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

On the road - OTA

[colecomfort]

On the journey to Haven, the degree to which Cole's presence was known had been variable. Gavin, at least, had been startled every time he'd noticed Cole, had needed reminding that they were traveling together. While the elf had always warmed to him following the initial shock, the others in the party — Cole included — had been treated a few times to stories Gavin couldn't remember telling.

On the way back, his presence is more constant. He is quiet, for the most part, but he is there, walking along with the rest of them. When they stop on the first evening, he assists in setting up, then stays somewhat apart, sitting with crossed legs on the periphery of the camp. He does not appear to have his own tent.

Anyone who passes closely enough will be able to hear him murmuring, as his finger traces patterns in the palm of his left hand:

"Shattered, scattering, falling through the Fade. Pressed, then pulled from the stream. Fish flopping on the shore, against the stones. This isn't their world."

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin's been far too busy in Haven both before the rift erupted and after to really take notice of a skinny boy in a wide-brimmed hat. When it's not about energizing debris to get at supplies or corpses, or about defending agents/strange new people from demons, it's about observing the area to make sure nothing catches them off-guard. They don't need an ambush before they get to Skyhold.

Passing by to get a better look at the way ahead, the qunari mage catches some of that murmuring. She glances over to that hand when he traces patterns in it, at first expecting to see one of those slivers but relieved when she doesn't. It's less about it being weird Fade stuff than it is about how it affected the Herald, and what it might do to these new people. Whatever they are, they shouldn't have to suffer as she did.

"...you noticed that too, huh? I miss it when this world used to make sense. Well, more sense." But it hasn't ever since the explosion at the Temple of Sacred Ashes, and she's resigning herself to the fact that it's just not going to for the time being.

[colecomfort]

"There's sense. We just can't see it, yet." Cole's words are hesitant only because he isn't certain she's going to understand what he means. If something exists, if something happened, it must make sense. Even if it's a kind of sense you don't normally run into.

"They were pulled." His left hand closes softly, fingers curling toward his palm. "Anchors are heavy."

[gatheringstorm]

"I'm waiting for when it does, but something tells me it won't be for a long time." Unable to deny that comment about anchors, and wondering how the rift-folk will fare with them, Korrin sighs. "I don't envy them those things, if they're anything like what she had."

The Herald. Korrin doesn't want to think about another losing their life in such a fashion, but how can she not? As much as it was a symbol of hope to her before, to many, now she looks at those slivers and wonders what it will cost the ones bearing them.

[colecomfort]

Nor should she. His hand curls in on itself a little tighter.

"Shards, splinters, buried beneath the skin. They hurt."

[gatheringstorm]

She frowns at that but nods, unsurprised.

"That's what they said, at least those I spoke to earlier. I wish there was something we could give them for that, but the potions we have only help with normal wounds. I doubt the people at Skyhold will be able to do more for them."

Though at least they can be concerned and confused with adequate shelter and supplies. That's not nothing.

[colecomfort]

The people at Skyhold? No, not much. One person, perhaps.

"Solas will come back." It's a certainty now. He stayed before because of the Herald. He'll stay again for these ones.

[arlathvhen]

She doesn't remember seeing Cole on the way to Haven. But as they'd just suddenly gathered a lot of new people, her only thought is that he must be one of the strangers that had fallen through the Rift. Once the camp is set up, Beleth wanders past to drag some firewood over to the fire. She pauses when she hears his words, and drops the log, going over to him.

There's some rummaging around in her pockets, before a big of jerky is produced. They'd brought extra food with them, in case they found survivors--A fool's hope, of course, but it made them feel better. Just in case. Which certainly helped out with the sudden influx of people. The jerky is presented to Cole, as well as a comforting pat on the shoulder.

"Hey, don't worry. I don't think you guys are demons, okay? Don't let anyone else tell you differently." It made sense to her--A frazzled young man overhearing someone saying he's not from this world. The only other world, naturally, being the Fade. "We'll figure out where you guys are from. It'll be okay."

[colecomfort]

He accepts the jerky, not wanting to refuse her kindness even if he won't eat any of it. If he had to squirrel some away, he'd leave it for the animals in the morning.

"I'm not one of the others," he answers hesitantly. Had she seen him at all while they were traveling to Haven? Maybe she needs a reminder. "I'm Cole."

[arlathvhen]

For a few moments, all he gets is a blank stare. Then she blinks, and her face immediately turns aghast, clasping her hands over her mouth. "Yes! You were talking to Gavin--Oh, I cant' believe I completely forgot! I'm so sorry." That was weird. Beleth wasn't some kind of master of memory, but to forget someone entirely...Whoops. "I'm so sorry, um--Wow. But...do you mean the others are from the Fade?" She furrowed her brow, glancing over at the others. Especially that elven woman, who seemed to....glow. It was like one of the Creators had stepped out into the real world. "They don't seem like demons. Not that I've personally met any that weren't trying to kill me."

[colecomfort]

"I don't think they're demons." He isn't sure. He's not an expert on that sort of thing — Solas should be able to tell more easily.

But he knows how they feel.

"They were real before they fell out of the Fade. That shouldn't happen... but it did."

[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.

[slipshot]

"I haven't seen any fish," Gavin said, from somewhere off to Cole's side as he looked at the strange young man. Something about him was familiar, as if Gavin had once seen him in a dream, or something. But no - that was ridiculous. He'd never seen him in his life.

"Sorry, I thought I'd introduced myself to everyone, but I guess we haven't met. I'm Gavin. You're with the Inquisition, too?" Why else would he be here? It might have bothered him, a bit, but for some reason it just seemed natural that the human would be there, and just as natural that for whatever reason, Gavin didn't know him at all.

[colecomfort]

Cole offered him a smile. It was warm, if a little bit sad.

"You still don't remember. Hello, Gavin. I'm Cole."

[slipshot]

A frown almost flickered - as if recognition was just beyond him, but then he simply offered a sheepish smile.

"Sorry. Normally I'm not so forgetful, I guess. It's nice to meet you, anyway - again, as the case may apparently be!" He laughed at that, even though something in the back of his mind was still bugging him about it.

"Are you hungry at all? I snagged a few cookies before we left - they always seem to make the rations go down easier."

[colecomfort]

"Crumbs melting into sweet against the salt... It's good that you brought them along. But I'm not hungry." Which was true. Which was always true. Cole used to wonder why he never felt hungry — now, it was just part of what he was.

[slipshot]

Gavin smiles, something between surprise and fondness.

"Crumbs melting into sweet against the salt," He repeats to himself. "I like that. You have a beautiful way with words, Cole. Even if they make me incredibly hungry," He added in a teasing tone, fetching out a cookie for himself, and nibbling on it. Yes. The description had been perfectly accurate, and it makes his smile widen. "You don't mind if I steal that for a story some time, do you?"

[wontforgetyou]

In some ways, some of this is familiar to Jamie. Not the actual area they're passing through, of course, although he knows more than enough about mountains to know when he's in the middle of them. But it's not the first time he's found himself somewhere new, surrounded by strangers and trying to figure out what's going on. Because of that, it doesn't even occur to him to question Cole's presence at the edge of camp. He might not have remembered him being tangled up in that fight earlier, but it'd been a chaotic situation, like any battle. For all he knew, Cole had been there somewhere and Jamie'd simply missed him. He didn't know anyone here. It was hard to keep track.

He doesn't miss that murmuring, however. As restlessness drives to him to the edge of camp, he hears the quiet words just off to one side, and rather than wrap his arms around himself and stare out at the snow he finds himself turning towards the young man, his head tilting slightly to one side as he listens. By the end of it, something curious has crept into his expression, and it remains there as he lifts his chin slightly, something that's part greeting and part question at the same time.

"This isn't whose world?"

[colecomfort]

"Yours." The question is answered simply, straightforward — at first. "His. Hers. The people pulled through."

He looks up, just enough for his eyes to land on Jamie's left hand.

"Your hand hurts." There's sympathy in his voice, along with a hint of his own pain. "I can't help with that. The elvhen mage might be able to, but he's not here."

[wontforgetyou]

Even with things becoming slightly more muddled, his own experiences are enough to take something that's not necessarily completely straightforward and make it make just enough sense that he can deal with it - although it does mean that his brow knits ever so slightly for a few moments as he sorts through it.

"Oh. You mean those of us that came through that rift thingy. Aye, that's true enough, I'd say."

That he can deal with. It's what's said next that throws him for a bit of a loop, but the sympathy in the other man's voice is real, and that's enough to get him to give Cole a small, but grateful enough smile.

"I'd not realized it was showing. It...well, I'll admit it does ache some. But us McCrimmons aren't the sort to let a bit of an ache slow us down." There's something stubborn about that, but he's gotten through being paralyzed and being shot. He can get through this too. Hearing that there's someone who might be able to help, however, is promising, and he perks up, just a little. "There's someone who can help, though? Does he know what these marks are, maybe?"

[colecomfort]

Cole can sense that history of adventure. It's faint, but it's there, written behind the man's eyes.

Does he know what these marks are? Cole nods. The brim of his hat bobs down and up.

"A blast that breaks the Veil. Fragmented, so many fallen. He would hold the pain himself if he could, but he can't. He can only hold it back." He. Solas. Cole hasn't seen him since the Inquisition arrived at Skyhold. He had been worried the elf wouldn't be seen again — now, he surely will.

"He's called Solas. He'll come back to Skyhold soon."

[wontforgetyou]

A faintly uneasy look crossed his face at the mention of blasts. He may not know what this veil-thingy is, but a blast that could break something didn't sound very good to him. And if it was something that's stuck in his hand now? Well, that could be even worse. But maybe this Solas person would have some sort of solution, or...some information, anyway. That was much better news enough so that he relaxed rather visibly, the uneasy look replaced by one of relief.

"Solas. Aye, he'll be the one to talk to, then. Thank you. Think you're the first one who's had some sort of idea about who to talk to about these things. Everyone else isn't really sure what to think. Not that you can blame them, from what I've been able to gather."

Everything seemed a bit of a mess right now, and the people who'd fallen through this Fade place probably weren't helping much. That was something he meant to try and fix, though, as much as he could, and he gave Cole a lopsided but genuine smile.

"I'm Jamie, by the way. Say, did you want me to grab you an extra blanket while I'm out here? I think there's a spare around here somewhere, and it might help with the cold."

[fayth]

"Did... one of the others tell you that?" Yuna had wandered close enough to Cole to have heard what he'd said, but with the few that believed their strange tale so far, she had kept a lot of information to herself. She thought perhaps it was best so as not to frighten those that thought somehow... they were some sort of demons.

Sitting down near the young man, she hugged her knees close for warmth. "It's... colder here than I'm accustomed to," she preferred being closer to the fire. Tilting her head to the side, she looked him over, "You aren't chilly?"

[colecomfort]

He turned his head toward her as she sat. The fingers of his left hand curled against each other a little, testing the temperature of the air.

"The cold doesn't hurt me." Not this cold, anyhow. It didn't come from demons, only the air.

"I haven't got a blanket. You should move closer to the fire." If she was cold.