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

[heda]

[ When Asher first begins to move toward her Lexa studies him over the rim of her mug, letting it obscure her face until she is sure that despite the initial resemblance he is not one of her people. If he were she could no doubt order him not to reveal her identity, but it is easier to avoid that complication.

She sips at the wine in her cup as he sits, and looks at him with eyes that are still cool and grey even in the torchlight. A shrug of narrow shoulders comes with his answer, voice not especially loud despite the noise. ]

Sit where you like.

[ A pause where she looks him over obviously, as if she hasn't already made a far more subtle assessment. One brow tilts in question. ]

You're with the Inquisition?

[hlif]

[Before he says anything he stretches, pops both shoulders and sets his axe down so it's in easy reach - that's just old habit, even though this sort of tavern isn't likely to kick off. Too many tired people, too many hungry people at that.]

Just. Don't know if the ink's even dry yet.

[It is, but well, new is new, he was barely settled in Skyhold before deciding it was a good idea to come out here.]

And you? [Asher doesn't do subtle well, his staring more open than most are comfortable with, squinting before he raises his drink.] Don't know what it is but something...you remind me of someone. Might be the hair.

[But you travel as much as he has - and take as many blows to the head - and faces and places can start to blur, impressions too.]

[heda]

[ Lexa flickers a glance at the axe as he sets it down, making sure she knows precisely how easy a reach that is and where it is in relation to her, as well. But she makes her attention seem nervous rather than calculating. If her face is familiar there is nothing else about her to suggest the commander he encountered, her clothes drab and simple, her posture contained, curled inward, not quite meek but definitely wary, shy of making eye contact. She makes herself smaller when he says she reminds him of someone, looking down into her cup and giving her head a little shake. ]

I don't know you.

[ She touches her hair with quick fingers, dirt under blunt nails. ]

What are you doing here? For the Inquisition.

[hlif]

Right then.

[Too many tavern brawls always has Asher watching but everyone here is acting twitchy, so he drops it, taking a moment to think about the answer. Or pretending to. There aren't any noble intentions here unless honesty counts.]

It's an investment. [Melisende and Liadan's words, not his originally but they are now.] I join up, the crew help out where they can but take on other work, we get to say we helped out, fought crazy shit, future employers line up because they know we can take on anything. Better to have the mercenaries on your side.

[Live and die by your reputation and Asher already has one but it never hurts to pad it out while he still has all his limbs in working order.]

And you? You signed up too?

[heda]

Mercenaries. [ This makes more sense, and also helps Lexa place him in her memory, though that part she is careful not to let show on her face. (Once she has she's surprised it took even that long to do so.) She accompanies this echo with a nod, shallow, but she does it twice for good measure. And then a little twitch to the side. ]

No. I might. Is it mostly mercenaries? I heard the Inquisition was supposed to be about helping people, not making coin.

[ It's not clear which of these goals she's more interested in, but she's definitely interested, eyes going narrower as she watches him for the answer even though she still avoids making direct eye contact for more than fleeting moments. ]

[hlif]

I like soldiers of fortune better, sounds classier, too many hopped up bandits think they’re really something. [Delusions of grandeur are only ever his style when he gets to make himself sound good and sort of ridiculous, usually meeting with a potential employer - they think he’s stupid, they look down their noses at an elven woman for his second and think they can con them. Asher enjoys proving them wrong.]

They’ve recruited plenty of mages, mostly the former Circle mages I think but mage problems are mage problems, not my business. Templars too, bothering mages because they don’t have anything else to do to occupy themselves, probably pissing themselves without the Chantry to take them in hand as it were. Lots of Dalish, thought they were all one clan for a bit but they’re not, but more Dalish than I’ve seen in one place. Grey Wardens too. Those are the main groups I can think of that I’ve seen for definite, might be others lurking about too. [He pops his knuckles loudly, drawing a glance their way until he stares long enough that the man returns to his drink. The part of him that always finds something to seize upon has him curling his lip in half a smile, a wolf smile, all hungry and sharp.] Who says you can’t help people and make coin. Pragmatism always wins the day where I’m from.

jfc this is also super late

[heda]

[ Her eyes narrow a little as his list goes on, a line furrowed in between her brows at all the peoples the Inquisition is collecting beneath its banner. It could be consternation as easily as concern, and she lowers her eyes and keeps them down, head tilted toward her hands at first and moreso after that look he gives that cows the man across the way so easily. It's a submissive sort of posture, like she's shrinking beneath the sheer force of his presence. It's work to go so hard against her own nature, but she's always liked a challenge. She could've more easily sent someone else to do this for her, after all.

She keeps her face down and her fingers knit together as she asks, as if the very idea is intimidating, ] Such a great army. What will they do with them all?

[hlif]

[Lexa if you stab him in the eye he’s going to be kind of mad. Melisende does this sort of thing sometimes when she’s sat next to him, when people don’t know she’s the brains of the organisation outside of a battle strategy. She makes herself small, doesn’t ever dare to look defiant especially when they’re in Orlais where she never lets herself meet the eyes of the nobles lest they think she’s a defiant mouthy knife-ear.

It’s always her and Liadan’s idea to overcharge the particularly rude ones.

Still, he’s got a younger sister and he sinks down a bit, swigging his drink as he gives her foot a nudge.]

Relax, s’not the end of the world just yet, plenty of time to crack a smile, you don’t want to be carried up to the Lady with a face that could curdle milk do you?

[How to be charming Asher style.]

If I was in charge? Tell the Chantry to get fucked, tell Orlais to stop fannying about and probably get fucked, kick Tevinter for good measure and go after everything that’s butchering innocent people in the name of some great old Tevinter twat. But unfortunately I’m not in charge, I don’t think anyone else, just the advisors that were there from the start and no more Herald.