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

[salvatore_underfoot]

"Not just mages. It should also prove to non-mages that we're not to be feared. If we're finally allowed to live among regular people, perhaps it will prove that we are, also, regular people." He laughs some. "I think you're being a little hard on them. I'm sure there are more reasons than that." But his outlook skews to positive. "But yes. I do hope there are more of us than them. And I hope that means we won't have to fight our way to freedom. I'm certainly not going back into a Circle."

[justice_is_blond]

Anders shrugs. "I've met two Templars who didn't seem to enjoy cruelty. One is dead. And I've met countless ones who see it as their Maker-set duty to go after any mage they come across until they're broken or Tranquil or dead."

Greagoir hadn't been heartless... but he hadn't cared about the fact that mages were people too.

"But now they have to see us as people, or at least pretend to, and that might seep in."

[salvatore_underfoot]

That's sobering. "I'm sorry." He tucks his pile of blankets more firmly around himself. "My experience seems to be have been more pleasant than yours. But I've heard accounts coming from other Circles. I've been fortunate."

He tries for another smile, something encouraging. "I have met good people here."

[justice_is_blond]

"There were worse Circles than where I was held, too." Anders takes a breath before shaking his head. They're preaching to the Chantry sisters, here. "All the more reason to make sure they never come back. And thankfully the good people will help with this."

He gives smiling a try as well as his voice gentles. "Of course, they're also the good people who have decided snow is a priority. I'll bet they all wish they had mages sharing their tents before we're finished out here." The smile gritted a little. "I don't mind making them jealous in the least."