looks like he doesn't have much hunger to return any time soon.

[dirth]

It is entirely possible, Solas thinks, and he looks around. The Fade is often like this, from what he knows; unshaped it appears barren, lost, unsure, waiting for something to bring it together, to tie it to a thought or a memory. If there is a spirit here then, perhaps, it is not strong or unconcerned. Either way...

"They might, if they decide to." Solas tilts his head, trying to resist the urge to smile. His enthusiasm is not so well hidden, he imagines. "Most spirits are kind by nature, but if we find that this is ruled by a demon rather than a spirit then it may be more difficult."

[rathercommon]

"But a demon could be reasoned with too, couldn't it?" Or - no. She'd been told early on that expressing interest in demons was the sort of thing that could get her in trouble; even if she is curious (and she is), that's something to keep to herself.

So she shakes her head and corrects herself - "Or maybe not. But it's worth seeking them out, at least. Whoever it is. D'you know how to find them?"

[dirth]

Solas, at least, does not look particularly put off nor offended by her comment; only thoughtful and considering.

"Demons are more dangerous and difficult. They seek to fulfil their purpose and their desires and would strike bargains to which they would never keep their end. A spirit can be kind, but a demon is often only deadly." There are other kinds of demons, of course, and he has not met nor experienced them all, but...

"I think we will find one, if we walk enough. The Fade is not quiet and there will be a number of spirits and demons both that might be attracted to a group as large as ours."

[rathercommon]

"And Merrill said that strong emotions attract demons, right? Which - "

Kitty casts a dry look over at the others. Two of them in particular. Well, and then also one other - no, make that two others...Basically, everyone in this group is incredibly messy and it'll be a miracle if they don't bring all of demonkind down on their heads.

But - she's encouraged by that matter-of-factness. No look of horror, no hushing her or telling her not to ask dangerous questions. So: "Where'd you learn about spirits and all that, then? Seems like a lot of the books I read don't really wanna talk about 'em."

[dirth]

"That can be the case, yes. They're certainly attracted to reflections of their own nature."

Lust to lust, Pride to pride and so on. It's natural, he thinks; it's something that most people who have been in Thedas for a little while are quick to pick up on. The nature of spirits and demons is something that haunts the residents of this world, no matter what Solas' personal affection for them might be.

Solas, at least, is a scholar. He knows that people from the Rifts are bound to be curious and he has no reason to deny them.

"I am something called a Dreamer. I venture into the Fade during my dreams and I have spoken with many spirits over time. One of them was a dear friend of mine."