Open: Waking Nightmares in Skyhold (reaction log)

[faderifting]

WHO: Characters in Skyhold
WHAT: Before, during, and after the eruption and attack of an Abomination in Skyhold.
WHEN: Haring 11
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Please note that the actual subduing of the Abomination is being completed by mission volunteers. Use this log as a means to react to this event otherwise. You are welcome to be attacked by or attempt to attack the monster yourself, but please refrain from doing anything that would permanently affect it or interfere with the volunteers' plans.

It's so late that it's early when the Abomination begins its path of terror between the gardens and the main hall. It seems intent on heading for Skyhold's heart itself, a continual slow drag weighted down by the way it, for whatever reason, drags the body of a young made woman behind it, by the ankle. Seven foot tall, a twisted monstrousity of human and monster, made of tattered mage robes, bony protrusions, claws, and teeth. Behind it, it leaves a trail of smearing blood and gore over dirt, grass, rock, as well as blackened scorch marks.

It can be distracted, diverted, whether by mere movement or direct attack. It wields magical fire in inelegant gusts of flame, but is just as likely to lash out physically, impossibly strong, fingers twisted into giant claws, or make grabs and attempt to sink fangs into flesh. Always, it will return to where it last dropped the corpse, and make for the main hall.

Eventually, an explosion of flame and broken stone will destroy the connecting entryway between the gardens and the hall, under the onslaught of the Abomination's magic. A deep roar reverberates through the bones of the castle, inviting one and all to join in.

Comments

[wickedchase]

For a moment, he gazes at her. Her eyes catch him a bit off guard; it's not something he's seen very commonly, the slightly different coloration for each iris. It's fascinating.

A smile forms on his face, faintly.

"It doesn't really get that much easier." Fate crouches down by her. "Are you a mage yourself?" He pauses, then curiously asks, "Or something else?"

[fayth]

"Is... it that obvious?" she should have known, but all the same offered up an soft 'hn,' at her own inability to blend in, looking down again. There's another drink of the tea, the steaming goodness of it warming her a little more.

Passing the mug back to him, she nods in thanks again, fearing that she'd down the whole cup unless he took it back. "A mage, yes. But... something else -- maybe not anymore." She wondered why her connection to the aeons had severed after her trip through the Fade, but still knew too little about it all to draw any conclusions. Wherever they were, she could only hope that they were safe.

When she glanced over this time, her head tilted just slightly, curious. "Have you... seen many of them?"

[wickedchase]

"Not so much as you might think, but I suppose as a mage it's a bit easier for me to tell than others. I'm curious how many of you have fallen out of the Fade."

The mug is accepted, and Twisted Fate finishes it off himself. He'll be certain to get more for himself, and maybe a spare cup for her. Twisted Fate pauses at her question, then he looks up out into Skyhold itself, and the remains of the Abomination's stampede.

"A few," Twisted Fate murmurs. "Hard not to. I've traveled across most of Thedas and I've seen a lot of things. A few states of possession and Abominations included. Always a little reminder if what could be."

He shrugs. "Such is the way of being a mage. I hope you don't have to worry about that."

[fayth]

So he was a mage, too. She'd met a few of her peers around Skyhold but until now -- had never had a chance to delve into the fears they brought with them. That Abomination was the truth of it, and now Yuna had to admit as well that she was starting to fear for her own sake as well. Could some evil entity take over her body -- just like that?

"I'm not sure... if I do or not," she seemed to be holding back, but after a moment, the words seemed to just spill out of her. "I don't know much of anything about the Fade, to be honest. Or Abominations for that matter..." she looked down, not missing the way he referred to them as possessions, her hands tightening just slightly in her lap.

"How -- do you stop something like that from happening?

[wickedchase]

It seems like someone could stand to teach they Fade-droppers a few things or two. Being thrown into a new world without much comprehension or guidance certainly isn't much help to anyone, much less them. He isn't without sympathy there.

"Strength of will is everything." Fate exhales slowly through his nose. "As mages, we have a strong connection with the Fade, and demons perpetually are offering temptations. I'm not so easily coerced, no matter what empty promise is provided to me. I know better, but some mages fall to these promises. Especially when they're at their weakest."

He shrugs. "It's one of the many fears about mages. What we could be. Suppose that makes it sound like the Circles are a grand idea, but then there's all sorts of problems with that as well. In any case, it's not much, but knowing yourself and knowing that a demon only desires to possess -- that's the knowledge you need to hold to yourself. No matter what they try to tell you."

[fayth]

Temptations. Promises. With most of her experience with Thedas' demons was when the Fade decided to rip open underneath of her, the idea that they could communicate with people chilled her to the bone. Trying to rationalize it in a way that compared them to the Fayth of where she came from -- the reality that they meant great harm to their hosts kept them separated.

From the way he spoke, she had to wonder. "Have... they tried to tempt you before?" She needed to find a way to arm herself against a frightening possibility like that.

"Perhaps... it would help if I tried to learn all I can about this world's practices. It's -- " her nose scrunched up just slightly, "so different than what I'm used to. I wonder, if a Circle could help me..." she trailed off, thinking on only the broken pieces she'd heard about those places that mages seemed to come from.

Would that stop some of them from calling her apostate?

[wickedchase]

The elf smiles wryly at her. "More often than I care to admit. I'm a man who desires many things, but I also want to accomplish them on my own -- not really a fan of demons, and my body is my own."

Twisted Fate raises a brow at her. "I think it might be best to have a perspective from many different kinds of people. Fortunately, you're in a spot where you're bound to find them. Circle mages, apostates, even a Tevinter mage is around here."

[fayth]

Upon hearing that, she seemed to give him a once over again with renewed interest, her thoughts only lingering for a short while on what those temptations might have been, before setting her curiosities aside. "Yes, you're right," Yuna answered softly, turning back to the fire -- and realizing just how lucky she was to have found herself within the Inquisition's walls.

A place to learn more about this world, Thedas, and all of its inner workings -- without the added worry of being a hunted, hated apostate. "Ah, I'm sorry -- " she looked back to the man again, as though remembering something, "my name is Yuna."

[wickedchase]

"Call it luck or call it destiny, but it's good you're here and not somewhere else lost in Thedas."

At the introduction, the elf smiles and offers his hand. "Yuna, that's a lovely name," he compliments. "I go by Twisted Fate. Been an apostate for most of my life, so I've learned a few tricks here and there myself. Best way to get by in my opinion."