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]

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.

[chainlightning]

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.

[gatheringstorm]

[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.

[chainlightning]

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. ]