MOD PLOT ↠ NONE TO RETURN

[faderifting]

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.

Comments

[circleprodigy]

"Thank you, Christine. That means more than I can say." Inessa's smile is apologetic, knowing the healer has more than enough to do already. Still, if she happens to see him or catch news, it would lift a weight from her own shoulders.

Looking down to Garahel, Inessa strokes his head again. "He feels cooler...that's good, I think the poison had him a bit feverish before. Poor boy, I know you're not used to needing this much care. I promise I'll make it up to you." Garahel lets out a faint grunt, wanting to let them know he's there but exhausted and in need of rest.

[aceso]

It's not easy to get back up to her feet with all the aches she feels, but Christine does it anyway, knowing there are others who need her care.

"He'll be his old self again before you know it. Now, is there anything else I can do for you?"

[circleprodigy]

She pauses, conflicted. "Dracolisk breath attacks targeted my sides. I patched them up a bit before I came here, though. If someone needs your healing more, I can certainly wait. It's not vital."

[aceso]

"Nonsense." Christine gestures to Inessa's sides. "Let me have a look at how you did and see if anything else needs to be done."

[circleprodigy]

Sighing in resignation, Inessa nods and complies as she moves to open her armor enough to inspect said sides. It's a slower process than she'd like, but as Christine has insisted, she will keep at it until the extent of the bruising can be seen. "At least one's breath was ice, I'm mostly immune to that. It's the poison-breath that was harder to shake off."

[aceso]

"Hmm, yes," she muses, looking over the discoloration to the skin. "I cannot do much about bruising, I am afraid. Bleeding under the skin is something very hard for magic to reverse. But you did well." And really, there doesn't seem to be any more that she can do that time itself won't do for her.

[circleprodigy]

"I understand. It's alright; as long as we aren't confronted with another battle right away, I'll have time to heal." Inessa moves her armor back once Christine's had a good look, giving her a tired smile. She strokes Garahel, who now seems to be truly sleeping. "I should get him something to eat, for when he awakens. Are you hungry? I can return with something for us both, as well." Christine needs to keep her strength up, and though she won't lecture about it, she's not above a gentle suggestion.

[aceso]

"Oh, no thank you; I'm all right. You two go take care of one another now." She offers a tired smile as she speaks. While she should eat, she doesn't want to waste time doing it. Plus she still needs to find Church. There's a long night ahead of her.