open: something grabs ahold of me tightly

[faderifting]

WHO: Inquisition Forces
WHAT: Inquisition forces cross the mountains into Orlais to deal with Emprise du Lion
WHEN: Wintermarch 25 onward
WHERE: EMPRISE DU LION
NOTES: This is a mingle-style log for the Inquisition camps, local tavern, and general/open Inquisition work, etc.

This time they hike down to the west, but the trip through the mountains is no easier. The snow is heaped up about the road where wagons have pushed it aside, stomped into slippery pack beneath the feet and hooves that have gone before. Of the main track it is ankle deep at best and in places it drifts, waist-deep on a tall man and enough to bury a dwarf who hasn't come prepared with snowshoes. Everywhere the wind howls, biting cold, and the sky hangs low, a pale flat grey that makes it difficult to judge distances. Those who know winter weather call it a snow sky, and near-daily squalls prove them right.

They set up camp in Sahrnia, across the broad expanse of frozen river that has trapped the villagers here upstream. Tents pop up in rows and in the shells of tumbled-down buildings, fires blazing and thawing the ground to mud. When the supply wagons roll in they re-open the local tavern, brightly lit with flaking paint on the walls that might once have been colorful and patterned tiles on the floor that seems to swim like an optical illusion after too many glasses of the cheap red wine that fills the cellars.

Even deadlier reds hold the hills: Red Templar sightings have been frequent and it is said they are operating in several locations in the region in significant force. Some of these men and women have become hulking, crystalline beasts. Many others are in the earlier stages of corruption: red-veined and -eyed, aggressive and superhumanly strong, but still visibly human and coherent if spoken to. Red lyrium is even easier to find, jutting out of the ground or cliffsides, filling caves-- the Tower of Bone, a fortress that has stood for centuries, now threatens to split from the inside out. The area's wildlife was none too friendly before, but now the wolves and bears have begun to be corrupted by the lyrium and many will attack on sight, without provocation. (The snofleurs that bumble harmlessly around the river seem unaffected.)

Everywhere there are ruins: broken bridges, crumbling colosseums, and the great hulking mass of Suledin's Keep tucked between the distant hills. Scouts reported that Red Templars hold it as well.

RIFTER ARRIVAL - SAHRNIA - THE HILLS - TOWER CAMP - A HANDY MAP

Comments

[gatheringstorm]

[Korrin actually spends as little time in the tavern as possible. There's so much that needs to be done in the region that she feels guilty for taking more than a moment to share news. What she is doing, aside from sharing the contents of her latest care package with the locals, is hunting. Those snoufleurs may be cute in their own way, but with lives at stake, she's not having any crisis of conscience. Encounter her either on the way to hunting them or on the way back, hauling their remains back on a sled for the villagers to strip of hide and flesh.]

[the_effect_she_has]

[Well, no one better to take along for a hunt than a hunter, yes? So Katniss appears by Korrin's side without a word, checking her bow string as she falls into step with her. She looks back at the sled, then up at the other woman.]

We hunting light or heavy today, Korrin?

[It was important, because if it was heavy -- they were going to need to build another sled.]

[gatheringstorm]

[Korrin frowns in thought at the sled, then glances back over to Katniss.]

Heavy, if we can. You saw those villagers; they have practically no food left, and what remains won't last very long. The Inquisition can't spare much, either. So, this will have to do. I'm willing to make as many trips as it takes.

[the_effect_she_has]

I did.

[She looks around, then points to one of the trees off of the island.] We cut down some of the branches on that tree, we can make another sled and load it it up. Also means we can take as many trips.

[She gave her friend a considering look.] You know any ice spells?

[gatheringstorm]

[Well, as long as Katniss is taking the initiative, Korrin will go along with the extra sled plan. She nods at the question, glad that she's been practicing her control and precision with ice lately.]

Just Winter's Grasp, but that ought to do.

[the_effect_she_has]

[Katniss will gladly take the initiative here, as Korrin took it by coming out here in the first place. She slips an arrow out, and notches it on her bow, giving Korrin a faint smile.]

Well then, let's go feed some hungry people then, eh?

[gatheringstorm]

Right. The sooner, the better.

[While Korrin's more comfortable with lightning spells, she'd rather not start any fires caused by blasting branches off trees. So instead she'll focus on freezing at least the bases of those branches. Combined with that arrow, that ought to be enough to send them crashing down.]

[the_effect_she_has]

[Katniss aimed carefully, hitting each branch in a way that brought it cracking down to the ground. Once they had enough, she went and plucked up all her arrows from the snow, and then took out her knife. It took her about twenty minutes, but she soon had constructed a rough looking palate that she could pull along by two strapped together branches.]

There. Now we're ready to carry twice as much. [She knelt down in the snow, sniffing slightly.] ... Game's this way, towards the waterfall. There might be a slight thaw there where they can get water."

[gatheringstorm]

[While Katniss constructs the sled, Korrin keeps watch to ensure that nothing sneaks up on them. In this area, one can't be too careful. She nods in approval at the finished result, smiling at the prospect of giving that much more to the villagers.]

Good idea. If we're lucky, we can get them before they even notice us and try to bolt.

[With that in mind, she heads in the direction indicated. She glances around often, less concerned with snoufleurs than some of the more dangerous creatures in the area.]

[the_effect_she_has]

[Katniss drags the sled along with one hand, keeping the other on her knife. She doesn't have magic, after all, so she's going to have to defend herself as best she can.]

We can hope. Just keep your steps soft. [She paused, realizing Korrin might not get that reference.] Remember, roll your feet. Makes less noise for animals to hear.

[She starts to slow as they get closer to the waterfalls - Korrin's got the right idea. Where there is prey, there area always all kinds of predators. They seem to be okay, for now. So Katniss gently puts the sled down, and pulls her bow, tagging one of her new arrows as she nods to Korrin, touching her finger to her lip. Total silence, yes?]

[gatheringstorm]

I can manage, don't worry.

[Dragging the other sled, Korrin does her best to follow Katniss' advice. Stealth is still not her forte, but she'd rather not scare off such easy targets when starvation is at stake. Once they reach the designated area, Korrin lets go of her own sled and takes out her staff from the strap on her back. Nodding to Katniss, the Vashoth mage approaches carefully and quietly until she can get in range enough to cast Chain Lightning. With any luck, that should take out most of them before they have a chance to flee.]

[the_effect_she_has]

[Chain lightening works like a charm - and not for the first time Katniss envies the ease of magic in every day life. This was why they didn't need mages in the Circles, they needed them out helping the poor folk like this.

Most of the snofleurs let out a noise, falling down dead on the spot, but a few managed to make a solid run for it. Katniss was already there, drawing back her bow to sink them with a few well aimed shots. The new arrows from Maxwell were much better for damage, she had to say.]

Not bad ... [She grinned at Korrin, as she slung her bow over her shoulder and walked towards the fallen bodies.] What is this, seven - eight - nine?

[gatheringstorm]

[Magic certainly helps, though it doesn't solve everything and Korrin's pleased though naturally not surprised that Katniss gets the remainder of them before they can flee. Grinning back, she approaches the fallen snoufleurs and begins hefting the nearest onto the sled.]

Nine good-sized ones. I'd say that's a decent bounty. This ought to give them some warmer leathers, too, in addition to the food. At least they aren't demon-fodder, this time.

[the_effect_she_has]

No joke. That totally ruins the meat.

[Katniss hummed as she grabbed a snofleur, dragging it over to their sleds.]

We should be able to get these skinned and parsed -- they can use the fat for their candles and the bones for other things.

[gatheringstorm]

Fine, fine.

[Hefting one onto the sled, she quickly makes a return trip. This shouldn't take too long, between the two of them. Hopefully. But as much as she wants to speed things up, Korrin still glances around to ensure that they aren't ambushed.]

I admit that's more use than I've ever made out of hunting, but they need all they can get. As long as someone's around to do all that, they'll have what they need to make it through this. I'm still going to pester that requisitions officer to see if we can get them more than just the essentials, though.

[the_effect_she_has]

[Katniss carefully straps down the carcasses to both sleds with a practiced ease, her expression quiet as she works. She says nothing, but it's clear she is listening for trouble as well. Once she is satisfied that both sleds won't tip over with the weight, she stands and brushes off her clothes.]

You can use every part of the animal - my father taught me that. I'll teach the villagers to. [She said quietly, as she went to take up her sled and pull again. As she pulled, she looked like she was brooding again.]

That would be a good idea. [She said quietly, automatically.] These people are critically low on everything.

[gatheringstorm]

[Once the sleds are set to go, Korrin takes hers and pulls it, keeping pace with Katniss. She could probably go faster than this, but would rather not separate. Plus, it's better to conserve energy just in case there's trouble. She nods and sighs, unable to disagree with that dismal assessment.]

I'd hoped the supplies we gave them before would last a little longer, but those damned Red Templars just take and take and take. If not people, everything else. At least we can guard the village effectively now, but a lot more needs to happen before their luck turns around.

[the_effect_she_has]

[Katniss stopped pulling her sled for a moment, her expression shifting to something more serious. Not bleak, not despairing, not the age of someone who has grown up too fast or has yet to learn what it is to grow at all. It's a steadying gaze, of someone who has finally seen the scope of things.

She came. She fought. She had taken lives and saved lives. But it wasn't going to be enough, and it wasn't ever going to be enough to save everyone.

She inhaled, then exhaled.] Korrin. Whatever else happens, here or in the future, I want someone else to hear me say this. So if I die, pass it along to the people I care about.

[gatheringstorm]

[At that, Korrin comes to a halt later, looking at Katniss with a raised eyebrow. She's not sure what to make of that statement, and it's enough to divert her attention from their surroundings for the moment.]

Alright. Spill it.

[the_effect_she_has]

[Katniss looked off across the frozen landscape, before she looked up at Korrin.] This war ... it's not going to last a few weeks, or even a few months. We might be at this, for years to come. Not just the war, but all the clean up. And over all that time - people are going to die, Korrin. We aren't going to be able to stop that. We'll be able to save most of them ... but not all.

[She pursed her lips together at that, before she looked up at Korrin.] And that's ... that's why I'm really here. For the most, and to bury the rest. I learned how to survive, and now I'm here to teach others to do the same. Survive, fight, keep going until you can't, and then go a few steps further. So if I die tomorrow - in two weeks or two years -- tell them. Tell them this is the moment I decided not to give up.

[gatheringstorm]

[Korrin has to reluctantly agree with Katniss' assessment of the war and its length. She can see that happening as well, and the longer it continues, the longer the clean-up will be afterward. There's no escaping that...or the fact that death will continue to happen. She's steeled herself for that by now but still looks grim at mention of it.

Looking at Katniss, she doesn't bother with bland reassurances that the other won't die, because there's no way she can guarantee that. Hell, she can't guarantee her own survival. But she nods, able to promise at least one thing.]

I'll do that, Katniss. The most important thing we can do is to keep going; it almost doesn't matter what reason you give yourself, as long as you have one. Right now, it's enough not to let all this overwhelm us. We can sort out the reasons later.

[the_effect_she_has]

[She nods her head quietly, before she starts pulling the sled again. Her voice is quiet, as she does so.]

We have to keep going. Or everything will be lost. And no matter the sacrifice -- nothing is too great to keep more people from suffering as we've seen here. What matters is the here, and the now, and the next village or town after that. We can think on our reasons -- when we're done doing our duty to Thedas.

[There's something concrete here. A focus that Katniss has lacked before - only seen in training and now -- applied to life.]

I can't take any more stupid, reckless chances, Korrin. I have to think about everything I have done, and will do, from now on.

[gatheringstorm]

[All good sentiments, though Korrin's first instinct is not to promote sacrifice. If they can take down the greatest threat to Thedas, she'd prefer to do it and survive. Martyrdom, for her, is a last resort--not a first. She begins pulling her sled along as well, not at all winded yet.]

I'm glad to hear it. Between Asher, Kain and others, there are enough reckless idiots to go around. [And she's fond of Asher and doesn't actually think too badly of Kain, but it's true.] Let's not add to the list. Besides, I doubt certain people depending on us would appreciate that, either.

[the_effect_she_has]

[Funnily enough, that was precisely what Katniss was talking about herself. No more self-sacrifice, no more taking stupid chances with her life. They needed every person, every skill, and they needed them to stay alive.

Most of all, she realized how far she herself had to go, to grow. To really live again. All of this had brought back Prim's memory -- but in a different way. Her sister would never want her to hurt as she had been hurting. She would want her to keep going, and stop others from hurting as well.]

I couldn't agree more. [Kain was a man of many talents but Maker did he like to take risks ...] Wait, who is Asher? [Because confused Katniss is now slightly confused.] And no, they would not. So ... I'm planning on sticking around. As long as I can.

[gatheringstorm]

[Korrin answers that with a warm smile at that, nodding firmly.]

As am I. I'll need friends to celebrate with when this is all over, keep that in mind.

[Oh, Asher. Where to begin.]

Asher's a fellow mercenary, part-Avvar, all Reaver, no indoor voice. If you know him at all, it's probably because of that one time he wrestled a bear. Well, one that we all know about. I have no doubt he's done it again. He recently joined the Inquisition, probably to show off.