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

[el_tybs]

Well there didn't seem to be any wood, stone or metal that the thing could have been on before so it must have been on the floor from the get go. "Seems like a weird place to hide it if they just left it out in the open." Even though he doesn't plan on touching it, Sam does move closer to look over Morrigan's shoulder at it while she runs her hands over it.

"There were demons in here. Do you suppose they were drawn here by this thing or maybe something else that the device is supposed to react to?"

[arcaneadvisor]

"If this place once belonged to the ancient elves then tis more likely that it would have been harder to find, there are no ancient elven roads after all." And if there is one matter where she is absolutely the expert, then she would say that because of the eluvians. "It might have been left behind, or perhaps if it was moved then those discovering it had no clue as to what it did."

She moves enough to give him a better look, if the former Circle mages are accompanying everyone else on missions and assignments then true hands-on experience can only be good for them.

"Part of me wonders as to the markings on the floor - they look to be made in blood, and there are all the skulls and bones piled about the place. If there was a sacrifice here in the past then they might be drawn to it. The Veil would be thin if such a thing had taken place here, but this seems inactive, there would be little to lure them closer. Demons desire something when they come here, and they cannot possess this object."

[el_tybs]

"So... are we to figure what it is here or hope it stays inactive and take it with us?"

Seeing Morrigan move to allow him to look at the device better, Sam takes the chance to come closer and squat down. It was tempting to offer that maybe the device was some form of magical trap to lure spirits, but since it was inactive it seemed silly to even consider it.

"So was that a blood magic ritual? Something that might have permanently thinned the veil here and acted up because of the Breach?"

[arcaneadvisor]

"If it can be moved, we should take it. We know where it came from so if necessary it can be returned and in Skyhold there are more researchers, more materials and safer conditions."

After all, anything could appear in here, more demons, bandits, the native wildlife, even any bands of mages and Templars that might still be hiding, still nursing a grudge. Skyhold means they can document it better for the future and she'd prefer that route. If not well, she's spent much of the last while disappearing and reappearing with baubles for Celene, this would be simple work to take.

"I cannot say, it would appear so, alas all we can do for the moment is speculate upon it. The ancient elves used blood magic, that much is known, mages from Tevinter might have come here or anyone seeking refuge, Alamarri, Avvar, but they were here and waiting without a rift to allow them through and none nearby. And the Veil does feel different here, or more different than it has of late."

[el_tybs]

"Well you mentioned you've seen these things relocated before so we should be able to move it, right? Or is it a matter of making sure it doesn't activate during the process?" Taking it to Skyhold did sound like a better idea than staying here and trying it out. While they had a decently sized party they didn't quite the people or materials to be ready for anything that could happen.

The ancient elves used blood magic? "Like they used it secretly, or do you mean it was a prominent type of magic they utilized?" Perhaps it was silly to ask, but Morrigan seemed like she knew a fair amount about the culture. "So the demons down here have probably been here for a while then if there wasn't a rift." And probably stayed here because of the way the Veil felt in this place.

[arcaneadvisor]

“There are enough of us to make it more than possible, it would require the touch of magic to activate, the will to do so. So long as the proper care and precautions are taken then all should be well.” Certain people might have a fit but Morrigan would argue that allowing Templars to roam Skyhold, Templars supplied with lyrium, is likely to cause more harm than one artifact.

Shrugging, she’s reminded of her discussion with Norrington and she rises, walking to inspect the symbols on the floor, to see if there’s anything she recognises. “Blood magic is not always what the Circle teaches you, and given we speak of magical bloodlines, that it runs through us, then all magic could be considered blood magic. Not just the sort that has you slicing your arm or bleeding slaves to bend and twist minds and lure demons closer. What may be abhorrent now would have meant so little to them, tis Tevinter and the Chantry who have given blood magic the name it bears today.” In response to his question though she can’t give a precise answer, instead simply sighing at the markings. “Any guess is as good as another, had it been more than shades and we with the proper preparation we might have learned something though most likely not. All we can do is speculate and perhaps in time someone will know enough history on this area to guide us down the right road. But I would very much doubt it.”

[el_tybs]

So him just touching it was not going to set the thing off, not unless he used a bit of magic and encouraged it? Well that was good to know. Even so the vibes he was getting from the device don't sit very well with him, and for that Sam doesn't try to touch it until he's told to.

At the mention that all magic would be blood magic, Sam stands goes to say something, though stops short and quickly closes it. She... had a point. If he really thought about it there were plenty of things that probably was blood magic in a way - like when they took their blood for phylacteries. Still, even though Morrigan had a point and had valid arguments, the idea still left a sour taste on his tongue. Even so, he was curious to what else she had to say.

Not exactly the time or place though - perhaps later. "We should see what the others have found and decide what we're doing with the stuff."

[arcaneadvisor]

One major concern that she does have is what it might attract when the distance between here and Skyhold is hardly inconsiderable, and she would prefer not to do as she would with Celene. To appear past the guards in Orlais and to the side of the Empress was to leave them all gaping, to flummox them utterly. Skyhold has old friends and those who know her, know the truth behind the tales, it is not so easy to slip between spaces.

Glancing up, she watches him carefully before slipping paper from a pouch at her waist, beginning to copy the design lest it slip from her mind. "Magic is magic, much is down to superstition - they say washing your feet in winter will make you catch cold in the head. So much of the Chantry comes from long after Andraste was dead. Tevinter practiced blood magic and so that made it evil, I would never condone what they have done but death but burning a person alive, boiling the blood in their veins? Always the distinctions."

And never for the benefit of mages, once they're old enough then they become aware of the redundancy. Or outside they do, but the Chantry will continue to put names on things for their own comfort and to stop anything developing organically.

"As you wish, I shall make a sketch of this if you wish to call others over or investigate yourself."

[el_tybs]

Her reasoning, statements and questions were sound and there is little that Sam has to say against it. Perhaps blood magic had been something different at one point, maybe it had been Tevinters or the Chantry that made it what it was now, but even so Sam cannot see it being something to openly accept.

"I'll leave you to your sketch then." Nodding his head to Morrigan, Sam goes to see what the others are doing and get some of them to come help.