faderift | OPEN: Kirkwail

OPEN: Kirkwail

WHO: Anyone
WHAT: Ghosts
WHEN: Wintermarch 20
WHERE: The Gallows
NOTES: OOC post. More content warnings than you can shake a stick at, probably, including allusions to slavery and violence in the body of the log post. Please use appropriate warnings in the subject lines for your own threads.

The storm sweeps in like an assassin: unexpected, in the dark, and throwing sharp pricks of sleet at exposed eyes and noses with expert aim and enough force to almost draw blood if the angle is right. Half an hour after the clouds crest the cliffs is all it takes for the city to retract indoors and huddle around fireplaces, settling in for a long night that will, unforeseen, turn into a long two days.

The Gallows, too, is pelted with ice; the walls of the cliffs and the fortress protect much of it from the worst of the wind, but when it can find a path over or through the walls, it slams through windows or doors to scatter papers and snuff out fires.

In the dark, in the rain, hurrying between towers or already accustomed to jumping firelight casting strange shadows and the wind howling like a wounded animal, people might be forgiven if they don't notice at first. But there's a hanging in the courtyard, a dozen translucent wisps of bodies dangling from the idea of nooses, and there's a girl's voice in the basement of the templar tower screaming for her mother, and there's a ghostly man in the library holding the blade of a knife to his palm and whispering this is it, this is it—or maybe there isn't, actually, when you lift your head to pay closer attention.

But as the night wears on they multiply, and they brighten, and even if you haven't noticed them, they begin to notice you.

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"I wasn't awarem we had any more room to manuveur. Much less on a tight-rope." James muttered, but he let himself get drawn away. Interceptor fell into step with Garahael, making sure that his huma was well guarded.

Glancing around, Inessa maneuvers them toward the central tower. It seems to be the direction with the least amount of...interference, at least so far. She tries to ignore the spectral figure of a Grey Warden following from a few paces behind.

"The state of the Veil is getting to everyone. But I don't know why it's like this now, I thought the Gallows had been thoroughly cleansed months ago. So...why now?"

"Something must have happened." James said slowly, putting his hand to his sword as he could feel something following them. "I can Cleanse the area but it will only last for a few minutes. Whatever it is, it keeps generating."

He jerks as a body falls down in front of them from the central tower, and for a moment it looks like Lady Petrana but then it is gone once more.

"Bloody - right." James pulled out his sword. "We need to figure this out before this really gets out of hand."

Inessa jumps back upon seeing a body fall, already on edge and that...that is definitely not helping. She grits her teeth as it vanishes, then sighs.

"Oh, I would already say it's well and truly out of hand. Uldred's rebellion happened in the library all over again. I don't even want to think about what atrocity is taking place in the Harrowing chamber."

"Maker's Breath, neither do I ... stand back. You two as well." James gestures Interceptor and Garahel to flank Inessa as he raises his sword and slams it into the ground, doing a Holy Smite on the haunted area. The Fade's tears heal a little bit, and James pulls his sword from the dirt, frowning.

"Do you think we ought to get everyone rounded up? All the same room and we cannot be haunted by everything else around here."

"...no." It takes a moment of consideration, but she winces and shakes her head, realizing the outcome. "The spirits -and demons- are drawn to us. Rounding up everyone would be presenting them with a buffet. It could make matters even worse, unfortunately. What we need are boats, to evacuate people. The griffons won't take riders they haven't bonded with, so they won't be any help."

"... There is no possible way we could get people out via boats. We would need a fully rigged ship to safely get out of the harbor now." James stated, staring grimly up at the sky. "The freezing rain won't be doing us any favors, and the wind has been blowing everything sideways since this whole ordeal began."

"Then...we're not going anywhere, not until the weather lets up. Of course this has to happen at the worst possible time." Inessa sighs, not bothering to hide her frustration from him. Garahel whines softly, urging them along. They can better deal with spectral weirdness inside, right?

"One would think this is happening because it is the worst possible time." James growled, sword still out as he looked around for more spirits. Interceptor is guarding them from the rear, growling every so often.

"Yes, right, Garahel. Inside is better. At least we're not freezing to death - so. Inside the central tower?"

"Right. If we're to be bombarded, we can at least bear it easier with tea at hand...and some treats for them." Inessa smiles at little at seeing Garahel perk up at that certain word, purposely letting it slip to distract her companion. She reaches the pair of doors first, holding them open and ushering the rest inside. Perhaps they can have a few moments' peace before the chaos finds them again.

Interceptor barked as well, an actual happy one, as they went inside together. James still has his sword out, and he does a Holy Smite within, just to buy them a few more moments of peace from the chaos.

"Maker's Breath." He muttered, "This, happening so soon after Ghislain. I am starting to think we've been cursed."

It's strange, how a Holy Smite can suddenly be reassuring in the right circumstances. Inessa untenses -a little- and Garahel lets out an approving grunt as he takes point. Glancing over, the Warden nods.

"It's not something that just happens, not after this area has been cleansed and reinforced for a long time. Something must have triggered this...deliberately, I suspect."

Interceptor moves to the rear, moving towards James briefly to get a comforting pet, and a murmur of, "You're a good boy, Interceptor, such a good boy." before moving to cover them once more.

James moves forward again, following after Garahel and Inessa.

"So we are thinking ... device. A device that someone has deliberately triggered." He frowned, "Or some sort of spell. Either way. Someone wanted to weaken us from within, at this moment. Why?"

"We suffered a serious defeat, not too long ago. If you were the enemy, wouldn't you want to capitalize on that? Hit us while we're still licking our wounds, and we'll have that much more difficulty rebounding.

...or there could be another motive, but I don't know what that would be at this time." She sighs, following Garahel. "There are devices which can stabilize the Veil, so it follows that the opposite could be true. But to have it this severe and widespread, it must be extremely powerful. How can something so powerful be difficult to find?"

"If we had done this to our enemies, absolutely, but that is only if we had reliable allies inside their camp. We do not, and they longer do. Hence why I wonder if it was a far reaching plot."

He arched an eyebrow at her, "You have been with the Inquisition how many years, and you still think that question has merit? Have you seen how long it takes us to find anything out of importance?"

She snorts a little at that, not disagreeing. "True, but the Gallows is a relatively small and secluded area, compared to all of Thedas. Searching every inch of it might yield...something. It's better than waiting for new horrors to find us."

Case in point; the hallway suddenly gains new sounds, that of whimpering and crying out, and low, ugly laughter as someone is struck again and again. Color draining from her face, Inessa looks about but there's no one in sight...not this time. She can't enter that kitchen fast enough.

"You know, that is surprising. For once, we need the horrible things to come and find us." He sighed briefly, before he pressed his lips together.

He looked with her, jerking his head to the side. "Maker's Breath. Right. Stand back."

"They're being efficient about that, at least. Boys, with me." Garahel growls and barks at the noise as though that will drive it off, but Inessa tries to urge him and Interceptor over with her. She doesn't blame them for reacting as they do, but it won't help the situation.

And as the kitchen itself is currently devoid of horrors, she'll set about to heating a kettle and searching for some treats. The torture echoed in the hallway still reaches her ears and she grits her teeth, trying not to let it rattle her.

Interceptor whines, not wanting to leave James behind, but knowing by the click in James's tone that he is meant to go with Inessa. He trots after her, whining and growling in turns.

James waits until they are well and clear - before taking out his blade. He focuses, breathing out, calling upon his faith, before slamming his sword back down into the ground.

Blue light pours out around him, clearing the area of all spiritual influence, and he stands once more ... feeling a little lightheaded as he makes his way back towards the kitchen.

"...I shall have to take lyrium soon, if we have to keep this up."

Tensing herself for the sound of the blade striking the floor, Inessa relaxes and knows James has done all he can for the time being. She's not surprised to hear his next words, though, and nods as she fetches some cups.

"I have one potion on me should you need it. Beyond that, we'll need to check storage or make more at the alchemy rooms. I suspect supplies will soon run low, since it's bound to be a popular idea."

"Yes, I suppose it will be." James drops himself into a chair and lets out an exhausted sigh. Gives Interceptor a tired smile as the mabari comes and rests his big head on James's knee.

"Just make sure blend it when I am out of sight of you. I do not want to know where there is extra lyrium."

She nods in understanding, as Garahel parks himself nearly while staring at the doorway. "You won't. Some Aqua Magus could do in a pinch, but if you're careful...but I'm not certain treading the line of sobriety is going to make this situation more bearable." She sighs, then shifts her gaze over to him. "A shared drink later, once we've overcome this?"

Perhaps it's optimistic, but Inessa's not sure either of them will be able to go on, thinking there's no end in sight.

"If we survive this, my dear friend, we are splitting a bottle." James promises, as he takes up guard in the corner, with Interceptor curling at his feet. "I honestly cannot believe how many times we have had to survive hauntings together, Inessa."

Glancing back at the brewing kettle, Inessa turns back to James and her lips twitch in what could almost be a smile...briefly, anyway. "It's becoming a rather annoying habit, isn't it? And Kirkwall is only responsible for some of it. I wonder what it says that this sort of chaos isn't the worst bonding experience I've had." Realizing how the local spirits could rise to the unintended challenge, the elven woman immediately looks sheepish. "Forget I said that, I don't want to tempt fate any more than it already has been."

James put his hand on the sword, looking around, waiting tensely to see if something came out of the walls ... but so far his clearing of the area still held and he let out a long breath.

"Yes, as much as I like how we have bonded - let us not get more bonding experiences."

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