Into the DANGER ZONE

[faderifting]

WHO: All Rifters + the 7 natives who signed up
WHAT: Searching the ruins of Haven for survivors, an Inquisition crew finds something strange. And demons. It's kind of scary that the demons aren't the strange thing.
WHEN: Third week of Harvestmere, 9:41
WHERE: Haven
NOTES: We've broken rifters and rescuers (or "rescuers") into two groups. This log has an arrival comment for each group--you can start smaller subthreads beneath those rather than try to have an eight- or nine-person log, just incorporate surrounding chaos/fighting--and a third top-level set for the whole group's journey back to Skyhold

You were asleep-- deeply or fitfully, for the last time or just resting your eyes for a moment-- and then you were not. And wherever you were was not, anymore, replaced by nothing but the sensation of falling, tumbling into endless, bottomless nothing. If this were still a dream, you would wake before you hit the ground. You can't die in a dream, they say. In some worlds.

But there's no waking here, just a flare of green-white light and a jarring impact, barely softened by snow that lies a foot deep with an icy crust that cracks beneath the force of your landing. The wind is biting cold, the sun is bright, and you are not alone. Others thud to the ground nearby, as bewildered as you, and others run up who look no less confused for having their feet beneath them.

You are also not as you were: in the palm of your left hand there glows a narrow splinter of light the same sickly green as whatever brought you here. It aches, a bone-deep pain that gnaws even through all the distractions. Like that you're being attacked by monsters, some tall, spindly stick-things with too many eyes, some hunched and hooded with no eyes at all.

Welcome to Thedas!

Comments

[arlathvhen]

"You're probably right." Beleth replied, glancing over at the group in question. "I hope the Inquisition isn't going to be awful to them, or anything...I'd feel bad leading them all the way to Skyhold, just to slam them in the dungeon. We told them that we'd offer them a place that's safe. I won't feel right, if we tell them that, and surprise, the safe place is the bottom of some dank dungeon."

She sighed, setting down onto the ground. "Real, before the Fade. Do you think it's possible that they...fell into a rift, and fell out of this one...? I mean. That'd involve going into the Fade in physical form, but. The Herald just did it, didn't she? When she survived the conclave."

[colecomfort]

It would be disappointing if the people in Skyhold acted cruelly to these people — particularly after how eager they were to follow the Herald. Cole looks over at them as well, considering. Listening.

"They sing the same as she did. But softer." It's his way of agreeing.

[arlathvhen]

She tilted her head, then turned to look at the others again. They didn't seem to be singing to her...? She glances at Cole, a curious look in her eyes. He seemed nice enough, he'd already been okay with her forgetting him. "I don't understand. What do you mean by singing...?" An odd man, she thought. But nice enough.

[colecomfort]

"The marks. They sing. High, sharp, and clean, a melody that cuts to the core and leaves no wound. Bloodless, burning, bright, shining forth from their hands."

His voice has gone tremulous, worshipful.

"Not everyone hears it. But everyone who followed Her still knows the song."

[arlathvhen]

"..." Oh, Creators. The boy was a bit addled, wasn't he? Had he been like that before they got spooked with the rift? She'll have to ask Gavin to make sure, but it appeared that the poor lad wasn't the sharpest arrow in the quiver. Did the Inquisition send him to a place as dangerous as Haven knowing that? Well! That was just pushing a line.

She decided that she was going to make sure he was alright, until they could take him to a healer. Keep an eye on him while they headed back to Skyhold.

"I never met her, I don't think I know the song. But that's alright, I'm glad that they do know it. That'll make it easier for them to fit in."

[colecomfort]

"Only if people want to believe them." That's the worry. Not everybody can hear, and not everyone will believe they could be kind. The Herald was believed because people thought Andraste led her out. These ones just... fell.

"It's good that you were here when they arrived. And Gavin, and Korrin, and Adelaide. You all want to help."