I have moved and I've kept on moving, proved the points that I needed proving

[mythalenaste]

WHO: Pel Ashara, Morrigan, Salem Ghilain, Katniss Everdeen, Mal Reynolds, Sam Gareth, Merrill, Sina Dahlasanor (via sending crystals)
WHAT: Studying elven ruins in the Hinterlands
WHEN: End of Wintermarch
WHERE: The Hinterlands
NOTES: Some fighting, altogether Indiana Joneslike archaeology. Meaning it's not really archaeology, it's just fighting and mystical weird ancient places.

Starters below. Or make your own WILDCARD!

Comments

[chainlightning]

[ That's a yes, or so Merrill assumes -- hopes. Sabine deals with the wraith and another crackle of lightning helps finish it, and then it's time for the despair demon. Now and Merrill is used to fighting with a group, reflexes still as sharp for it as when she traveled with Hawke -- she has fought and traveled with the alienage elves since then, after all, and plenty of them are archers.

It's familiar, and even as fire sprouts up on the head of the notched arrow, Merrill almost feels at peace.

The large blast of fire she immediately whirls and hits the despair demon in the face with just maybe doesn't make it seem that way. ]

Keep shooting and I'll keep enchanting them!

[glandival]

[ Later, she will say that the flaming arrow slammed the despair demon between its eyes and then it died, who wants another round. In reality, she startles, and the flaming arrow misses its target by a few crucial inches. She swears a stream of Orlesian throughout the time it takes for her to collect another arrow and line it up, trying to still the shaking in her hands that has nothing to do with fear and everything to do with adrenaline.

But she nods her understanding at Merrill, and releases the next, teeth bared. This time, it sinks into dark, flapping robes and twisting flesh, and the torrent of ice magic suddenly ceases as it writhes, magic flames biting in.

This time, her grimace is a grin, and she continues to let fly the fiery arrows. ]

[chainlightning]

[ It does go down. That's what matters, and Merrill grins too, face lit up by magic before it burns yet another demon trying to take them out.

When the fight is done, Sabine's arrows will be unscathed from magical fire -- perhaps not from demons or impact against the stone walls, but the enchantment, at least, won't have hurt them. Merrill will approach with one that she's found on the ground, staff still out; she's leaning against it slightly, not used to fighting that many demons so regularly and taking the chance for a breather. ]

Here. You're excellent, with your bow.

[glandival]

[ Sabine can be found planting a boot on a demon corpse, tugging out an arrow, and giving it the same considering look as she does the one that Merrill offers out to her. Which is to say, slightly doubtful that they aren't damaged. She takes it, gathering it quickly into the small bundle of them she has in a fist.

With the battle over, left over adrenaline still thrums in her veins, but there's a renewed guardedness in her consideration of Merrill, hesitating over compliment. ]

Takes practice, [ she finally dismisses, with a small head toss. ] Did that? The--

[ She makes a gesture with her hands, suggesting an explosion, and says woomf. ]

[chainlightning]

Oh, yes! Magic in general does, of course, but that one- I kept enchanting the wrong objects on accident. You should have seen the Keeper's face when I accidentally enchanted her spoon with ice magic.

[ Which is still a trick she employs from time to time, if she's honest; it helps a number of foods that otherwise suffer from overheating. ]

But- well, again. Yes. I studied for years, and you can always learn more.

[ A pause, and- ]

Oh! I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself; I'm Merrill.

[glandival]

[ Sabine's head tips to the side as she listens as to magic, and Merrill has her attention, and very nearly her amusement, imagination captured by enchantments gone awry-- and then the word Keeper crops up, and Merrill's charming magical ways are put in a more alien context.

No big reaction, just a glance away, her gaze snagging over all the other elfy bullshit they're surrounded by, before she ducks into a crouch, peering over the corpse of the demon curiously, picking at the ragged fabric and lifting it up.

Then, Merrill offers her name. Sabine pauses over it, like it's an offered morsel of something she isn't sure about, looking back over her shoulder. ]

Sabine. I've never fought before with Dalish, or mages. They do not all the time care to, where I'm from.

[chainlightning]

Well, the mages might, if they're not Dalish. But- well, yes, some of the clans can be rather- like that, unfortunately. Though my clan always tried to care, whether you have vallaslin or not.

[ Sabine is offered a shy smile; Merrill isn't quite sure how the woman will react to the comment. ]

Personally, I've lived away from my clan for some time now, in Kirkwall's alienage. And I've met all sorts of interesting people! So where others may not have cared to, I do.

[ And if others don't care to, well, maybe they should rethink the Inquisition being the place they belong. Play nice with the others trying to help save the world, everyone. ]

It really is very nice to meet you.