faderift | 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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Korrin's seen Merrill around camp, and her actions on this particular day don't go unnoticed. When dragon strikes, the Vashoth mage is throwing up barriers as well, and having someone else to share that role shares a lot more lives than otherwise might have happened. No healer herself, Korrin passes out the remaining, unbroken, potions and energizes rubble to clear paths. Every so often, she glances over and nods to the Dalish mage, glad for the extra magical aid.

When there's no more to be done for the time being, she finally moves to sit down near her, likewise cradling a drink though she doesn't sip from it yet.]

So much for hoping they'd just stay on their side. Are you alright?

Edited 2016-01-29 01:22 (UTC)

I suppose we should have known.

[ There's a sigh as she says it, a little shake of her head; dragons are large and beautiful but they are dangerous, predators who need to eat. The Inquisition and their forces had to be a tempting target. ]

A bit tired. [ To put it mildly. She'll need a lyrium potion or two if she's going to continue to repair the bridge the next day; otherwise, she'll need to take the day to rest. ] And worried about the villagers, since the dragons didn't really- um. Eat their fill.

[ And on that positive note: ] But fine, otherwise! You?

[Korrin manages a wry smile as she takes a lyrium potion from her belt, offering it over.]

I'm tired, too. It'd already been a long enough day before this, with all the repairing that needed to be done. And after all that, I don't think I'll be able to rest. [Who could, knowing those things could return at any time?] We'll just have to get to them before they can take anyone else. I...just hope it's not both at the same time. That's beyond my area of expertise.

[ Merrill takes the potion with a "thank you", carefully uncorking it before raising it to her lips. ]

Better not to try and work while exhausted tomorrow, though. Perhaps the healers have sleeping potions?

[ Merrill may need one herself. ]

Mine too. I've helped kill a dragon before, but not two, and not in the middle of a place this cold.

Hm...sleeping potions are tempting, but if they come back, I won't be able to snap to fast enough to be of any help. I'm better off passing.

[Much as she would prefer them, this isn't the time. Not until Emprise du Lion has been entirely reclaimed.]

Hey, that's still more experience than most of these people have. It's a start. You know this means we'll need to charge across that bridge as soon as it's repaired and fight them. Maker's breath. As though we didn't have enough to do.

... Do you think they know that people live in tents?

[ Maybe they should find a nice cave to sleep in, she's just saying. ]

I can't believe there are two all in one place. They must like it here.

[ For... some reason...... ]

But yes, I imagine so. Hopefully we'll do more than just upset them.

There has to be more to it than that, though. They keep coming back to that area beyond the bridge, when they could just raze everything and settle where they want. Something about it keeps their attention, and anything that interests a high dragon can't be good.

[She glances over thoughtfully past the camp, in the other direction.]

Suledin Keep could probably withstand them, if we can take it. It's a hell of a lot sturdier than a bunch of tents, at least.

That interests two high dragons, [ Merrill agrees, rather glum. ] So we'll have to send scouts, first.

[ Poor scouts. ]

That's true. Hopefully the commotion won't get the attention of the dragons, while we're at it. I don't think they'd particularly care to take sides.

Andraste's ass....

[Korrin's expression echoes that glumness, not liking the idea of sending anyone close to those beasts without a lot of power to back them up. But Merrill has a point, and a mistake could be fatal.]

Unless they want to snag a giant or two for food, in which case they're welcome to have at them. I heard reports that there's several of those within. But if the dragons aren't going to be that convenient, it'll be time for some giant-baiting.

Creators, really? How did they manage to get giants inside the Keep?!

[ ...on second thought, she may not want to know. ]

I've never fought giants. Have you? And- do you know if the Red Templars can use normal Templar abilities?

[ Because she doesn't particularly want to deal with that, and if she can be forewarned, that will help. ]

I've fought giants before, and it's a pain in the ass, keeping close enough to fight them but far enough away not to get squashed. Never a good time.

As for Red Templars...no, they're different. [There's a hardness in her gaze now, as she recalls them.] They can shoot red lyrium at people, and the worst of them can advance red lyrium corruption in their comrades, which can get ugly fast. My advice? Keep Barrier up at all times around them. Don't let that shit near you.

Edited 2016-02-10 08:26 (UTC)

Worse if you you use a sword, I'd imagine!

[ But the talk of the Red Templars, the red lyrium... where Korrin is hard, Merrill shivers slightly. ]

I was in Kirkwall when- well, when it was discovered and became such a big deal. I had hoped not to ever have to see it again. But thank you, for the advice; I'll remember it.

[Mention of Kirkwall gains her interest, naturally.]

I read Varric's book [because of course she did] and that it was found somewhere in the Deep Roads. It's strange to think about it, hidden in some place it's likely no one would ever find, and now it's everywhere.

It is, isn't it? It's... well, more than strange, if I think about it too much.

[ "Creepy" is a good word. She tries not to think about it past that. ]

open: something grabs ahold of me tightly

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