CLOSED | it's a mixed bag for the living,

[faithlikeaseed]

WHO: Myr, Adasse, Six, Inessa, Finel
WHAT: A daring rescue from a dastardly(?) cult
WHEN: Backdated to mid-month
WHERE: West Hills, Ferelden
NOTES: CW: mention of intended self-harm/suicide.

So it's come down to this--

Izot, inconsolable, convinced her death may be the one to draw Andraste's attention and bring the Maker's return, has not been dissuaded from her date with the pyre. The sacrifice will go forward as planned.

To their credit, the Inquisition team has made a good enough impression to be invited to the ceremony by Mother Aridatha herself. Really, half the town of Elmridge received such an invitation, and some of the same sorts who'd watch a public execution have shown up to mingle with the cultists in anticipation of a spectacle. Or perhaps they've some notion of interfering, but Tasgall and his men are keeping a close cordon around the pyre, watching any stranger that gets too close.

A cry goes out among the cultists as Izot appears in her sackcloth and walks among the parted crowd to the pyre. Her head is held high but her hands tremble with some unknowable emotion; her eyes are red from crying but dry now. Behind her stalks an apostate in a Fereldan's idea of an Archon's garb, leering at the cultists with a single bloodshot eye.

Myr, who knows the allure of martyrdom too well, looks away from the spectacle being made of "Hessarian's" arrival to regard the others standing with him, a little ways off from the mage-chary cultists. "We've got to stop this," he says softly.

It isn't a matter any longer of winning the arl's support but one of doing the right thing. There's no standing by to watch Izot die.

Comments

[circleprodigy]

Inessa, standing next to Myr, replies with a grim nod, her lips set in a thin, disapproving line. She understands martyrdom to an extent; she's a Grey Warden after all, and her order is called to sacrifice. But that is sacrifice with a purpose, a duty that cannot be forsworn for the sake of the world. This...this is madness, and Inessa can't bring herself to see otherwise. All that would result from this would be a waste of a life, and the senselessness of it turned her stomach. Garahel seemed to agree, the mabari letting out a soft whine as he gazes over to them both.

"What approach do you wish to take? A last attempt at diplomacy? Force? Or is a distraction needed?" Whichever it was, Inessa would adapt. That's all she's done ever since her career with the Wardens has been sidetracked and she's found herself increasingly in non-Warden related matters. But Myr is right, they need to stop this and she won't regret trying.

[gottakeeponejumpahead]

"I'm going to vote with blowing something up." Adasse stated firmly. See, this was why most religions were absolutely crap in his humble opinion. Who wanted to believe in something that made you think setting yourself on fire was a good idea?

He paused then added judiciously. "Just not the girl. If we really can't use anything here ... I say we blow something up, cause a big enough distraction, then grab that stupid gel and get the Maker out of this looney place."

[faithlikeaseed]

[ kicking this over here to continue! ]