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WHO: All characters signed up to participate in the Battle of Ghislain
WHAT: The Inquisition regroups and heads home
WHEN: Covers the period immediately post-battle (11.28) through the journey back to Kirkwall (11.29-12.1)
WHERE: North of Montfort, Orlais, and on the road to Val Chevin
NOTES: This is Post #2, covering the immediate aftermath of the battle and the journey back to Kirkwall. It's a free-for-all. Post #1 covers the battle itself. More info on the OOC post.

The Inquisition and Orlesian armies eventually limp to a halt along the Imperial Highway north of Montfort, where wide fields and gentle hills offer clear lines of sight and a sparsely equipped fortress provides some shelter and fortification. It's a soundly strategic location—if Ghislain is lost, Montfort is the last major city between the invaders and Val Royeaux—but among the rank and file there may be too much chaos to appreciate it.

For the remainder of the day and well into the night, the fortress and surrounding land are a frenzy of activity. The wounded who were not left on the field must be triaged and tended to with limited supplies, while many healers and surgeons out of commission themselves and the remainder worked to the bone. Scouts, soldiers, and even support staff in sturdy enough condition to keep working may be tasked with assembling camp from the few remaining supplies, taking reports on known casualties or acquired intelligence, or further fortifying the new location. The Orlesian army sends one of its battered cavalry units toward Ghislain to attempt to provide some warning, and from the Inquisition's number a few patrols are sent back toward the battlefield or toward Ghislain, with stern orders not to re-engage, only to watch for signs of pursuit, and to direct any stragglers.

Those who remain in the fortress are in for a long, miserable night, with meager rations and makeshift bedding, if any of either, while the wind shifts directions and grows colder. By morning a number of the wounded have died, but attempts to build a pyre are hampered by the sudden swell of a storm that starts with freezing rain and then transitions to early and unpredicted thick, heavy snow.

For a few hours that morning the two armies attempt business as normal, but it soon becomes clear that the storm is getting stronger, and they risk being snowed in with more people than they can feed. Many, including the Inquisition's Gallows contingent, are ordered to disperse. Many crowd into wagons, with any transportable wounded receiving further attention en route and neighbors hunching close to preserve heat whether they like one another or not, while those able to do so follow on foot or horseback over the rough, flash-frozen highway toward Montfort and then west toward Val Chevin. The storm doesn't abate until they've nearly reached the city, but once there they're able to stop, eat, and spend a few hours indoors thawing out before proceeding home.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ She opens her eyes. It's a struggle, and they feel weighted down, but she manages it. Alex is a blurry, half-lit figure next to her, changing the dressings. Sarah tries to rub her eyes into better focus, but again her arm doesn't want to move, and she gives up, too tired to fight it. ]

Where's my sister? [ Helena should be here, why isn't she here? Where are they? She'll kill herself if something happened to Helena and she wasn't there to help. She needs to find her, look for her, do something. Despite the fatigue and the fact that her head is aching, she tries to sit up and get her legs under her so she can search. ]

( Finishing up with what she's doing is a priority, but Alex nevertheless pauses to meet Sarah's gaze. Calm, gentle, ) Hey, hey. She's okay. Got sent out to help with something. Soon as she's back from that she'll be right here with you.

( Resuming her task, she explains what she's doing a little. ) I just gotta clean this up a little. Might sting a bit.

( Although— relieved though she is, she's still thrown that Sarah is awake and talking so quick, and her brain is going to be gnawing on that quietly around all the rest of it. ) It's good to see you awake.

[ Relieved, she sinks back down. Helena's okay. They're okay. ]

How long was I out? [ She's watching Alex changing the bandages, teeth gritted at the pain of it. Jesus, what fucking happened? She's trying to remember but everything is fragmented and nonsensical. The battle was going well, and then it... wasn't. But specifics are still eluding her. ]

I dunno for sure. ( That's the honest reply, even if it's worrying in its own right. Her head spins just thinking about all the things they can't do. ) I found you on the field, but you were already out of it, so—

( She wishes she had a watch so she could know with more certainty. Alas. Instead she just keeps going with her task, cleaning the wound up and apologising softly when she realises Sarah's teeth are gritted. )

We've been here a few hours, maybe. ( And so luxurious, their new place. Sarah's "bed" is straw and blankets, and Alex honestly is just— huh. ) I'm surprised you're awake already, honestly. How are you feeling?

[ Sarah laughs, but it's more of a sharp exhale than anything. ]

I've been better. [ She attempts to rest her head back on the straw, but a piece is poking into the back of her head. Like a very tiny spear. Oh. Huh. ] I think someone tried to stab me in the brain.

Oh, well. No wonder they missed.

( Her smile is gentle, fond, and she immediately exhales a quite sorry, not funny sort of sound. It's not that she can't help herself, it's more that she makes terrible jokes when she's stressed. At least now the cleaning is done, and she can re-dress the wound. Not that she's content with the cleaning supplies here or the dressings, but... what are you gonna do? )

I'm gonna put in a formal request for you to get like, really boring jobs from now on, okay?

Ha.

[ Sarah adjusts her head, wincing as she does, and then closes her eyes with a sigh. Normally she'd give Alex shit for the dumb joke, but right now the fact that she's here in the first place does make her feel rather brainless. Shit, seriously, fighting in a war? With a bow and arrow? Like fucking Robin Hood or some shit. Jesus. ]

Yeah, the way things are going, I won't make it past my third mission.

Seriously, though.

( Sure, she was making dumb cracks, but she pauses in what she's doing to gently set her hand over Sarah's, and tries to catch your gaze. Alex has a little burn on her cheek, apparently got just very lightly singed, but got out of the battle okay.

Close thing, though. Narrowly avoided an incident with an axe. Fucked up shit. )

You're like the only normal person here. I really need you to stick around, okay?

[ Sarah opens her eyes at the touch of Alex's hand and laughs—a real laugh, despite the pain. ]

If you think I'm normal, I'd hate to see what weird means to you. [ But she squeezes Alex's hand with her good one. ] I'm too stubborn to die, anyway.

Yeah, you're right. The people who think dragons are an every day occurrence and are fine with magic, they're the fucked up ones.

( Still, she's smiling a little bit. ) Good. Give it some attitude. Make death regret it ever tried to deal with you. Play really loud music at really inconsiderate times so it just gives up and moves somewhere else.

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