The Winter's Queen [Magus AU]

[Tethras Clan]

"Thank you ma'Bela," Zevan says tightly, sagging with relief. "Thank you. I don't..." He steps towards her again, voice lowering to a whisper. "I don't want you to... I need to free them. I need to. But I won't... kill you to do it."

Varric rolls his eyes, vanishing back inside Carver. ~They're old friends, Stabby. He probably saved her life or something.~

[Isabela]

Isabela gives a laugh; only the unyielding tension around her eyes betrays the falseness of it. "Don't worry about Isabela. I can take care of myself." 

[Carver Amell]

...Stabby?

[Tethras Clan]

~In the gut, with a sword. Why do you think I went and got you? You've got the most experience with what needs doing. You owe her to do it one more time, this time for good.~

"I'll hold you to that, ma'Bela," Zevran whispers jaggedly. "You're... all I have left," he admits, eyes closing. If I survive... will you take care of me? Can I do that to you? Put that on you? Or would it be better if...

[Carver Amell]

You want me to stab my sister. His mental tone is flat -- but under it, there's a sense of mixed horror and indignation. Odd; the idea actually does sicken him. He's not sitting around cackling and rubbing his hands together with glee; instead, he feels more like he has his back up against a wall and there's nowhere to go but hold his ground. 

[Isabela]

I'm all he has left. It's good Zevran closed his eyes; he can't see her flinch. What a sad thing, to only have Isabela for comfort. "Right, then, what's the plan?" she says, too loudly, too cheerily. 

[Tethras Clan]

~Her corpse,~ Varric insists. ~The thing that killed your sister.~  A pause. ~And your mother for that matter.~

Opening his eyes again, Zevran nods. "Yes. Plan. Focusing... goals. Goals are good," he mutters, trying to recenter himself.

~Ask the oracle if they can find out anything more about what's going on in there,~ Varric adds. ~Or if they can predict the lich's next moves.~

[Carver Amell]

You've proven you're more than capable of speaking for yourself. Why go through me?

"Oracle, ah, Helene was it? Do we know what's going on in there, or what the lich's next moves are?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene shakes their head. "We performed a scrying some time ago. We witnessed the creature speaking to a 'Merrill', and we witnessed what we believed to be Mr Stone. We also witnessed an attempt to restore Guardswoman Vallen to animation, but it appeared to fail." 

[Tethras Clan]

"Aveline is- was- a paladin. One so sworn cannot be raised without a truly great working," Wynne says quietly.

~Because the air is oozing evil necromantic magic and I don't think my non-flesh self should be out and about in it any more than I need to be. Alright. I think we have to go and scout in person then. What's your skillset?~

[Carver Amell]

I'm mostly a tank -- I hit thing hard, stay up next to them, and keep their focus on me. Is it safe for me? For any of us? Should we be getting a Bright?

[Tethras Clan]

~Grand zero was Preacher's Way. Most of the Brights are either dead, dying or in a fight already,~ Varric says grimly. ~But you have bodies, you're probably fine as long as you don't die. Or live here for a few years.~

[Carver Amell]

What about the guard? No offense but that guy looks like he's about to break down, and Isabela doesn't want to be here, so that leaves you, me, grandma, and a child.

[Tethras Clan]

~Zevran won't crumble, he'll break into jagged shards,~ Varric comments a bit cold-bloodedly. ~And he'll use every last edge to kill the thing that ripped his heart out. He'll... manage, Isabela will watch him. As for the guard, I suspect they have their hands full with the evacuation.~ Not that useful in the first place, what with Lawful... damn.

"What are we waiting for?" Zevran demands.

[Carver Amell]

"I'm conferring with the dead Dwarf," says Carver absently. Even if I assume you're correct about him, that's still not good odds. Not for a job this big, I'd want at least twice the men.