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

[wickedchase]

♠ HUNTING ♠
[Though most of his years were spent training with the Keeper when he was still part of the clan, he'd watched the hunters do this plenty enough that he has an idea of what to arrange. That, and after leaving, Fate had found himself needing to provide to himself.

Not that he has any real proficiency with a bow or anything. So he does this his way.

Quietly, in thought, Twisted Fate is arranging traps for the locals, and he plans on instructing them where he'd left them and how to safely remove the catches of the day. That much, he can do to them. One can hunt for people, better to show them how to provide for themselves.]

♠ TAVERN ♠
[And of course, how could he not be here? Twisted Fate gladly takes to their wine, glad for it, and certainly has a deck of cards on his person should anyone care to join him.

It's warm and better than sulking outside, anyway.]

♠ WILDCARD ♠
[YOUR CHOICE, BUDDY.]

TAVERN

[easternseaqueen]

[Oh, good, someone who looks like they know how to have a good time.]

You look like you could use a partner. What's your game?

[She glances at the cards, but, really, those words could mean a lot of things.]

[wickedchase]

A better question would be to ask what isn't my game. You'll find there are few things I don't enjoy.

[With his foot, he nudges a chair for her, in clear offering.] And what about you, madame? What do you favor?

[easternseaqueen]

[She sits down and takes a long drink.]

I'm like you, there aren't many games I don't enjoy. [She winks at him.]

But, Wicked Grace and Diamondback are always fun.

And the name's Isabela. Admiral Isabela.

[wickedchase]

[That's a response he can approve of. Fate chuckles to himself.]

Ah, the infamous Admiral. A pleasure. I go by Twisted Fate.

Let's start with a friendly game of Wicked Grace, hm? I can deal, if you'd like.

[easternseaqueen]

Oh, good, nice to see someone who knows me. Though that's quite the name you've got.

Deal away, Fate.

Hunting

[arlathvhen]

Oh, that's a nice trap.

[ Beleth wasn't much of a trapper, but she knew enough. It was Cyril that was the one really skilled at them, and she's seen him make enough to have an idea.

She stood there, baretfoot in the snow, looking over the trap that Twisted Fate had laid down. It was clear that she'd had intentions that were, at least, similar to his--behind her was a makeshift little shed she'd rigged up with some branches and canvas, and a dead snoufleur resting on it. Snoufleurs are heavy, and she is small, okay. ]

Do you do a lot of trapping?

[ Cheerful smile!!! Isn't this great. Just Dalish being Dalish. ]

[wickedchase]

[Just in case it wasn't clear enough of how incredibly Dalish she is, Twisted Fate spots her bare feet in the snow. He could still get away with that, but he tends to find that he likes boots quite fine. Plus, the comfort of warm, dry feet is too much to pass up, really.

And he's let go of a lot of Dalish traditions.]

Not terribly, no. I prefer to pay someone to make food for me.

Not much of a cook, either.

[He smiles wryly to himself.] Just an old habit. The clan was full of mostly hunters, so it was a bit hard to not know some of their tricks.

[arlathvhen]

I wish I had the kind of money where I could just have other people cook for me. Though I don't think I'd use it for that kind of thing.

[ She raises an eyebrow, both at Twisted Fate's first statement, and second. So he wasn't a hunter? No use in recommending him to Cyril to learn more about trapping, then. Ah, well. It sounds like he's got other things going on besides traps, anyway. ]

You weren't a hunter? Were you a craftsman? Trader? Or--A mage?

[ She looks particularly interested in that last possibility. Mages were on an entirely different level than the hunters, after all. They were the leaders. She certainly hadn't taken Twisted Fate to be a leader of any kind, but if he was a First or Second... ]

[wickedchase]

I'm a man of business. Money is something I'm good at gaining.

[He smiles, almost crookedly.]

If you're wondering what I was in my clan, then you should just ask. [Which is not his favorite topic, but since she's inclined to investigate. He shrugs a little as he works on finishing up his trap.]

I'm a mage. For a time, I was their First since I was a boy.

[arlathvhen]

...I did just ask. Or did you want me to ask a little more directly than that...?

[ She stares at him patiently, though it's turned into a look of confusion when he states that him being male had anything to do with being First. She keeps staring at him, but her head tilts just slightly, like a particularly baffled bird. ]

Since you were a boy...? Why would that matter? I mean. Look at Pel. She's our First, and she's a fine First, we couldn't ask for better.

[ She pauses as she notices that past tense he's been using for the first time. Was he no longer First? Could it be--?

He'd been downgraded to Second. Embarrassing. ]

[wickedchase]

[He lets out a sigh.] My apologies. It didn't seem particularly ... to the point. Likely I misinterpreted. Cold agitates my temperament, I'm afraid.

[That's not the truth at all, but Beleth hardly needs to know that.]

Fancy for her. But I haven't been a First since I was ten. [Fate pauses, then considers. Does... Beleth just not know?

How naive.]

About the same time as I haven't been part of a clan. [In order to make that clear to her.] Thought everyone already concluded that.

[arlathvhen]

I understand, it's not a problem.

[ A pleasant smile, that turns to a look of confusion. He stopped being a part of a clan when he was 10? Even if she had thought that he had left, surely no 10-year-old would take off from their clan--And certainly if one tried, the clan would work to bring back the errant child. ]

...No, you never told me what clan you were from, but I didn't really think of it.

Why, did something happen...?

[ Now she's looking at Twisted Fate sympathetically. She's heard the stories--just look at Sina's clan, barely a few dozen strong. Clans disappeared all the time. ]

wildcard; tent buds

[foxsays]

[A tent was a tent at the end of the day, somewhere slightly less cold than tramping around in the snow, and she slips inside as quickly as she can, keeping the cold out. She wants to get out of a few of the layers she's bundled herself into after all, scarf and fingerless gloves, boots and one of the pairs of socks.

She would like to have toes when all is said and done, so one pair will be staying on even when she sleeps.

And apologies dear tentmate but the scarf might go sailing in your direction as she squirms around trying to get rid of it because this thing could comfortably go round a Qunari a few times, let alone someone fun-sized like her.]

[wickedchase]

[The cold isn't overly pleasant, but there are ways around it. He's glad he's brought some of his nicer furs along, just in case.

What he doesn't expect when he gets into their tent is the scarf landing in his face.]

I usually like it when someone is eager to undress. [Scarf is gently deposited aside.] Need any help there?

[foxsays]

[Curls wilder than usual from the scarf coming off, she spins quickly and swears, a sheepish smile on her face.]

My apologies! I'm not used to wearing all these damned layers, though if you could maybe grab a sleeve?

[There are layers. There are several layers when she isn't going off to fight and is instead just lending a hand or heading off to the tavern so bending to get her coat off is honestly a pain in the arse.]

This isn't how I wished to make an impression, the cold makes me very clumsy. Araceli Bonaventura, a pleasure.

[wickedchase]

Quite all right. Happy to help.

[And so he does, snagging onto a sleeve end and attempting to assist in her undress.]

People who claim to like the cold are just showing off. You're absolutely fine.

Twisted Fate, and I agree: it's a pleasure, madame.

[foxsays]

[Coat off, she takes a seat to remove another top as she shakes her head.]

So living in a stinking bog where the dead come out to kill you and giant people kidnap folk and want to kill the rescuers, up a mountain in a fortress that's falling apart, and now out here in a frozen armpit of nowhere - tell me, does anyone live anywhere normal in Thedas?

[So far she gets the impression that no, people like to live in places out of spite to prove to the world that they can, not something she can say she's a fan of.]

At least I brought some cards and dice here with me.

[wickedchase]

That really, truly depends. What do you consider normal in Thedas? Because I surely cannot think of many things by this point.

[He chuckles.] Wise woman. I've brought much the same. It seems I've lucked out in having decent company who knows how to pass the time.

[harthad_uluithiad]

[ It's cold enough outside, all right; but then there's a certain oppressiveness to the indoors, too, and it's been so long since Sam had seen anything outside Skyhold. He'd just gone outside for a moment, or so he'd told himself; long enough to get some air and see a bit of this strange new place. Snow on level ground, snow without a mountain to climb, with the camp at his back and the firm knowledge that he won't freeze bolstering him up - it's all new to Sam, and he's eager to experience it.

Just a moment, he'd told himself; but he must have taken a wrong turn somewhere, for when he turns the warm glow of the camp is gone, and snowflakes swirl in the air as the wind picks up. Sam frowns, vaguely troubled, and turns to walk back to the camp, only the snow has covered the path and truth be told, he's not entirely sure what direction the camp lies in anymore.

It's not long before unease turns to outright fear, his teeth chattering as the snow falls harder and the wind grows colder. Before long, he's stumbling blindly, his way completely lost as he tries desperately to find a familiar landmark in the white nothingness. ]

[wickedchase]

[The thing about snow is how much is softens the sound in the area. It is cold, and ensuring a sense of serenity -- and the chill of knowing how alone you are. Undoubtedly, none of these sensations are particularly helpful toward Sam.

A hand grips the hobbit's arm suddenly, holding on tight. Whenever Sam looks up, there's the familiar shape of Twisted Fate's hat.]

Seems a poor day for a stroll, Mr. Gamgee.

Come along, then.

[If the way Fate pulls Sam along is rough at all, it's only because he's not going to wait around for either of them to freeze in the snow.]

[harthad_uluithiad]

[ Sam's too cold and too scared to even cry out when a hand grips his arm, his very brain starting to go numb, and he looks up in a haze, blinking snowflakes off his eyelashes at the figure dragging him to his feet.

He can't do much beyond stumbling along for few moments, but eventually a gust of wind blows the snowflakes clear, revealing the familiar shape of Twisted Fate's hat and clearing the haze, momentarily, from Sam's mind at the same time. ]

M...Mr. Fate? [ He stutters, his teeth still chattering, and rubs at his eyes with his free hand, squinting up at him. ] Am I dreaming?

[wickedchase]

Is that your way of saying I'm dreamy? [Usually there would be the smugness in his voice, but right now he's a bit more in a hurry. He makes sure that Samwise is able to follow, dragging him through the snow until he pauses.

They're too far from camp, but there is a cavern nearby. It'll have to do until this snow lightens up. Traveling further is dangerous.]

Over here. [Fate pulls him along, heading toward the cover.]

[harthad_uluithiad]

W-what?

[ The joke flies right over his head, though it's clear now that this isn't a dream at all. Sam stops trying to make conversation (for once), instead concentrating on hurrying to keep up with Twisted Fate while keeping himself as warm as possible.

He follows the elf into the cavern, shivering, but manages to relax a bit once they get out of the wind. It's not what anyone would call warm, but it's better than out in the snow, at least, and he takes a moment to catch his breath before looking up at Fate properly. ]

Bless me, it is you! [ He shivers again, stamping his feet. ] Why I thought - I thought I was done for! Out there in that snow...

[wickedchase]

[Twisted Fate sighs and takes off his hat, shaking off the snow before he's dusting himself off. He gazes down at Samwise, cracking a smile at him.]

You have a knack of getting yourself into a bind, Sam.

We'll wait out the snow. Bit too dangerous to head out now, but I suspect it shouldn't be long until it's settled down. For the moment, you need to warm up.

[Fate sighs and sits down onto the ground against the wall of the cavern, motioning for Sam to get close. There's no real elegance to this, but he's going to make sure Sam doesn't freeze his fuzzy toes off.]