Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Varric]

"Helpful, but we can probably get that from scrying tomorrow- just pop by his place and grab some fur or the like from his house," Varric explains.

[Carver Amell]

"Or, what about, does Niko need to be rescued? Before we run off and like, try something, and screw up whatever's going on?"

[Varric]

"Ah, but we should get that information from my question as well, in addition to yours. If I'm correctly, divination results are normally short phrase or riddle, correct?" At Helene's nod, Varric continues, "by asking what kind of effort he needs, we'll know he's in danger if we get a result of 'rapid rescue' or the like. Or maybe it'll be 'wait for two moons passing' because us interfering would mess things up for him. Or maybe it'll be 'seek him via means of parchment and words' or the like."

[Carver Amell]

Carver frowns. "What if he's like, somewhere, and he's fine, and doesn't want help, but we ask how to help anyway, and mess it up?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"Then when we cast the bones, they would read 'woe'."

[Varric]

Varric shakes his head. "With the question of 'What kind of plan should we undertake in order to assist Niko with acceptable risk to ourselves' Niko not wanting us to interfere should result in some variation of 'do nothing but wait' or maybe 'water his plants for him.'"

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one tends to formulate the results into poetry. The more complex the question, the more cryptic the poem becomes. There is simply too much data to put into words succinctly."

[Varric]

"...how about... 'What kind of assistance does Niko need most right now?'" Varric proposes. "Eliminates us as a variable."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods. "Much simpler."

[Bethany]

Bethany shakes her head, a bit awed. Maybe I should look into learning some of these spells? Or is that a waste, if Helene is around? Hmmmm. "Oh, yeah, that sounds good," she adds belatedly, flushing a little at being distracted. "Do- do you need anything for it?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one has taken to carrying the necessary tools. This one needs a quiet place to concentrate."

[Varric]

"I'd normally say the basement but... go ahead and use my office," Varric offers.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods, and gives a bow. "This one will return momentarily."

They walk to the office, shutting the door. Whatever they do, a few moments later they return, sketchbook open to a page where they have written the answer. With another small bow, they read it out:

"Kitten
Alone, adrift,
Taken in hand by Gods,
No longer wasted, searching,
is found.
"

Their cheeks darken a bit, and they cannot meet anyone's eyes, not with such a cryptic answer as that.

[Varric]

"Niko was lost, then his place in life, his path, was shifted by the gods- upgrade from adventurer to hero maybe?- and now he's got a Purpose beyond that of street crime," Varric translates. "Least, that's my take on things."

[Carver Amell]

"So... he doesn't need help?" asks Carver slowly.