Under Darkness [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

"...well, it looks like what might happen if Hawke got really, really pissed," Varric notes. "Perhaps there's another aspect of Hawke trapped inside?"

Aveline frowns. "Can you not get inside? I gathered as much from your attempts to enter but... can any of you get inside?"

[Marian Hawke]

"None that I've convinced to try so far," Champion replies. "None of us remember anyone going missing, though it's possible there's a new one. But even Pet can't get in."

"I tried," Tethras admits, rolling her eyes. "I don't know why you're so fascinated with that thing anyway." 

"Nobody can get inside. And nobody knows what it's for. We wouldn't spend a ton of energy maintaining something like this if it wasn't for anything." 

"Well you've had all but two of us try to get inside now, and you're not convincing the last two. So there's no way in. You've been knocking on this thing for months now, give it a rest." 

[Tethras Clan]

"I assume I know one of the two that haven't tried, but who is the other?" Varric asks dryly.

"Would you mind if we tried? Perhaps outsiders might have more luck," Aveline chimes in to ask.

[Marian Hawke]

Champion steps aside. "By all means."

"Marian," Tethras confides behind her hand as she steps aside. "She won't come look at it."

As they walk around the structure, it's clear there's no doors, no means of entry. "I went underground, but there's no ladder up here," Champion confirms. Zevran asks politely; there's no response, nor to Varric's or Aveline's attempts. Their attempts to break the glass bounce right off, there's no lock to pick, and they can't get enough purchase to get up to the roof. The building is chilled, the cold inside seeping through. Rhys can't phase through the glass; it rebuffs him like a solid wall of force. Even Bianca's bolts can't get through the seemingly ordinary glass.

[Tethras Clan]

"...I can't believe I'm saying this," Varric grumbles. "But I think we need to create a person ladder to-" He pauses a moment. "Or I'm idiot," he grumbles before rummaging in his alchemy pouches in order to concoct an Overland Flight extract.

[GamesMaster]

He's able to make the extract, making his way up to the roof -- which is just as cold, slick, and impervious to damage as the sides. 

[Tethras Clan]

"...worth a shot," Varric says with a shrug. "Shall we try fire? Yes we shall." Another admixture later and he lets loose a stream of flame onto the side of the greenhouse.

[GamesMaster]

A cloud of steam rises from the greenhouse, but when the vapor clears, the greenhouse appears unchanged. 

[Tethras Clan]

"That's cheating," Varric says flatly as he lands next to the group. "There's got to be a trick to it, I don't think force or thievery is going to work. Something to do with triggering mental states maybe?"

[Marian Hawke]

Tethras shrugs. "Not sure how you plan to go about that, but let me know if I can find anything for you."

[Tethras Clan]

"Might have to talk to her outside," Wynne answers.

Probably, but worth a shot to try. Probably not with either of these two, but maybe... "Marian, the aspect, the one that summoned you," he glances at Tethras, "is she the... prime aspect?"

[Marian Hawke]

"I'm not sure what you mean," she admits with a faint blush. "Marian's in charge here, if that's what you're asking?" 

[Tethras Clan]

"That sounds correct, yes," Zevran agrees. "Could we speak with her? I know Champ said she asked her for help, but perhaps we shall have more luck?"

"New variable means you have to repeat all the tests," Varric agrees.

[Marian Hawke]

"Uh, sure, I can take you back down to the catacombs." Tethras shrugs, heads for the path they came down as the Ermine begins grooming Zevran's hair. 

[Tethras Clan]

"She can't come here? Is she always in the Catacombs?" Aveline asks curiously.