faderift | open: something grabs ahold of me tightly

open: something grabs ahold of me tightly

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

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[Inside the cage, the prisons flock to the door and the bar, though given how deep the wheels have sunk in the snow it thankfully doesn't rattle. They're desperate, the ones still upright crowding where she's working.

Even in the midst of battle Korrin will be able to hear the cries and please, for her to let them out, to hurry.

The lock is stiff, and gritting her teeth she readjusts because it's going to require finesse. There won't be time to cut the chains if this goes wrong but the noise of battle is a distraction after the horror stories and when she does risk a glance behind her, she regrets it.

A click, just audible, a good sign and she starts to fiddle, twisting gently this way and that, but numb fingers don't help with feeling the tension in her tools.]

[Those please cause Korrin minor heartache every time she hears them, but she also knows the best way for Araceli to hurry is to do so unimpeded. Hence, Korrin must stay the course. It's hardly an easy task, given how strong and resilient even the least affected Red Templars are, but so far her barrier is holding and her spirit blade quite effective in slicing through to their weakest points.]

Keep trying, assholes! You'll need more than that to take me down!

[Whirling around to face the one trying to get at her from behind, she freeze it in place.]

Come on you useless pedazo de mierda!

[A deep breath follows as she closes her eyes. One of them has to be calm and it looks like it'll have to be her as she feels the lock click again, the strain lessening. Taking a moment to flex her wrists, she reaches for one of her throwing knives; unlike the Mire, there's less risk in retrieving them here and they'll stand out against the snow with their dark hilts.

She aims for the throat of the nearest one, not bothering to see where it went but anything to lend Korrin a hand before she returns to the lock and--

Well the cheer gives her away but she's got it! The lock is opening though it's still going to take some work to get it free and loose from the chains.]

[Araceli's timing is fortunate, since Korrin's focus on attacking the Red Templar behind her meant that she had to turn it away from the one approaching. As she turns back, Korrin smirks upon seeing that familiar throwing knife embedded in its target. Just as the Red Templar slumps down, that cheer reaches Korrin's ears and her lips curve in a more genuine smile.

But of course it doesn't end there. As Araceli works on getting that lock free and Korrin moves to join her, the Vashoth mage's strides come to an abrupt halt as a spewed stream of red lyrium narrowly misses her. There's a horrified glance at the substance as it hits the snow instead, then Korrin narrows her eyes at the hunched figure with red lyrium spikes growing out of its back. Renewing her barrier just in case, she charges and swipes at it furiously with her spirit blade, hoping to take it down before they get really unlucky and attract a Behemoth.]

Korrin!

[There's a moment that seems to last a lifetime, heart loud in her ears because what is the nobler path to take? To make the victims wait longer for freedom that is so close or to risk them if they decide to burst free while there are still foes? A stiff breeze could knock them over, and how they'll get them back to safety she's not sure but she choose the lock, gritting her teeth to pull at it until she tips backward into the snow when it falls free of the chains suddenly.

Something about it spurs the prisoners, and it takes short work between some of the stronger ones and Araceli to get the chain loose enough for the door to open. A tight squeeze but with her rapier she points them behind the cage, where there's at least some protection.

A second knife sails through the air, and then another, Araceli on her feet and in front of the former prisoners, waiting for a sign that Korrin needs back-up because whatever that thing is? It makes her blood run cold.]

[Hearing Araceli but not daring to reply, Korrin fights back her own revulsion at being so close to what was formerly a normal human. If there's anything left of that humanity, it doesn't show in those deadened eyes and claws, in the red veins showing the spread of red lyrium beneath the skin. Just being near it makes her skin crawl, for all that she shows no hesitation.

Not daring to spare even a solid glance, Korrin notices movement in the corner of her eye, not from Red Templars but freed prisoners. Good, they're taking cover, but the Horror distracts her from that relief. Its red lyrium-lumped back seems to pulsate as it slashes at her, and even the uninitiated can probably tell that's not a good sign. Letting her blade wink out for a moment, she whirls her staff instead and calls upon Winter's Grasp to freeze or at least slow it.]

Kadan!

[If Araceli wants to act, now is the time. Korrin's still upright and protected, but the longer this is drawn out, the more time there is for reinforcements to arrive.]

If it gets bad, run! Head for the Inquisition camp, there are plenty of scouts.

[It's the last thing she can do for them now that they have their freedom because her other rapier is in her hand and she's moving. Unlike the walking corpses in the Mire, she knows less about Red Templars though she knows that the lyrium is to be avoided at all costs. Knowing what that word means spurs her to move faster, rapier in either hand.

While Korrin has it distracted, she circles wide and around to the back to keep out of sight as far as possible, speed hampered by the snow but there's nothing that can help that. Reluctant to put herself close to the lyrium means she slices at them instead of stabbing deep on either side with the full length of both blades, hoping that the pain - because surely it will hurt even a monster such as this - will weaken it, or make it more stupid and clumsy.

The thing might have the shape of a person, but twisted almost beyond recognition, it suits it better than he.]

[Korrin hates needing the extra aid at the moment, not because she's too proud for that but because of that risk of exposure to Araceli. No one should be near that toxic crap, let alone those special to her. Holding back from the offensive for a moment as those rapier slices continue the assault, Korrin casts Barrier over Araceli. Between the rapier slices, and chilled aura, the Horror gives an inhuman shriek.]

Die already!

[Korrin snarls as she renews her spirit blade, slicing into the corrupted being with as much force as she can muster. Anything to make it crumple to the ground before its back pulsates again.]

[A barrier is still a strange thing to her but very much welcome. She doesn't want to risk getting blood - if they even bleed blood, what with that thing spewing the red lyrium - on her as she fights, or to be wounded by one of them. She spits an oath in Castilean when it rounds enough to aim a swipe at her, fingers more like blackened claws or talons now.]

How is it still alive?

[That might be more of a matter for later when they've had a chance to breathe but as Korrin slices she goes for the back of the knee with one blade and the ankle with the other, twisting once the blades strike deep to cripple one of the legs. She slices at the ankle again once she pulls her blades free, snarling as she does so.]

Edited 2016-01-29 00:59 (UTC)

Spite?!?

[Spite and the power of red lyrium, which might as well be the same thing. But Korrin doesn't intend for it to remain alive any longer, as the freed villagers are dependent on them to make it through the area unharmed. Luring its attention away from Araceli, Korrin closes in and swings her glowing blade, embedding it in the creature's chest. Between that and Araceli's blades digging in deep, its end has come. As it crumples to the ground, she takes only a moment to regain her breath, before stepping in in close, automatically looking Araceli over even though the barrier lingers. Can't be too paranoid around those things.]

Thank you, kadan. Let's get these people out of here, before more of them find us. We don't want to be facing a Behemoth alone, trust me.

[Sinking to her knees herself, she slides her blades through the snow to get the worst of the gore from the before pulling a cloth from her pocket, wanting the blades to be as clean as can be. She doesn't want to be around red lyrium, doesn't want it on her person, and the cloth will be thrown in a fire when they're back at camp after she's done a more thorough inspection. It'll do for now.]

Agreed, very much agreed. [Behemoth sounds bad, because behemoth always means large, huge, monstrous, and it sends a shudder down her spine. For a moment she holds a hand to her mouth because there's a very real chance she might vomit. The moment passes and with the barrier still shimmering around her, she leaps over the corpse to Korrin's side, leaning against as she gets her breath back.] I'm glad I could be here with you for this sirena, I understand now why you were so angry and upset when we spoke the last time you were here.

[That moment of nausea provokes a frown of concern from Korrin and though they really don't have the time to pause for long, she slips a comforting arm around Araceli when leaned against. After encountering all that for the first time, she can hardly be blamed for needing a moment. Her lips curve in a sad smile at that last part and she sighs, nodding.]

It's worse to see it in person, I know. But at least we were able to save some people from it, and we'll get to the rest soon. Let's get these people back to town and then work on forgetting about it for a while.

[Not that Korrin has truly been able to do that all month, but with Araceli, it seems almost possible.]

[There's a part of Araceli that's keenly aware of the fact that she's woefully underprepared for some aspects of life in Thedas. Not just the magic but the sheer potential for horror. Castileos is an easy life compared to this, where a simple substance doesn't rob you of who you are as a person.]

At least we brought supplies with us.

[She settles her weapons more comfortably at her hips, nodding over to where the people they've rescued are gathered, watching with wide eyes.]

Hopefully the Red Templars are further in, the road we came should be safe enough still, yes?

Right. We cleared the path, now let's make us of it. And when we're back at camp, we can warm up properly.

[Cuddling by the fire or cuddling more privately in order to banish some of the horror is a very appealing image to her right now. But, focus. She steps forward, calling out.]

Let's go! We don't have time to waste. Stick together and follow us back. Everyone's going home.

[She gestures for them to follow, then begins leading the way. If any bit of moving red is spotted behind them, Korrin will fall back to playing rear guard while Araceli takes point.]

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open: something grabs ahold of me tightly

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