The Winter's Queen [Magus AU]

[Tethras Clan]

~Old dead might be within reach of the ritual by this point so be wary,~ Varric cautions Carver.

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods. "Steer clear, let's route around. It might be able to rise from inside the coffin." 

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran nods and exchanges a glance with Isabela. A second of silent communication and the assassin once more moves ahead to scout.

[Isabela]

The others fall in a little way behind him. Just as all seems well, a ghostly figure appears out of thin air just behind Zevran: a skeletal, transparent humanoid, with a horrific, angry mask of a face, reaching bony hands toward the group. 

Isabela jumps, hands going to her knives. Helene shrieks, but only falls back a step or two, eyes on the ghost. 

[Carver Amell]

It's Carver who panics. Shit shit shit fuck fuck! He starts backward, almost falling over himself in terror as he flees. 

[Tethras Clan]

~Carver, no, fuck-~ Isabela is too far back. She'd slowed a few seconds ago, hearing something based o the way her head tilted, pointing her ear towards something. Zevran is still ahead, also out of place. The only one near Helene- skilled, knowledge and good support but not a front liner. Undead unknown, but incorporeal undead often have draining abilities based on aura contact- is Carver. He's been overwhelmed with fear- sudden, unsubstantial. Timed with appearance, but too jarring. Magical in nature. Irrelevant. Problem at hand: undead, close proximity to soft ally. Proposed solutions...

As his mind blurs through ideas (snap Carver out of his fear? What to say? Ineffective against magical fear) his body- well, the memory (Emerge from shell, attempt to startle, distract? Possible. Low chance of success, low risk if rapid return) his body had once- proposes its own solution. The feel of a hilt, clasped in both hands, sparks a well practiced but long disused motion. The tip, already lowering, snaps downwards even as Carver's body shifts its weight onto one leg. The blade slices upwards even as the body rushes forward, the weight of the body adding to the weight of the blade as it cuts across the full body of the foe.

[Isabela]

It's a good blade. Well balanced, enchanted, sharp as anything. It's quieter now, all of a sudden. Well, not for Varric -- to him, the amount of screaming remains constant. But to Isabela, Carver's cry chokes off too suddenly to be natural. She lunges forward, running the few steps, knowing she'll be too late -- and pulls up short beside Carver, watching as he neatly bisects the ghost before it can so much as touch Helene. 

"Good work, Carver," she says, breathlessly. 

[Tethras Clan]

"...not exactly, Flirty," Varric says. ~Would you hush? It's dead. Again.~

[Isabela]

Isabela does a double-take. "Right. Varric. I should have known, you were far too helpful to be Carver."

[Carver Amell]

THAT THING APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE, THERE COULD BE MORE OF THEM!

[Tethras Clan]

~Sssssh, it's fine. I'll kill all the bad little wee-ghosties that die with one hit. Damn fine hit, if I do say so myself, but still one hit.~

"Yeah, he got hit with magical fear so... I guess I can take over? Probably won't last very l-" Carver's body sways, then shifts as the balance is adjusted for a difference person controlling things.

~Damn. Welcome back?~

[Carver Amell]

Carver pants, slowly getting hold of his terror. "What. Did you do. To my body." he manages. Damn you, ghost, damn you too, Isabela, this is my body!

[Tethras Clan]

~I didn't know I could do that,~ Varric protests. ~Don't think I can, normally. But if you're not guiding the ship, then I think I can take over. Consider me back-up.~

[Isabela]

"Whatever he did was a good thing. You were trying to flee," Isabela says, curtly. "Stance could be better, though."

[Carver Amell]

Carver opens his mouth to argue with Varric, then hears Isabela and scowls instead. "My poor blade. You held it like you were chopping wood."