[ CLOSED ] THE ANTIVAN CROWS SEND THEIR REGARDS

[ombranera]

WHO: Alistair, Araceli Bonaventura, Beleth Ashara, Anders Detlef, Korrin Ataash, Taashath, The Iron Bull, Twisted Fate, an Zevran Arainai. Guest Starring: Samouel, Cyril, and Merrick, Super Special Guest Star: Leliana.
WHAT: The Crows come for the Ombra Nera.
WHEN: Begins Guardian 6
WHERE: Skyhold/Antivan Border/The Road
NOTES: CW/TW FOR: Flesh hommonculi, violent/gruesome content, torture, blood magic, non-consensual drug use, adult content, adult language, reader discretion is advised. Sign up post, original plotting post, hit me on PM or @ thesouthernbelle if you have questions.

It's a normal morning in Thedas until, abruptly, it isn't. The Crows come calling; they are swift, they are certain, they are silent and leave behind but one witness that won't be alive for much longer (or so they assume). Prize in hand they ride North for Antiva.

Subthreads for portions of the plot are yours to tag around in as you like!

Comments

[qunari]

Taas gets a look, briefly, but he's not here to argue his point of view. Doesn't matter whether or not he agrees, only what he does. Anders has a fair point as well...

But that girl that piped up just proved what he'd suspected. Wasn't the first time he'd fought people who'd really rather have not, who didn't have any other choice. Slaves in Tevinter and recruits for the Crows shared more in common than he really had a liking for.

Not to say they shouldn't keep a close eye on them. Bull turns his eyes towards the girl. "...he knows what being a Crow entails. Better than the rest of us. And he's just proven why being loyal to them might not be their best bet."

[justice_is_blond]

He can't kill someone who has asked for mercy, though, and sanctuary. If she's been held, forced... Anders sighs and shakes his head.

"He has." His stern tone has vanished, become more hesitant. Justice is even torn - if she's been pressed to do this against her will, she deserves an advocate. On the other hand, if she'd had any dealings in what happened to Zevran, where's the justice in showing her mercy?

"How much did you have to do with what was done to him?" The question is directed to the girl that's spoken.

[arlathvhen]

"We didn't offer Zevran sanctuary, that was the Hero of Fereldan. He came to the Inquisition of his own free will, after he had ten years to prove himself." Bull may have grabbed Taas' axe, but Beleth's bow is still aimed at the prisoners. "We're being merciful just making it quick and clean. Think about it--what would they do if they had won and we had been captured? And what are we going to do, if we drag them back?"

She turned to Bull, though her bow never wavered. "Do you want to explain to Leliana, Josephine, and Cullen why we have a gaggle of Crows that were trying to kill us just hours ago? They'll just throw them in the cells and forget about them."

Those nerves that had been getting more and more frayed with each passing day had a new path, and anger given a new purpose--to keep a promise, to give vengeance to one of her clanmates, and her teacher. She's careful in how she phrases everything, however. Calm. Methodical. Sensical. She doesn't want to appear as someone murdering for the sake of murder.

[gatheringstorm]

"Sanctuary? After what you did? Fuck off."

Not at all inclined towards mercy of any sort after what the Crows have done to Zevran, Korrin stares at the lot of them with barely-contained rage simmering in her eyes. Even so, her temper is leagues more controlled than Taas', and she remains close to her Tal-Vashoth friend. She rests a hand on his arm, her glance upward saying that she completely agrees with him even as the result may not be in their hands.

"We could drag them back to Skyhold, but what they ought to get is a round of executions. We might as well save them the paperwork and do it ourselves."

[byblow]

"No," Alistair says.

And that's it. It's sullen, tired, and quiet, from where he's hanging behind the others. He's furious, too. He doesn't really want to be a voice of moderation. But making the Iron Bull and maybe Detlef do it alone isn't fair.

So: no. There's his vote. He'll grate out further explanation later if he has to.

[ombranera]

"We go with you, we die, you leave us behind, we die, you kill us now, you kill us later-" A man grumbles off to one side, voice biting and frustrated- hurriedly hushed by one of the others. The girl again turns her eyes to Alistair, putting together the armor, that he'd been the one to cut Zevran down, scrabbling with what she knew of the Ombra Nera.

"We guarded the stables- or cooked. We are cuchillos. Not trusted with high value targets or information. We did not know who they were bringing or why." To Alistair, as he must know, did know, what it is to be a Crow. "Please."

[qunari]

"Yeah. Real danger to our people."

His gaze cuts towards Korrin. There it was. The reason no one trusted Tal-Vashoth. That blood-frenzy, that anger, always gets the better of them without something to temper it. His lips thin, and it's only the urgency of the situation that keeps him from bringing it up.

Not the time. Later. If ever.

[justice_is_blond]

Anders takes in a breath and releases it before shaking his head again. What a mess.

"If they are what they say, then killing them would be murder. If they are not, Zevran will know, and we can kill them then. We..." He trails off, looking around. "I suggest we chain them and bring them along."

It will mean extra guard duty, and guard duty that he wouldn't be taking a turn on, likely, as he'll be needed for healing, but it seems worth it if they're being honest.

[arlathvhen]

"Well, there we have it. They said that they're just stablehands and cooks." Beleth is trying to remember to be soft-spoken, to be sweet and quiet and meek, but she's had to put up with a lot of shit and the snideness creeps into her voice. "It's a good thing Crows don't lie, especially when their life is in danger, or this would be really difficult."

She glances at Alistair, then at Detlef, her lips twisting. Zevran would want to let them live. She knows it. That's what he told her. Maybe things would be different now, but--Ugh. Ughhhh.

"There's no guarantee they won't be executed when we get back to Skyhold, and we'll just waste a lot of time and effort dragging them there."

[quietblade]

Taas still can't follow what the others are saying, so he'll just keep his eyes on the girl speaking instead. She sounded sincere, of course, but what did that mean? Nothing. Anyone could sound sincere, try to worm their way to freedom in a situation like this.

Even if she was completely innocent of all this, it could still be a trap. How many times on Seheron had there been 'rescued' people turning on their 'saviors' by slitting their throat at night, poisoning them, or even unknowingly bringing explosives or other lethal things into a group?

The warrior didn't know much about how the Crows worked and he didn't exactly go around asking Zevran, either, but this was still a gamble.

[gatheringstorm]

Were it not for Krem, Korrin would have flipped off his chief for that look. As it is, she remains close to Taas, her own expression echoing distrust that has not faded one iota. "And you believe that rot? Of course they'd say anything to save their own necks.

But fine, do what you want with them. Just don't expect me to babysit." Or be merciful if they try to escape.

[byblow]

"I don't care if they're lying," Alistair says--looking back at the girl, and enough of a sucker for eye contact and apparent sincerity that he briefly crooks one corner of his mouth up for her. Calling it a smile would be incredibly charitable, with how far it falls from reaching his eyes, but the intent is there. "We'll sort it out later."

And figure out who's doing the babysitting when they're out of here.

[qunari]

"Maybe you've forgotten, but I've got a good sense for when people are lying."

That one's aimed directly at Korrin, before he glances back at Alistair with a nod. Maybe they'll need to sleep with one eye open, but that would have likely been the case anyway.

If it comes down to it, he'll watch them. But they're running short on time to make that decision.

[arlathvhen]

She wants to keep making snide remarks, lash out at the others with anger, if they won't let her do it on these prisoners. Her fingers are itching to let go, just let go, and deal with the consequences after she's killed them. That Korrin and Taas agree with her doesn't help.

But Alistair is there and he's her friend (she thinks??? she hopes. she would feel awkward about drooling on him in her sleep at least twice if he wasn't). And her constant care as to how she is seen by others is just as much ingrained as the anger. Without much better arguments than I want to kill them because I want them dead, she lowers her bow, shooting Korrin and Taas an apologetic look.

"We can wait for Zevran. He's the injured party."

[wickedchase]

"Oh, enough of this."

Twisted Fate sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "They can be useful. The Inquisition is all about resources, and if they're willing to surrender, make use of them. That's practical. Valuable. And there's more than enough of us, obviously, who would do anything to look out for our own. Surrender was the smart choice for them. Anyone else care to debate murder, or are we done bickering?"

[foxsays]

Sighing, she moves to stand by Twisted Fate, hands still tight around the hilts of her blades, too tired now for her temper to take over. She's nodding before he's done, eyeing the surrendered Crows thoughtfully before she speaks.

"All of us have made the journey to and from Skyhold and yet they still managed to get in. Merrick was taken out too in the attack but they took one of us from somewhere that should be near impregnable. When someone flies the white flag, then that should be respected else you're little better than them. Or are we assassins now too without a shred of honour between us?" The anger does manage to creep back for that but she doesn't want to be part of killing them. In a battle then yes, or in an ambush when fighting to get in but this...this doesn't sit right with her, twisting her stomach in knots.

[ombranera]

"We did not know." The girl's voice cracks over the word. It is suspect that they were so far from the fight, that their bags were packed, that they were hiding in the stables- "We were going to-"

"Vita." one of the other women, dark of hair and eye and skin, fingers tipped in ink hissed, shooting her a glare. "They do not care."

"Run." A man that had been quiet even in the face of an arrow finishes for her. "We were going to run. The Ombra Nera managed it...and we thought- It does not matter. Whatever you wish to know? We will tell you."

He glances at the other five, meeting their eyes in turn. "Whatever you ask, we will answer."

[justice_is_blond]

"Yes. That's exactly what a hardened Crow would say. Ask questions and we'll answer them." He crosses his arms, starting to feel a little cross but aware the source is more tiredness than anything else.

"As it looks like we're agreed that they're living and coming with us, I'm going back to seeing to my patient." Break's over, as un-relaxing as it had been. At least he's certain that Bull and Alistair have this under control and the others are folding. Anders has another life to worry about more right now, and with a nod he's heading back to where Zevran is.

[byblow]

Alistair nods at Detlef; it's a very grateful nod, beyond an acknowledging one, and it takes every bit of his limited capacity for pragmatism not to follow him. But he isn't going to leave the Iron Bull and Araceli to be reasonable here alone, and Fate is right.

He steps forward, finally, to crouch down closer to eye level with one of the young Crows on the floor.

"Is there anything here that might help us? Information, or--can you help me look? We'll need to make sure they don't come after him again. Or after all of you."

[ombranera]

Vita, the one that begged, glances back to the rest of the group before swallowing. "I- they kept letters in one of the back rooms. Some of it is coded but- I can show you."

Matters that went over their heads. The one that spoke earlier to hush Vita, the mage follows Detlef with her eyes but says nothing. The remainder do their best to huddle and look either helpful or innocent.

[arlathvhen]

They'd been planning to run? How convenient. It certainly sounds good, to bring Zevran in as an example to be admired in front of a group of people that obviously cared a great deal for him. And even if it were true, she'd made a promise. But the decision has been made, and there's no help for it, not right now.

But it's a long trip back to Skyhold, and accidents can happen. And Beleth is a patient woman. She can wait. Her expression stays neutral, but her eyes are intent on the fledglings, and her bow is lowered, but still notched, just waiting for an excuse.

"Should we split up again, then? A few of us go with her and get what information we can, and then everyone else guards the rest?" She scans the group carefully. "Unless anyone else has remembered anything useful. We'll be sure to tell the people back at Skyhold who was a helpful sort, for what it's worth."

[byblow]

Alistair nods twice. Once for Vita, and again for Beleth. When he stands back up it's to hold a hand down to the girl, to help her up onto her feet, and he looks at the Iron Bull. "Maybe you should go with her. You have an eye for this sort of thing, right?" An eye. But he didn't mean it that way. He doesn't even notice.

He does raise his eyebrows though, expression meant to convey if you know what I mean. The two of them and Araceli should probably split up, if they're splitting, rather than potentially leaving Beleth, Taas, and Korrin alone with their anger and five captives.

[qunari]

Bull nods. "We can take a look around." And if Vita tries anything while they're alone, it's less likely to meet with any success, for any number of reasons.

Meanwhile, the more violent-minded of their group -- and how is he not a member of that group, for a change? -- are probably better off in Alistair's hands. Considering two of them aren't really inclined to listen to him if they don't have to. Cultural tensions and all that.

[ombranera]

The mage nudges Vita to stand and stands herself, rolling out her shoulders. "I know where they kept what they give him."

Vita skitters to her feet, eyes wide on Bull, flicking between him and Alistair before swallowing. "The- uh- the traps- Teresa, they-"

"We got big Qunari escort and you worried 'bout darts. They tripped or we goan walk through 'em. We be fine." The mage reaches out and flicks the back of Vita's ear, a chiding gesture. "We no need Nico."

Two of them going with Bull is probably pushing it already.