Adventurers of the Inquisition: A Dragon Age RP (started)

[Athol]

After thanking Marsha, Kari set to work, pouring a bit of hot water into the pot before setting it aside. That done, she rummaged through her kit and pulled out a small pouch with a fine greenish powder inside; pouring some of the powder into the water, she mixed it with the tip of her knife until it was fully dissolved. Her playing with pots and powders drew the attention of a few of the mages, prompting a well-built Ferelden born fellow named Alphonse to introduce himself.

?You?re an alchemist too?? He asked. ?I thought you were just a warrior.? Kari laughed in response. ?Maker, I?m no alchemist, I just know how to make vitaar and a neutralizing wash so I can clean it off. It?s handy stuff but starts to itch after a while.? ?Fascinating. If you don?t mind me asking, what was the in that powder?? ?Not at all. It?s a mix of dried elfroot, dried druffalo gallbladder and fine ground rock salt.? Dipping her hands into the near-boiling water, she leant forward and plunged her face in, scrubbing vigorously with her hands; she did this for a few minutes, stopping every so often to come up for air. ?Ah, that?s better.? She said, leaning back; the water was now a washed out pale pink. Alphonse reached towards the bowl, but Kari snagged his hand in an instant. ?Don?t!? She yelped. ?Vitaar is lethally toxic to non-Qunari, and I?m pretty sure that even as diluted as it is, that shit there would still make you pretty ill.? The mage flushed with embarrassment as her retrieved his hand. ?I?sorry?thank you.? He said, before shuffling off in as embarrassed silence.

After disposing of the wash water herself, she contemplated mixing a new batch of paint but changed her mind; one, the stuff could give off some wicked fumes during processing, and a crowed inn would not be a good place for that and two, she didn?t really feel like tracking down the village blacksmith, then trudging all the way out to his forge?assuming he let her use it. Instead she decided to just stay by the fire and enjoy the heat.

 

[StormShaun]

"Is there really no defenses we can set up? Ditches, pits, barricades? Something? From what I can tell they bleed and die just as much as the next beast. They may take more of a beating but all the same."

Nodding at Ash's suggestions, Von muttered a few concerns under his breath before looking up. "That's what I meant by "special way". A platoon of Templars might erect a chant or something, and a bundle of mages might do something special. So ... I think those group of mages could be one of our biggest weapons ... as long, as they don't sleep." Von said, giving a wink to Ash. "As for physical protection. Depends, I've heard of the Redcliff assault and how the Warden protected it ... oil barrels and barricades may help again corpses and any other physical enemies they may manipulated ... but they're demons, not of this world." Von said, his tone the opposite of confident.

"It ... it's hard coming up with this when you don't have the knac-" Von started to say, but was interrupted.

"ASH! VON! A moment?!"

Puffing a low sigh, Von raised his right hand and pulled it down, over his face. "Uhh, only if we had one of these ... "moments"" Von huffed, as he gave a nod to Ash and Nola. "Well, I better see him before he yells, more." Von said, his tone a little reluctant to go downstairs and away from comfort. Releasing his tight grip on the chair's arms. The Templar stood as if he had drunk a little too much. Steadying himself with a light slap to the face, the man walked out of the room, dark green cloak trailing behind.

Coming down the stairs to the Inn, Von noticed the presence of several companions, to each he gave a hard nod before reaching Jarrett. "Yes, we heard. If you are willing to talk, Ash and Mrs. Nola are upstairs resting." He said, a noble tone and posture dominating his form. "... facing a drake was tough on all of us. But, there is much to do, like ..." Von's voice trailed off, and his eyes gazed to the mages.

 

[Protocol95]

"Yes, we heard. If you are willing to talk, Ash and Mrs. Nola are upstairs resting. Facing a drake was tough on all of us. But, there is much to do, like..."

Von seemed distracted or tired to Jarrett. Picking up the conversation, Jarrett spoke up, "My thanks. If there is one thing we must do I will require you and Ash." It was then he noticed what was distracting him. "The mages? What bothers you? If you have an issue it can," About to dismiss Von's thoughts, Jarrett shook his head and corrected his words. "...can be dealt with first. Afterwards, would you please accompany me to meet Ash?"

 

[StormShaun]

"The mages? What bothers you? If you have an issue it can ...can be dealt with first. Afterwards, would you please accompany me to meet Ash?"

Focusing his eyes on Jarrett, Von shook his head. "It's something else." Von said, waving his hand towards upstairs. "Anyway, it's better if we all meet." Von said as he began to walk back to the stairs. "Nothing good is coming. We all know that." Von said, his tone knowing that he stated the obvious. If anything, he wanted the town on alert. After all, it would be a terrible fate to die after hearing of a defeat against a dragon-kin.

With one foot on a step, Von turned slightly around. He had hoped the others would join him, but his pleading eyes had focused on the mages. "... hope, huh?" He spoke to himself, giving off a wry smile. Looking back to Jarrett, Von nudged his head at the stairs. "Lets go. I would like to plan before resting."

 

[Tortilla the Hun]

"Well, that settles it, time for assembly," Berund said with a shrug. The dwarf was eager to start going over plans to fight the abomination and whatever it had planned, not really concerned about rituals or communions with demons. The mages could sort out all that business. At least planning for a skirmish was something he was familiar with. He started to make his way up the stairs before he called out to Kari who seemed preoccupied with her washing. "Would you care to join us, Your Cleanliness? We're about to have ourselves a talk, an' I think your presence would be appreciated."

 

[Athol]

"Would you care to join us, Your Cleanliness? We're about to have ourselves a talk, an' I think your presence would be appreciated."

Looking over at Berund as he called for her, she chuckled as she stood. ?Well unlike some dwarves, I know what the word ?hygiene? means.? Running her fingers through her hair to neaten it up a bit, she joined the others. Seeing as there was not a whole lot of room, she made her way to the back and dropped onto the floor, leaning against the wall. ?So, just how are we going to stop that wolf-headed fucker? Or are we just going to leg it??

 

[sage42]

Nola rubbed her eyes. Better but the advice she was hoping for still didn't come. Either these two were a lot more ignorant than she gave them credit for, or there was little one could do to stop a demon in it's tracks. But that couldn't be. The demons were still enemies and any enemy could be beaten. They just needed the right strategy. But what was the right.....

"ASH! VON! A moment?!"

Nola sighed as Jarrett called from below. She sat back again thinking, barely registering Von's departure. She covered her eyes with one hand, trying to think of something better they could do other than just barricades. There had to be something. She gave up a few minutes later with a heavy sigh. "Get some rest Ash, someone will come get ya before the fighting starts." She said to the qunari as she rose and stepped out of the room. She looked down in time to see Kari stand from a stool in the corner.

"Well unlike some dwarves, I know what the word 'hygiene' means."

She couldn't help but smile as she leaned on the railing. "Hey now giant. We know about Hygiene. We just have more important thing to think about other than if we offend peoples delicate noses." She said with a laugh. She quickly made her way down the stirs to join the group. "Like our other worldly friends for example. Any chance you guys found anything at the Avvar camp sight? Like how to stop them? Ancestors know our mage wasn't much help."

 

[Protocol95]

"Lets go. I would like to plan before resting."

Jarrett gave a slight bow and nod to Von before heading to the stairs. "We will make this brief. All of us need to be at our peak to protect this town." Walking up the stairs, the creaking caused by the two could be heard by some of the patrons. Jarrett wondered for a moment if Ash could as well. Passing by Nola on the way up, she spoke up at them

"Any chance you guys found anything at the Avvar camp sight? Like how to stop them? Ancestors know our mage wasn't much help."

"We found something. Whether it is of use shall be known shortly." Guided to Ash by Von, Jarrett cleared his throat and presented the note. "The Avvar shrine had this inscribed, Jacques can translate it. It seems a ritual, perhaps created by their apostates. I wonder, what secret could an apostate hide?". Jarrett inquired, his voice filled with satisfaction and a sly smile.

 

[DarkRawen]

"Get some rest Ash, someone will come get ya before the fighting starts."

It was fairly obvious that Nola had expected a lot more when calling Von and Ash there. However, he didn't have the kind of knowledge she wanted, and nodded, closing his eyes and making himself comfortable.

"Sorry for not being much help," he muttered, yawning a bit. "I don't really know anything about this, I never was a part of the circle, after all, and I spent quite a lot of blood back then, so I really should rest." As he heard her leave, he curled up further, almost drifting into a soft sleep by the time Jarrett entered, together with Von, and then followed by more people.

"The Avvar shrine had this inscribed, Jacques can translate it. It seems a ritual, perhaps created by their apostates. I wonder, what secret could an apostate hide?"

"Anything between heaven and earth," Ash muttered as a reply, half asleep, before his mind told him that this probably wasn't a dream. He sat up.

Apostate, huh.

Ash realized that he probably should have told the others that he wasn't actually trained or educated as a mage, thus, whatever they wanted him to know, he probably didn't. Even so, he took the note.

"What kind of ritual is it?" he asked, eyes still at the note. He recognized some of it, not much at all, and was sure of even less, only certain words of it that he had happened upon when reading.

"I can't exactly read this, so it doesn't tell me anything. There's something about a demon and a spirit... I think." He bit his lip, frustrated, he really had no clue about what it was supposed to be.

"But it looks like it's relevant to the abomination, so I'd have it translated. Besides, a ritual might just be what we need, depending on what kind it is. If we can attack first, that would be better than waiting around. Why don't you have the fancy mages downstairs do it?"

 

[Protocol95]

"Besides, a ritual might just be what we need, depending on what kind it is. If we can attack first, that would be better than waiting around. Why don't you have the fancy mages downstairs do it?"

"Heh, nothing to worry about. Jacques will translate, you will perform, Von and I will keep watch." Keeping a focused look on Ash and grabbing the note, Jarrett's mouth widened with glee and a sense of arrogance to it. "You will aid your friends and this town, right?" Waving off Ash he turned around and asked, mostly at Von, for input. "Hm... is this suitable everyone?" His posture and voice had turned around too it seemed as his tone was much more calm and submissive.

 

[DarkRawen]

"Heh, nothing to worry about. Jacques will translate, you will perform, Von and I will keep watch. You will aid your friends and this town, right?"

"No need for thinly veiled manipulation," Ash replied, his tone at least partly jokingly, and got up from the bed. Staying in it was just going to tempt him further. He took a moment to sound less tired, and felt a bit amused by the whole situation. "But yeah, I get it, I get it. It was a nice... minute, or so, but I suppose I have duties to tend to. Odd duties, rituals that I'm not sure I can perform, but I'll try at least," he stretched, yawning, his pale hair already something of a mess. He grinned, sheepishly, though it was a strange look for someone who was towering over most of them.

The bed was warm, I hope it's not going to be too cold downstairs.

"Now, if anyone wants to discuss something more in secret, let's do it quickly, because I'd need either sleep or food to do some sort of ritual, and apparently there's no sleep for a cute little mage like me," he chuckled, rubbing as much sleep as he could out of his eyes. It had, sadly, done little to deal with his usual visions, but at least he sort of... maybe... felt a little bit better?

"Unless people think this is a bad idea, of course," he added, but more as an afterthought. Ash didn't see why they couldn't at least try.

"Then... I suppose we can keep discussing the ditches," he said, winking at Nola to make it clear that he meant no harm.

 

[Tortilla the Hun]

"I think it best to leave the matters of this inscribed ritual to Jacques an' the others," Berund spoke up. It was clear none of them were exactly experts on the matters of demonology. The subject had already circled back around to letting the inn's resident mages come up with a solution. Berund was more concerned with the corporeal threats. "We can scratch our heads at the writing until the nugs come home, but what we need to do is start fortifyin' this place, an' a couple more homes nearby. Let whatever comes come to us. We simply don't have the numbers to defend all the town, so we must focus on protectin' what we can. If the mages are this abomination's main target, as helpful as they may be, we can't have them outside our reach. We spread ourselves thin, an' surely we will fall. I propose we turn this inn into a keep, an' the surroundin' buildin's will be our walls. Have every able-bodied man arm themselves an' help fend off the material threats. Keep the mages close, an' they can handle the unfleshly matters."

 

[sage42]

"Finally, someone with sense." Nola said happily. "Better idea than I had to be sure." Nola had followed the group up still thinking. When Berund spoke the growing weight on her shoulders had been lifted. Fortifying she could do. "I say we get started on this now, the sooner our fortress is ready the safer these people will be. And the sooner we can get back to the Inquisition and get payed."

"Then... I suppose we can keep discussing the ditches,"

She returned the wink with a smile. "Nah don't worry about it big guy. Berund had the right idea." She turned to Jerrett. "I also say we let Ash get some sleep. As far as I now a sleep deprived mage is usually a dangerous thing. Let the guy-whose-name-I-can't-pronounce worry about this ritual. Between the rest of us and the townsfolk we should have enough muscle to get this inn set up to last against just about anything. Plus with me and Berund, that would include darkspawn. Now those bastards are worse than any Abomination. I figure compared to them, keeping demons out won't be much of an issue."

 

[Protocol95]

"I think it best to leave the matters of this inscribed ritual to Jacques an' the others."

"I also say we let Ash get some sleep. As far as I now a sleep deprived mage is usually a dangerous thing. Let the guy-whose-name-I-can't-pronounce worry about this ritual."

Raising his heads to his companions Nola and Berund, Jarrett had been caught off guard, his mouth agape. Everything seemed wrapped up to him. "...huh." It took him a moment to regain his composure. Closing his eyes and chuckling warmly he begin moving out of the room. "Ah, so be it."

He shook Berund's shoulder but before he left he held the note in his open palm. "All I ask is that you accept the consequences." Dropping the note on the floor for them to use or ignore he waved off his companions. "I'll be downstairs if you need me. Rest well Ash"

 

[StormShaun]

"Hm... is this suitable everyone?"

Nestled within a chair at the back of the room, Von resisted all urges to go to sleep. "Y-yeah ... tis, fine ..." His voice trailed off, his closing eyes betraying his intent, even if Jarrett glared at him in serious expectancy. The lure of sleep cradled the Templar, with one a swipe of his hand, the large cloak was wrapped around him. If Von hoped for anything, is that he would want to dream of the real city, the one paved with gold, where he may meet those that meant something to him.

Of course, he knew he would not. The betrayal he delivered would be remembered by body and mind, it would not allow him much pleasure. Yet, the most comfort Selthen could take part in is his memory. The most pleasant one contained a beaming sky, the humid summer wind, and flax coloured hair that was apart of a girl. This former boy only wondered where that girl is, and he hoped she had not been punished by a bad fate.

Opening his eyes, Von let out a silent groan. He had missed the discussion, but he could not care. The only goal he wanted was the safety of the people in this town. Death was his enemy, and yet he used him like a tool. "Could we possibly break this meeting up. Today was ... busy." Von said to the group, his tone tired, and his face looked likewise. Rejecting a small smile, he remembered that this attitude was like his father.

 

[DarkRawen]

"Nah don't worry about it big guy. Berund had the right idea. I also say we let Ash get some sleep. As far as I now a sleep deprived mage is usually a dangerous thing. Let the guy-whose-name-I-can't-pronounce worry about this ritual. Between the rest of us and the townsfolk we should have enough muscle to get this inn set up to last against just about anything. Plus with me and Berund, that would include darkspawn. Now those bastards are worse than any Abomination. I figure compared to them, keeping demons out won't be much of an issue."

"All I ask is that you accept the consequences. I'll be downstairs if you need me. Rest well Ash"

"But now I'm already up..." Ash replied. He felt like it'd be rude to say that he didn't want to sleep when he very clearly had insisted on doing so earlier. And he was exhausted. However, Jarrett's note had triggered his curiosity, the little he had understood of it made it clear that it was a very interesting one. And a ritual, too, he had never done anything like that.

But what do I say?

He looked at Von, who was almost asleep, clearly struggling not to drift into slumber as he spoke. Normally, he'd say he felt the same, but right now, he was too busy trying to look like he wasn't that tired. That meant, at least partly, fooling himself.

"Could we possibly break this meeting up. Today was ... busy."

"Besides, Von needs the bed more than I do. I mean, I'm tired, but Von, he's--" he yawned. "Von's basically already asleep." Walking over to Von, he examined him for a brief moment, then picked him up and carefully carried him over to the bed -ignoring what exhausted struggling the other did- before putting the (former?) Templar down in the bed.

"So, now that he's in the bed, I can't use it."

Ash picked up the note, addressing the others before going downstairs. "We might as well have it translated," he muttered, and looked to dwarves. "If I can do it, I'll forgo on the sleep, I could always just... ehm..." he scratched his ear underneath the left horn. "I could just sleep later, it's not like they're here yet. And I asked Marsha to make me food, and---" He smiled, feeling a bit foolish as he looked at Nola and Berund, who had both said to let the fancy mages take care of it. Finally, he admitted why he was trying to make up excuses.

"I'm just really curious about the ritual now. I want to try it out. Or at least know what it does. I appreciate the thought of letting me sleep, and I realize that I'm not allowed to complain that I'm tired after this, but it's just... I think it's the best bet we've got, and Jarrett doesn't seem to want to do it without me." With that, he followed Jarrett, and handed the note back, making an effort to keep himself from yawning again.

"I'll do it, just get it translated. I don't really get well along with other mages."

 

[Protocol95]

"I'll do it, just get it translated. I don't really get well along with other mages."

"...Very well. Perfectly fine." Jarrett was caught off once again. He thought he should stop letting that happen. No harm since he was surprised by what he saw as maturity from Ash. "I'll speak with Jacques, memorise any possible translations and meet you outside. Pick somewhere visible but safe." Pointing Ash towards the door his quick movement showed he still wanted to be dominant in the conversation but there was something uncanny about Jarrett didn't quite reflect that.

Walking up to Jacques, Jarrett awkwardly patted him for attention. "Ah, uh... ahem, sorry but can you only give me the translations? I know you have people to take care of anyway. Might want to keep watch though, just by the door if you can, in case things take a urn for the worse, right?" Standing in place he waited for the mage to give him what he wanted, whether it be spoken or written.

 

[IFS]

Marsha handed Ash and Jarrett each a bowl of stew and a chunk of slightly hard bread as he arrived downstairs, nodding to him before heading up to the others with a small platter of more of the same. There was enough for each of the party, though the portions were not large it was at the very least hot.

"Eat up," she said "you lot especially need your strength."

She sighed "Some folk are starting to arm themselves, we've scarcely got a blade in this town but we've got arrows," she shook her head "foolish, they should leave such things to you trained warriors, but try and tell them that."

She looked up, suddenly bearing a stern expression "you ought to give them something to do, if you've got a plan they ought to know, there're plenty of them waiting downstairs."

She sighed again and her expression calmed "don't mistake me as ungrateful, we'd be lost for certain without you," she said "perhaps I need rest as well. Enjoy your meal."

With that she turned and headed back downstairs to tend to her establishment.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Ah, uh... ahem, sorry but can you only give me the translations? I know you have people to take care of anyway. Might want to keep watch though, just by the door if you can, in case things take a turn for the worse, right?"

?If you wish,? Jacques said ?I doubt the demon will attack until nightfall though, the darkness is just too great an advantage for it.?

He took the note almost hesitantly, seeming somewhat confused by Jarrett?s secretive demeanor. He sat down and began to scratch out his translation on a spare sheet of parchment. After a minute or two he seemed to have made some progress, though he was continually going back to revise earlier bits of his translation.

"Ah, this might take a while," he said "perhaps even an hour, more to get the materials together though thankfully I don't spy anything difficult to come by. Maker knows we'd be in trouble if it called for large quantities of lyrium or the like. It'd help if the Avvar didn't have their own names for each variety of elfroot and the like."

He wiped some sweat from his forehead ?I will give you the translation when it is finished though, you needn?t worry about that,? he said ?I may even work faster if you aren?t hovering over me like a hawk.?

 

[Athol]

While the others nattered on, and planned, Kari rested. Things like tactics and attack planning were never her strong suit; she was more of the ?hit it until it dies, and if that?s not working hit it harder? type, and was more than willing to leave the decisions up to others. Chuckling quietly to herself as Ash stuffed Von into the bed he?d previously occupied, she decided to follow the mage?s advice as well. Crossing her hands across her stomach, she closed her eyes where she sat and drifted off to sleep.

 

[DarkRawen]

Ash smiled brightly when he was handed some food, even if it wasn't that much. Then again, he supposed it was his fault for skipping breakfast, even though it was because of his... well, issues.

Next time I should just force it in.

Even if he saw eyeballs in the soup, or teeth, or---

No thinking, just eating.

That was probably the best idea of them all.

"...Very well. Perfectly fine. I'll speak with Jacques, memorise any possible translations and meet you outside. Pick somewhere visible but safe."

"Or," Ash replied, eyebrow a bit raised at Jarrett's suggestion of him waiting outside. What if it took longer than a couple of minutes? It was cold outside, and Ash was hungry, having already started eating as he walked, chewing and swallowing before continuing.

"I'll wait inside, and when the translation is done, you can give me a fancy signal or something, so that I don't have to freeze my horns off while the fancy mage take his time making sure every inch of the translation is correct. I bet he'll proof-read it twice, just because. I'll be sitting over there--" he pointed over at the seat the closest to the fire.

"So you know where to look for me. Simple, yeah?"


Of course, it didn't turn out to be quite that simple. For starters, Ash was correct in that it took longer than a couple of minutes for the translation to happen. As a matter of fact, it took more than 15 minutes, which was about the amount of time it took Ash to finish his food, and sort of fall asleep, only to have his senses snap him back, fully alert, because of some sound no one else seemed to have heard, which put him in sort of a foul mood. And the translation had still not been finished.

His curiosity compelled him to move closer, then a bit closer again, until he was close enough to glance at Jacques note every time the older mage was looking elsewhere, trying to figure out what it was for. Finally, he did something he would normally dread -even if he was aware of that the world had changed in quite a small amount of time- and spoke to Jacques.

"So... what kind of ritual is it, actually?" he asked, as Jarrett hadn't really told him.