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

[slipshot]

He'd managed to sort of roll at the end of his fall, and it wasn't too too high, so nothing was broken but he was a little battered. "I'm alright! I'm alright. But yes - cover - cover is good." He groaned as he struggled up, only noticing then that Jamie was disarmed.

"I guess it's too much to hope that you're a mage?" He asked a little wryly as he grabbed his bow (thankfully unharmed).

[wontforgetyou]

"A what?"

Much like the question about the demon earlier, Jamie was serious - and more than a bit confused, as well. It wasn't that he hadn't heard of mages. He had, just as he'd heard of demons, but mages were something that were only in stories. No more real than any of the other tall tales he'd heard of as a young lad. He wasn't entirely sure if Gavin was trying to have him on or not. But...on the off chance the elf wasn't joshing, he shook his head.

"No, I'm a piper. Unless you've got a set of bagpipes on you, though, I'm afraid you're out of luck." He honestly wasn't sure if it'd do anything even if he had them, though. These demons didn't seem like they'd be intimidated easily. And that, more than anything, was what was getting him moving and headed for that pile of rubble he'd hidden behind earlier. It wasn't much, but it'd give them a few seconds to think of some sort of plan. "Come on, over here!"

[slipshot]

Gavin had thought he knew what a piper was until Jamie mentioned bagpipes, and then he was completely lost again, and utterly confused. He'd been about to ask what bagpipes were before Jamie was off - headed to cover - and Gavin quickly followed.

Perhaps in the middle of fighting demons was a bad time to start asking about bagpipes.

He skidded into place behind the rubble, reaching behind him to grab one of the daggers that was sheathed against his quiver free, reaching over to hand it to Jamie.

"Here. You shouldn't be completely defenceless."

[wontforgetyou]

Normally he'd be more than happy to explain, since it's something he's still quite proud of even after years away from home...but maybe later, when there's not bolts of light being shot at them. For now, he popped his head up to check and see if the demon was still wanting to fight, and then, just as quickly, ducked his head back down again as it took aim and fired again. It seems that it wasn't going to give up quite so easy, which meant they'd need some sort of plan.

He started to turn towards his new companion, about to say as much, when he found himself being offered a dagger instead. That was a bit of a surprise, although not an unwelcome one. He'd had one before he'd fallen through the rift, but either it'd gone missing on the journey through or had fallen out shortly after, leaving just an empty sheath on a belt around his waist. Having had to make do with a large stick, the idea of having something to properly fight with again was one he couldn't say he minded at all - so long as it meant he wasn't leaving Gavin defenseless by taking it. That was easily checked on, at least, and instead of moving to take it right away, he tilted his head slightly to one side, giving the elf a slightly questioning look.

"Aye, well, I had a knife of my own, but I think it might have fallen somewhere when I turned up here. Are you sure you'll not need it, though? Not everything'll be shooting you at a distance, if I'm not mistaken. I'd not want to wind up making it so you'd nothing to fight with if something gets close."

[slipshot]

"Well, if they get close, I'm hoping this means I have an armed friend to stab them for me," Gavin pointed out, before flashing the man a grin and notching a new arrow.

"Or you could take it, run, and leave me to die cursing your name-- what is your name, actually? In case I have to curse it."

[wontforgetyou]

An answering grin crosses his face at that, and he wraps his fingers around the hilt that's been offered out, giving a nod at the same time.

"If that means I've a friend with arrows to help watch my back, then I'll take it, and gladly. And I've no plans of running off, so you'll not need to curse my name...but for the record, it's Jamie. Suppose that means I should ask the same of you."

[slipshot]

"Gavin," he offered immediately, with a warm smile. "Of clan Ashara, now of the Inquisition - whom you're about to meet more of! They'll be the ones shooting the demons, rather than trying to kill us," He added with a helpful grin.

He took a breath, readied himself, and then stood up from behind their hiding place. "Alright, let's go!"

[wontforgetyou]

"Oh, aye, that's good to know," he commented dryly. "I'd rather not be trying to be killed by them, too. Glad to meet you, though. Remind me to give you this back after the fight, alright?"

With that he stood as well, but took a moment longer to reach over and give Gavin a friendly pat on the shoulder. It wasn't anything he couldn't move away from if he didn't want to be touched, but Jamie wanted to make the gesture by way of thanks while he could. He'd fought enough before to know that there was always the chance that he wouldn't be able to after.

At the same time, though, he was still confident about the fight itself. With a bit of luck - and a few well-timed blows - they'd get through this quickly enough, and he'd be able to give Gavin his dagger back soon. So whether or not the elf allowed the gesture, he didn't waste much time before shifting his stance and running out towards the creature with a loud "Creag an tuire!", hoping to use the sound as a distraction so Gavin could try and take it out from a distance.