faderift | open: something grabs ahold of me tightly

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

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Kain nods, indicating he's ready on his side, before starting in with the sawing. It's definitely hard enough work that it'll keep him occupied, perhaps wear him out once they've been through enough trees. He needs something like that.

"Are there? Why am I not surprised... The ones we saw before were already what I'd consider too close. It's only a matter of time, mark my words..."

Sawing with him, Korrin is able to keep a steady pace. She's no slouch physically, due to her build and training combined. As someone who now has a spirit blade in addition to a staff, Vivienne's lessons certainly haven't hurt in that respect.

"I agree. And I'm wondering just what's on the other side of that bridge that has them returning to the area. Wouldn't it be easier to just head over here and get all the food they want? What's keeping them interested in that area?

Kain keeps talking about his affinity for dragons, so maybe he has some ideas.

Kain is pleased that between them, things are off to a smooth start. He gets into a regular motion with the saw, watching it cut deeper and deeper into the large tree.

"A good question to ponder... Dragons have many motivations beyond food... perhaps that area means something to them. Perhaps there's something of value they're after. Or... who knows. I don't think they're protecting a nest, anyway." He pauses to saw a little bit more. "If they thought we were a threat to a nest, be assured we'd all already be cinders and ashes by now."

"A nest...oh, Maker, I hope not." Korrin grimaces at the thought. Two high dragons in the area are already menace enough, who wants to deal with even more? "If that's somehow true, it's all the more reason to get over there as soon as we can. Sahrnia can't withstand one dragon, let alone however many they might produce."

With that, she saws into the tree with renewed vigor. If she can't fight dragons at this moment, at least she has something to focus on. Besides, it's not yet at the point where they have to worry about it tipping over.

Exactly. The physical exertion is actually a good way to get out some frustrations, and without the threat that a real battle would entail. That will come soon enough anyway, he's certain.

"Right... I don't think that's what's happening... it would be the worst case scenario, though, if an agitated mother dragon comes upon us. Not even a dragoon wants to tangle with one of those." That's pretty much insane to try, without good reason. "Still, we'd best be wary, and prepared. These dragons aren't going to hang back for long. They're just biding their time."

"I want to argue that, but I'm sure you're right. Andraste's ass, we'd better repair that bridge before they wipe out every bit of progress we've made in this area. It won't matter if we take the keep or free the villagers if they're blasted into the Void by ice breath."

Korrin scowls, trying to think about what else it could be. "Red lyrium's all over the pace on this side. I wonder if it's over there? Perhaps the dragons are protecting it from that fate...or worse, it's already happened and they're becoming tainted by it. Maker, that's a horrific thought."

“If red lyrium is as horrific as you’ve all informed me, then a dragon influenced by that stuff…” He trails off, making a face, as he still continues steadily sawing away on his side. He definitely doesn’t like the thought. A dragon, he knows what he’s up against, but add in something like that, something unpredictable… and not even a dragoon can know what to expect.

“We really should have had someone dealing with the dragons right away.” He would have jumped at the chance, literally. “So, it sounds like your dragons also associate with different elements? They do on my world as well. Ice, you mentioned, fire undoubtedly, I assume lightning as well?”

"Ice, fire, lightning, probably other stuff. I fought a high dragon once before, and it was the fire-breathing sort. I'm so glad it wasn't lightning-based, or I would have been so fucked at the time. I didn't learn other elements until later."

Korrin's quiet for a moment, frowning as her thoughts turn to that night in Haven. "Corypheus' dragon is tainted by red lyrium. It has to be; I didn't get a close-up view, but it's breath was red, and not the red of flames. Fighting that thing will be a nightmare, if we get a chance."

Kain nods as she explains the elements, that's all pretty much normal, something he's used to. He likes when he can find some common ground to his home, something makes this world feel less alien. Then things get brought up like the lyrium and he doesn't know what to think.

"That's dreadful. How do you even..." He pauses to give some especially heavy pushes with the saw. "How do you even fight something like that and keep from going mad?"

"When I find out, I'll let you know. Seriously, I'm not even sure my Barrier spell would do much against it. That the damned thing didn't get closer is something I don't take for granted."

Several more moments of hard sawing, and Korrin glances at their progress. "I think this one's almost there."

"I'd hope to be there in that battle as well. I didn't realize our main enemy had a dragon... but that's a battle I'm more than prepared to handle." Really, it's going to be tough, he knows that, but he's only ever confident when speaking about his battle capabilities.

"Right... here it goes!" The tree is starting to tilt and begin its fall...

Korrin stands back and smirks as it tilts and falls to the ground with a satisfying crack and thud. "Too bad a Red Templar wasn't under it, hm? We'll need a few more of those."

She gestures to another tree, ready to continue. "Don't underestimate the dragon. If it is an archdemon or close, they're more powerful than the typical sort. There's a reason why the Blight almost overtake the world each time they happen; if dragon-slaying skills was all it took, the Nevarrans would have saved the world several times over."

"Or a manikin," Kain mumbles under his breath, unable to resist the thought of his old least favorite enemies being shoved under there. "Too bad though, the red templars certainly deserve it." He's hated and been disturbed by their nature since the first moment he'd seen them. It feels good to have a new enemy to shift that loathing onto.

He grabs his side of the saw to help carry it over. "A dragon enhanced by demonic powers... can it possibly get any worse. Still, I don't plan to underestimate it. Dragons on the whole never should be." Even ones that are more than what he's used to dealing with.

"Good. It's bound to be worse than the dragons flying on the other side of that bridge. At least you can trust those to just kill you; that thing's taint-breath probably does something even worse, if you survive it."

Ugh, why does she give herself such mental images? Korrin shakes her head. "Not that it's been seen in Emprise du Lion, though, so I suppose we should just concentrate on what's around us instead."

"I'd be willing to take that risk if a day ever came to battle it."

After all, this isn't his world, and Kain has occasionally wondered if perhaps he might just... end up elsewhere should he perish in this one. Would he finally return home? Not that it matters all that much for the moment, there's no rush. He'd like the chance to prove himself, really, to defeat this dragon.

"Right, deal with the immediate threats first and then the big looming ones... though it seems you don't want to leave this demon and his allies at large for too long..." Which is why all the in-fighting annoys him, and why he'll have no part of it all. Just point him and his spear at true threats, he can handle that.

"Believe me, I haven't forgotten your enthusiasm." Korrin's lips twitch, more amused at his attempt to sneak off and fight them now that it's in the past. She saws away, careful to keep pace with him since they have to work in tandem.

"I agree. You weren't there for what happened at Haven, but you must have heard about it by now. I don't want a repeat of that at Skyhold or anywhere else. The question is; where is he hiding? A darkspawn magister with an enormous tainted dragon isn't exactly low-profile. I'd thought -hoped, maybe- that all the red lyrium and Red Templars here would give us a lead. If it's going to be a hellhole, it should at least give us that much."

"I can't help it. I was made to deal with dragons..." It's his one huge speciality, the thing he's trained to emulate all of this time.

Kain saws away quietly for a moment. "No... of course you don't want an attack of that scale to happen... Is there nowhere that's a likely location? No hidden dark caverns or... ruins on the moon he can lurk in?" He gives a good tug on the saw, adding, "Notice I spoke about that sober this time." Yes, he went into space, it's completely true.

Korrin snorts at that, amused that he remembered those less-than-sober times well enough to recall that now. Given his state with the marass-lok, she wouldn't have bet on that. "I do notice, and it still sounds crazy. You're consistent, though, I'll give you that. But I suppose it's possible that he sought out the Deep Roads. Just about anything can hide there, because who wants to delve into a place full of nothing but ruins and wave after wave of darkspawn?"

Oh yes. Kain remembers. He may not have it all entirely clear in his head, but he definitely remembered the moon thing for it coming up so much. "If any of my comrades from home ever appear, they'll prove my words one day. I swear it." He saws away steadily. "The Deep Roads... How unpleasant. Is this some underground location?" Just the sound of it obviously gives that much away. Hm. It sounds either like a great challenge or a horrible place to ever go, depending on things.

"Not just one location; they are -or -were- underground roads spanning all of Thedas, a vast dwarven empire. The First Blight wiped out most of their holdings and now what's left is mainly crumbling ruin and darkspawn. It's rarely worth it to go down there, so most don't bother. Which isn't to say that I haven't been hired for a mission or few, some years ago."

And those missions are why she's not in a hurry to go back. Ogres really don't mess around, or emissaries or other, worse, things. Just thinking about them has her sawing with renewed vigor.

"We dragoons aren't too fond of such locations either. Jumping isn't as effective underground." He's a creature of the air, definitely not the earth. He doesn't look too pleased at the rest of the description either. "Considering all of that it sounds like the ideal location for someone to have their hidden evil lair..."

Really, if no one goes down there and these darkspawn are guarding the place in a sense... it really would be perfect for this sort of thing.

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open: something grabs ahold of me tightly

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