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

[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."

[colecomfort]

"Cole," he offers, a name in exchange for a name.

At the offer for a blanket, he shakes his head, becoming visibly (if mildly) uncomfortable. He understands peoples' intentions when they want to help him, but... that isn't how it works.

"I don't need a blanket. We could move closer to the fire." If Jamie wants to speak further, that is.

[wontforgetyou]

"Fair enough." Whatever the reason behind it, it's hard to miss the signs that the other man's been made a bit uncomfortable by the offer, and he decides not to push. "I'll admit I'll not mind moving a bit closer to the fire, though."

Admittedly, he wouldn't mind talking more, either, because it'll help distract him from that faint ache, and while he does start to move a bit closer to the fire, he goes slowly enough so that Cole can join him.

"Do you mind if I ask how you figured out we were from other worlds? Seems like some people around here are more inclined to think we're demons instead. I'm guessing something like us turning up is something new."

[colecomfort]

"You don't sound like demons," Cole explains, as he stands and follows along. "They hum underneath, hunger, anger, wanting and never able to wait. Sharp, simple songs. None of you sound like that."

He looks over at the others. "But not everyone hears. I understand that now."

[wontforgetyou]

Out of all the stories he's heard about demons, none of them have described anything like that - at least not in musical terms. While he supposes that they could hum or whistle if they really wanted to, he's also able to realize that's not the same sort of thing as what Cole's talking about, and Jamie turns a somewhat surprised look towards him.

"I'd not realized demons made noises like that."

He doesn't remember anything like that - unless one counted being attacked as anger of a sort - but then again, maybe he's one of those people who can't hear it. That would make sense.

"Think if most people can't hear it, though, we'll not be able to convince them who we are easily. Er, those of us that came in from other worlds, that is. I'd not want to make any assumptions on your behalf, although I'm glad to know there's at least one person here who believes we're alright."

[colecomfort]

It could be a problem. People believed in the Herald because they believed she was guided by Andraste. Cole doesn't know what it will mean for them that these people simply fell out. He does, however, have some idea of what he can do.

"There are a lot of people in the Inquistion who only want to help. I could help you find them. It could be a place to start."

[wontforgetyou]

"You could?"

Even with Cole understanding that he's not a demon, that's a bit of a surprise He's been thinking that he'll have to figure out how to help here on his own, and the offer, while unexpected, is welcome. Enough so, in fact, that it prompts a grateful smile.

"Aye, well. I think you could be right, and...I'll admit, I'd not mind lending a hand here. If you'd be willing to do that, I'd appreciate it. When do we get started?"

[colecomfort]

"When we're back at Skyhold." Cole offers him a small smile. The next thing he says lands somewhere between an expression of comfort and an echo:

"Don't worry, Jamie. Finish your tea and go back to sleep."

[wontforgetyou]

The first part he wasn't surprised to hear. There wasn't too much that they'd be able to do on the way anyway, so getting back to Skyhold first made sense. The next part is the one that throws him - enough so that he winds up doing a double take, glancing around him in complete confusion as he looks for something that isn't there at all.

"...What? I don't have any tea."