The Winter's Queen [Magus AU]

[GamesMaster]

A figure walks past Varric, not seeming to see him; the thing looks like any of the other corpses save for the buckets of water dripping from its blue form, the barnacles crusted to its skin. From his vantage point outside Carver, he can see the greenish glow around it: thicker, stronger, than around the zombies they saw earlier. In both hands, it carries a basket, which is filled with... honestly, garbage. Rotting fish heads, apple cores, moldy bread. All things that were edible once, but no longer. 

It stops, turning toward Varric as if it sees him; then, it kneels, picking up a dead mouse and squinting at it. "Mice is foods?" it mutters to itself. "Yes?" With a shrug, it tosses the mouse in the basket and keeps walking.

[Tethras Clan]

Varric pulls back with a mental shudder. Undead palates. Wonderful. ~Alright, there's four undead on the other side. Most of them look like standard zombies, but one of them is... different. Glowing, talks, covered in water. Salt water, I think. Maybe a priest of Uryll before?~

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods, holding up four fingers, then lowering all but three and raising his hand a little. Are we going in?

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene drops to a knee immediately, opening their sketchbook and paging through. After a moment, they open to a page full of sketches of hands in various positions and begin skim-reading. 

[Tethras Clan]

~Yeah, none of them know what that means. Aside from the number anyway.~

Zevran glares, then strides over, sticking his head right next to Carver. "Breathe the words."

[Carver Amell]

"Four hostiles. One stronger." He's actually good at whispering without being overheard, too, it's just less efficient for a group. You didn't answer me, dwarf. Can we take the big guy or not?

[Tethras Clan]

~Zevran can. I'll look through again and signal for one he and Bela can hop over. They should be able to clear it for the other three of you.~

[Carver Amell]

You do know I can fight, right? Remember? You keep calling me Stabby?

"We'll get you an opening," he adds to Zevran. 

[Tethras Clan]

~Sure- but loudly. You wear plate and use a greatsword. The further we get before making a fuss, the less we have to fight and the fresher we'll be when we need to be.~

Zevran nods shortly, then moves to update 'bela. And the other two.

[GamesMaster]

A little further down, they find some boards that are only loosely attached, easy to pry free quietly; then it's child's play for Zevran and Isabela to sneak up and take down the smart one. The party make their way closer through the streets, using Helene's eyeball to guide them and Wynne's abilities to route around undead where they can. 

More than once, Varric catches a flicker of green when he's scouting, something at the periphery of his vision. Maybe it's an artifact of being closer to the central point? 

Regardless, they make their way closer to the temple. Here, inside the barricade, a number of undead that are frozen, their eyes a brilliant piercing blue, their skin pale grey, their fingernails pale blue claws. These are collecting things too: blankets, intact furniture, even in one case a painting of a snowflake. What on Aldis?

They're hanging back under an awning, waiting out of the rain for Isabela to tell them it's safe to continue down the road, when Wynne, hanging back for safety, is overtaken by a red mist, her skin stinging with pinpricks of pain.

[Tethras Clan]

She does try, but Wynne can't stop herself from letting out a cry of pain. Seconds later, a half dozen ghouls rush out of an alleyway lead by a nearly invisible shadow of evil gloom. Isabela is still down the street, which means it's just Zevran and Carver to stand against the squad of overly aggressive corpses. Zevran heads right atf the shadow or shade or whatever it is, leaving the heavily armoured Caver to fight the corporeal threats. As they get closer, gashes appear across the undead, even the intangible one.

The next few moments go by fast.  Isabela comes back quickly, but so do another four zombies. Thankfully not as tough as the ghouls, but still, they take time to put down. The three fighters can hear squeals behind them- glances show Helene and Wynne supporting Rhys and two massive boars fighting... the air? Another trio of zombies as well, but most of the focus seems to be on attacking the snow filled air. Finally, the last undead falls, dead once more. Caver and Isabela managed to come through with only a bruise or two, but Zevran was mauled rather badly by the rime covered zombies. He had not been expecting the things to be able to conjure blasts of extreme cold.

Turning back to the healers, the three fights see Helene kneeling next to-

Wynne. Pale, waxy skin. Still and limp. On the other side of Wynne, Rhys is slowing dissolving as he stares at his Wynne. As they watch, unable to find words, Rhys lets out a low wail of despair and failure.

~Wynne.... damn it~ Varric tries to close his eyes, but no longer as that luxury. Another friend dead. Another failure and the Clan shatters even more. Damn it!

[Carver Amell]

I'm sorry. Carver closes his eyes, resting his sword point-down on the street and folding his hands over the top of it. May Mileen guide her home gently. 

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene closes Wynne's eyes gently. "Your death is known. Your life will not be forgotten." they say, quietly.

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran takes a deep breath. Then another. "Helene. Can you heal?" he asks in a dull tone.

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one can." Helene stands, turning to raise a hand to touch Zevran.