Ghost Story

[GamesMaster]

"Oh, I can do the checklist while you perform other tasks, I am certain," he says ,a bit of glee coming into his eyes. 

[Varric]

"Absolutely not," Varric says instantly and firmly. "As I said, the house isn't safe for casual use. I'm a trained engineer and retired adventurer so I can handle myself, but I simply cannot in good conscious allow you to be in there without supervision." Not so much out of concern for your safety granted, but still. "Why, just last week I was attacked by a phase spider. Nasty critter that one. Stalks their prey from the Ethereal Plane, invisible and intangible, then shifts over to ambush. Quick bite to poison their food, then they retreat and wait for them to die. Very unpleasant, having your internal organs slowly dissolve. Starts with there, then the muscles. The nervous system isn't affected, so you feel every bit of it. Plus there's the ghost to consider. No, I have to insist on guiding you around."

[GamesMaster]

His shudder indicates he's about to retract when something else catches his ear. "Ghost? What ghost?"

[Varric]

"The phobophage." 

[GamesMaster]

"Excuse me, the what?"

[Varric]

"Phobo-phage," Varric repeats, drawing the word out slowly and carefully as if the problem is simply that the mayor didn't hear him the first time.

[GamesMaster]

"What in Astea's name is a phobophage?!"

[Varric]

"Aahhh. Sorry. It's a type of ghost," Varric explains brightly. "Well, spirit actually, as not all of them are created by the deaths of mortals. Very hostile, very cruel. Clever and cunning too, if not traditionally intelligent. They're long duration hunters you see, so they have to be able to plan ahead and predict their prey's behavior. And given their prey is mortals, well."

[GamesMaster]

"Right -- I've just recalled I have a meeting on the fourteenth. I will get you an extension and send an aide on the fifteenth, then."

[Varric]

"You sure?" Varric asks, deeply amused. "Most spirits aren't as active during the day, especially so close to dawn. Of course, having someone new in the house might make it curious," he muses, then shrugs. "Well, I'm sure you know best." He coughs a little. "Though, ah, about that aide? Could you be sure to send someone with a strong heart, good nerves and fast legs? Just in case, I'm sure it'll be fine."

[GamesMaster]

"Right, right. Of course."

[Varric]

"Well, you have a wonderful day. I'd best be off. Got plenty of work to be getting done," Varric says cheerfully as he heads towards the general goods store. Was going to chat around a bit more but best to get out before he changes his (tiny) mind.

[Marian Hawke]

When he returns, he finds Emma sweeping the front porch, the ghost dog nowhere to be seen. "Hallo," she calls as he approaches with his bundles.

[Varric]

"How was your nap?" Varric calls back, giving her a keen one-over. 

[Marian Hawke]

She looks actually pretty good -- well rested, alert, focused. "Good," she says with a shy smile. "I had a great dream."