Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

"That makes sense, I suppose. Can you... ask about each ritual separately?" Zevran asks curiously, watching all this with fascination. "I assume weal is the opposite of woe?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"Yes. But the ritual itself is too far in the future -- this one can only speculate on the results of deciding to do the ritual," they add. "This one cannot get specifics of the ritual itself from the bones unless this one were to go perform the ritual now. And timing may be important to the answer."

[Tethras Clan]

"Ah. Yes, that does make it harder. Is there... a longer reaching spell?" 

[Helene Dakesh]

"Yes. But it is a more limited spell. This one hates to waste resources."

[Tethras Clan]

"Waste? You undervalue yourself terribly," Zevran scolds them gently.

[Helene Dakesh]

"I-- perhaps you are correct," they stammer, looking down at their bag. "This one is often scolded to that effect by Honored Varric. This one... This one will make the attempt."

With Zevran's help, Helene gathers the required implements and begins the spellcasting. They spread their sketchbook open to a blank page on their lap, and, as they enter a trance, sketch and scribble furiously. When they are done, the page is covered in Celestial text, with little drawings along the edges: scales, several dogs (some in painful looking positions, and one dead in a pool of what is likely to be blood), tombstones, and flagstones. 

They waver a little as they come out of the trance state, as though in shock, or perhaps having not eaten for quite some time. "I--" they whimper softly, clutching their pencil tightly. "I must think."

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran smoothly squats in front of them, reaching to take their hands in his. Lightly, gently, carefully. "Helene? Seeker? Speak to me... what happened?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"The... the vision, I... it was... this was.. Alydra reached out unto me," they whisper. "I... I have to think."

[Tethras Clan]

"A proposal? Spend a few hours doing something easy, something mindless, first. Give yourself time to get over the shock of... whatever that was," Zevran urges them.

[Helene Dakesh]

"Yes, I... for a time. Then I must go to the Temple and follow up. But.. but, for a time.. I..." 

They take a deep breath, letting it out. "This one will likely perform the ritual."

[Tethras Clan]

"Both of them?" Zevran asks carefully.

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one must spend time and effort detangling the message this one received," they say, sounding a bit more solid. "This one will ensure that this one has understood the message properly before deciding upon the second ritual. This one... Alydra clearly intended for this one to know much more than this one already does."

[Tethras Clan]

"I... am glad I asked. I must admit I still feel like I do not entirely understand all of this but... I am glad I seemed to have perhaps helped in some small way," Zevran replies, smiling a little.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods. "This one is... This one will..." They take a deep breath, letting it out. "At least this one will finally be rid of these useless desires," they add, trying to sound brave and uplifting.

[Tethras Clan]

"Desires?" Zevran echoes, vaguely recalling them saying something to that effect earlier. "Desires are far from useless."