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

[demonicbeauty]

"Maybe," Ariadne conceded, thinking that this woman's philosophy skirted against some of the things that Adriana believed. "But on the other hand, sometimes I think it's a little silly to assume that the universe actually cares one way or the other. Certainly, I don't think the gods do."

Well, the Alastrian gods, perhaps. They believed in the necessity of both light and dark. But Ariadne had begun to pray to the Elvish gods instead. She liked how they taught about hope.

And certainly, Valeria needed hope right now.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin glances at her sidelong for that last comment, keeping her tone light but still certain that Ariadne needs to know. "I'd hold off on talking about that...the gods, I mean. Andrastianism is the major religion around here, and Chantry folk aren't especially keen on the notion of there being anything other than the Maker. Granted, under the protection of the Inquisition, you should be more or less fine, but why make things harder on yourself?"

And Korrin says this as someone who is more or less Andrastian. The Maker she has no problem with, but the Chantry...well. That would be the subject of a long, long rant.

[demonicbeauty]

"Monotheism? Oh, I know all about that!" Unlike the Elves and the Alastrians, Humans back home weren't quite as organized when it came to religion. They had several. One of the most influential was monotheistic.

It sort of fascinated Airy, really. Mostly because it tried very hard to account for the other beliefs in the realm. Essentially, it took all the gods and angels of the other faiths and turned them into prophets and saints, avatars of the great god, the Divine.

"I'll mind my manners," Ariadne promised Korrin with a sincere nod. "Thank you for telling me."

[gatheringstorm]

"You're welcome." So polite, this newcomer. Korrin smiles again, at that. "It's not as dire as all that, especially since we have bigger issues now. Even if you're a mage there will be some restraint, as the Inquisition requires both mages and Templars. Not that I'm thrilled about having Templars anywhere near me, but as long as we have a common cause, it's something that can be overlooked."

[demonicbeauty]

"Can you tell me what a Templar is?" Ariadne asked, tilting her head to the side. The word 'mage' meant something to her, although she doubted it was quite the same here but...

Templar?

Perhaps a member of a religious order. They had Temples in Valeria.

She wasn't sure what any kind of monk would have to do with mages, though.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin nods, gesturing. "See those folk in the armor with the flaming sword on front? Those are Templars. They used to be a part of the Chantry before the war, tasked with hunting down blood mages and abominations, not to mention apostates, those who leave the Circles where they're kept all their lives. Templars have some ability to cancel mage, making them feared. I was never in a Circle, but I've heard horror stories about Templars abusing mages. That's what led to the mage rebellion, and the war.

So far I haven't seen any of that rot in the Inquisition and I don't think it'd be tolerated, especially now that the old system is in tatters, but there isn't a lot of reason for mages to relax around them. As long as they stick to fighting rift demons and other enemies, though, it's something."

[demonicbeauty]

Ariadne followed Korrin's gaze out to the men, who looked very much like knights to her. She followed the story as best she could, a line forming between her eyes as she continued to size up the Templars. She definitely wanted to avoid them, she decided. Especially if they were fond of hunting down demons.

Of course, she still wasn't sure what she was, any more. But better safe than sorry.

"Templars," she muttered. "I won't forget."

[gatheringstorm]

She nods in firm approval at that. Given that Ariadne had arrived via rift, she sincerely doubted that the Templars would with anything other than fear and contempt.

"There are a few decent ones here and there, I can't deny that. But it's not enough for me to let my guard down about them as a whole. Anything to do with magic or the Fade is going to be watched closely by them."

[demonicbeauty]

It would certainly be interesting observing them. That was, if Ariadne was here for a long time. She still didn't quite know what her journey through the Rift meant for her.

Hopefully not forever. She wouldn't like it if it meant forever.

Shrewdly, though, she turned to Korrin again. "Does that mean that you have magical abilities?"

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin nods, proud of that fact. She's never hidden what she is, nor would she think to do so.

"That's right. I discovered my magic when I was a kid and trained to become what I am now. I favor lighting spells, though I wouldn't say it's a speciality. It just comes easy to me."

[demonicbeauty]

It impressed Ariadne, how open Korrin seemed to be about what she was. But perhaps it wasn't all that unique.

"I'd love to see what that looks like," she said.

Alastrians didn't really possess magic, per se. They had some unique abilities, but those were biological functions. Survival mechanisms, really. Nothing that could compare to the power that Elves wielded. Nor the Daruc, for the matter.

[gatheringstorm]

She smiles at that, prone to showing off but decides to conserve her power given their circumstances.

"If we run into trouble along the way, you definitely will. And we probably will, but I wouldn't worry about that. We're in enough numbers that we can manage random hostile wildlife, and bandits won't mess with us."

And if any enemy forces are about, Korrin's positive that the scouts would have informed them by now.

[demonicbeauty]

"I'd like to help," Ariadne offered. She knew she wasn't exactly in a trusted position at the moment. But if she could earn that trust, she knew she ought to. Besides, despite her dainty and delicate appearances, she was quite capable of handling herself in a fight.

She frowned a little, glancing at the Templars. "I don't suppose they'd accept a foreign scout though, would they?"

[gatheringstorm]

"The Inquisition, certainly. Well, once they're done with questioning and whatnot. I'm about as foreign as you can get here, short of popping through a rift as you did, and they accepted me. Bearing the same mark as the woman who saved us ought to speak in your favor, as well." Korrin still glances to said mark, wary of the affect it might have on those bearing it, but she couldn't deny seeing those would bring others much-needed hope.

[demonicbeauty]

Korrin's reply filled Ariadne with delight. Not that she wanted to stay forever and be a part of an Inquisition--the word made her uncomfortable--but she liked being useful.

And accepted. So, so, so much.

"I should go and ask them right now!" she cried. "Who should I ask? Which one is in charge?"

[gatheringstorm]

"Scout Harding, definitely. She's a dwarf with a braided updo and even more freckles than I. She's usually somewhere outside the Tavern, when she's on Skyhold grounds at all. But if she's not, she can usually be reached by raven."

And sending crystal, but Korrin's not sure if the rift-folk will be allowed those yet.

[demonicbeauty]

"Scout Harding," Ariadne repeated, trying to commit the information to memory. "A dwarf with a braided updo and freckles."

Easy enough.

But one problem...

"...what's a dwarf?"

[gatheringstorm]

Oh, right. Korrin should probably explain that. She glances around and points at a dwarf who fortunately is looking the other way. "That's a dwarf. They're a shorter race, lacking any connection to the Fade and so none are mages. Some live underground, in Orzammar, but the ones you see with the Inquisition are surfacers."

[demonicbeauty]

Ariadne studied the dwarf that Korrin pointed out, careful to be discrete. There were a lot of new races she was going to have to learn, but it didn't faze her too much. She hardly knew every one in her own realm.

At least, not personally.

"All right," she said. "I think I'll remember it all."

She turned to look at Korrin again, offering her a sincere smile. "Thank you so much."