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]

[If Korrin were close enough to hear them, she'd sympathize with Merrick (though her words would have been less harsh). The last thing he needs is more noise, especially when the distraction she's creating is loud enough. New barrier hardly needs renewing, but she does so anyway, taking advantage of time afforded by the Red Templars needing to close in. A few more swings and the nearest of them crumple to the ground, but she can see more coming. Hopefully that cage lock isn't too complicated. They need to leave before a Behemoth arrives.]

[dalishious]

[ Merrick has never seen a Behemoth before, but he'd heard about them-- and while he'd love the opportunity to fight one, it's probably not ideal when there are civilians involved. He keeps working on the lock, and it pops open at last, falling heavily to the snow-covered ground.

He opens up the door. The man who had approached first looks at his face and says with great apprehension, 'You're a--'

Merrick grabs him by shirt and hauls him bodily out of the cage. The rest of the prisoners follow without a word. There are other cages, yes, but Merrick doesn't head for them yet, not when Korrin is getting swarmed.

He sees a Red Templar approach Korrin from behind and he throws a knife from his belt, which hits him them in the back. ]

Korrin! Come on!

[gatheringstorm]

[Korrin hears him, but she's delayed in responding, centering an explosion on those approaching as soon as they're within range. If that doesn't take them out, it'll at least panic them and the more chaos they can sew, the better. The result has her smirking, but there's no time to admire the view.]

Keep going! I'll be right there!

[Between that and a Chain Lightning spell, they're afford a reprieve for now. Only then does she put more distance between them and herself, blurring toward Merrick on waves of magic. The former captives need tending, it's true, but she doesn't dare focus the bulk of her attention on them now.]

Get behind the cages and stay down! Don't draw attention to yourselves, let them focus on me.