Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

"Of course. As is my people's tradition since time immemorial."

Oh yeah, that's another thing that's happened over the past few months: the girl's learned how to weaponize that mouth of hers. 

[Tethras Clan]

Walking up to the wall, he shakes his head head, amused. "Thatta girl," Varric says, chuckling as he reaches into his vest. Pulling out a vial, he shakes it roughly, then pops it open to whisper into it. Even as it starts to glow a dull grey, he drinks it.

And then calmly walks up the wall like it's perfectly normal.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian gives a squeaky little shriek, stumbling backwards a few paces and falling on her bum. He just -- but how?! -- Magic, that's magic! 

[Varric]

Turning his head to the side, he stares at Marian. "...forget how to... not even walk, you were standing still."

[Marian Hawke]

She points at him. "Magic. That's magic. You're a w-w-witch. Wizard."

[Varric]

"Tch. Hardly. I'm an alchemist, at least magically speaking," Varric replies. Bit of the rogue arts there as well, but that's not the toic we're talking about today. "Witches get their power through pacts with Beings of Power and the like. And wizards gain their power via careful study and manipulation of reality by way of conditioning it via physical, verbal and material foci."

[Marian Hawke]

"Whatever! You can't just-- just wave that around here!" Marian's hiss has an urgency to it. 

[Varric]

Varric rolls his eyes. "You mean all that provincial nonsense about all spells being sceleratis work? Just ignorance, I'm not overly concerned." Not like anyone here is a real threat (or nuisance) by any measure, not to me. And I've already bound myself too deeply into the economy (land and resources for now, industry later) that a bit of shunning by the hidebound (morons) won't bother me much either.

[Marian Hawke]

"Look, maybe you can protect yourself, but I have a reputation to maintain," she hisses. "I don't care to be killed this week, thanks!"

[Varric]

Varric stares a moment, then steps down off the wall. "...explain," he demands in a low voice.

[Marian Hawke]

"What do you mean, explain? You're using magic," she whispers.

[Varric]

"Simple spider-climb spell. Lets you walk up walks and such," Varric says, frowning slightly. "It's as harmless as rope or ladder. Why would this get you killed?"

[Marian Hawke]

A moment ago he called it nonsense that demons are involved. He doesn't know. She takes a deep breath. "Can we go inside?" she urges. 

[Varric]

"Sure," Varric replies after a moment, following her in. This has got her real spooked. What the hells?

[Marian Hawke]

Nobody's come running. Maybe nobody saw. Maybe it's fine. Or maybe they're used to it. He probably does this all the time, after all. Maybe they won't associate my family with this. Maybe...

By instinct, Marian begins making tea once they get inside -- something that helps her calm her shaking hands. "How much do you know about the history of Golden Shores?"