[ 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

[ombranera]

The shove knocks her back hard, skull cracking against the stone- leaving her too dazed to bring more than the knife up in a clumsy swing that does nothing against the ax and spirit blade. Bull's blow cleaves into her chest, cutting off her shriek with a wet gurgle- Korrin's blade severs it at her throat.

With the distraction provided by he bloodmage someone ducks around the corner at the intersection to the left and hurls something down the hall, bright, shining, with a burning fuse.

[qunari]

Shit.

The hissing catches his ear as he turns away from the gory mess, watching that sputtering light sail into view. Without hesitation he's stepping in front of Korrin to take the brunt of the explosion.

Of course, if she wants to cast her barrier again, now would be an excellent time. But he's got no notion of where her mana stores are at, and better him than their team's only mage.

"Down!"

[quietblade]

He can't hear the warning from Bull, but he can see the object being thrown and turns quickly, dropping down with Beleth to cover her with his body. He would save her; he could make sure she wouldn't die like Ashaad had died next to him on Seheron, torn apart by an explosion as well.

Korrin's barriers were the only things that would be able to save them from this, and that still didn't mean that the grenade (or whatever it was) couldn't take out the ceiling as well.

Or...?

"Freeze it!"

Ice magic might stop the fuse.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin looks away just in time to see that burning fuse and doesn't hesitate to act when Iron Bull steps in front of her. Barrier is definitely on her mind and Korrin renews the spell for the sake of the others far more than herself, since hers is still strong.

If they're lucky, that will be enough. If not...Taas's idea isn't a bad one, and she gives it a shot. At least there's one ice spell she knows well enough, and the Vashoth mage works on casting it now, hoping to encase the thing in ice before it explodes.

[arlathvhen]

A lot of things are happening, and Beleth can't do much but watch them unfold. The bloodmage is killed, and she starts to think that maybe the worst of this is over. But then there's something being thrown at them, Bull's telling them to get down, and quite suddenly, she is down, and surrounded by a wall of qunari soldier. She feels like she ought to protest, because the idea of him getting hurt protecting her is incredibly unpleasant. But she's pretty sure he wouldn't move anyway.

His suggestion is a good one, though, and Beleth waits tensely, to hear either an explosion, or a confirmation that everything is safe.

[ombranera]

The ice spell does half the work for it- cracking the shell against the surge of heat. No explosion- but a sticky, globbing spatter of fire- half formed and half frozen washes against Korrin's barrier. A sharp crack of flint and steel signals a second volley, another grenade similar to the first. They can hold or run further down the hall to their left.

[qunari]

Well that's one way to handle the danger. But it's not the end, not by a long shot. Bull jerks his head down the hall, not wanting to stay and have to defend this position if they don't have to. Too many points of weakness to try and guard.

"Let's move!"

Though he'll keep himself between the mage and the next grenade, just in case.