Blood from Stone [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

"I'll help too," says Liz, moving closer to read over Varric's shoulder. "I'm concerned about the output if this goes wrong. It won't be enough to destabilize the panic room, will it?" she asks, gesturing to the tear in space they've opened nearby. It's handy; it will remain open until closed from the inside, so they can load things into it ahead of time as they figure they're needed, and examine the latticework of spell inside. 

The ritual... probably won't destabilize the panic room. It's hard to tell, of course, with this sort of thing. It really depends how angry the gods are that they've tried it -- or on their luck, which Varric prefers to rely on.

It won't, however, easily be done without killing the caster. The energy spike doesn't want to redirect; every alternate configuration of circle Varric tries is too delicate to handle that much raw power. The backlash would only act as a Disintegration -- a death sentence, but not soul annihilation. Hopefully Helene's having more luck with dampening the effect rather than redirecting it, as that's a dead end. 

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene stares down at the page of complicated, tiny, shorthand calculations, a sense of exhaustion and finality washing over nem. Understood. This is how it must be, then. 

Helene tucks a single sheet into the book ne was looking at, letting it stick out a bit, then taps on the table, tapping out for the benefit of those across the room loading the last of the ritual supplies, 'Done.'  As Varric and Liz come over, ne hands over one of two copies of a small stack of pages, ready to let them examine the final ritual, leaving Vig to finish counting the ingots once more time, checking over the chalk designs that can be pre-scribed into the panic room.

Ne only waits long enough for Varric to get absorbed in the reading before ne slips toward the panic room, trying to look casual, as if to go help Vig. Everything is loaded. It is finished. I dislike deceiving my spouse once again, but it is necessary. I am ready. It is finished.

[Varric]

Damn shame we don't have more than an once of Titan's blood (would have absorbed nearly sixty-two percent of the undiverted energy and slowed down the transference in addition, giving the caster a chance to heal during absorption). Still, Helene seemed like they were onto something, based on their expression. Varric mentally shakes his head, making himself focus on double checking his modifications on the internal wards, ensuring they play nice with the safe room when it gets put under stress. When Helene drops off the paper, he offers a quick smile- that much I can communicate easily- and tries to finish so he can look it over. Ritual will take a half hour, minimum, probably closer to a whole hour, and it has to be down before sundown. Which is still several hours away, true, but the more time they have to do it, the better.

[Marian Hawke]

Liz stands behind him, reading over his shoulder, but her mind wanders a little, as she struggles with the math. She glances aside, then, seeing the book with its page in. Oh, did Tuiste forget a page? she wonders, tugging it slightly so she can see what's on the page without disturbing the book.

She reads two sentences. Her blood runs cold. Ne doesn't have a solution. Ne's going to--!

Liz turns, running for the portal. "Helene! Don't you dare--!" she manages to call out, jumping through just as Helene seals the panic room, removing both of them and Vig from this plane of existence.

[Varric]

Varric's head whips around to stare at the small glimmer, swiftly fading, that denotes a sealed entrance. One that will not, cannot, be opened for at least six hours, the shortest time possible without reworking huge sections of the spell. Heart slowing, chilling, he looks back at the paper, to the one that's out of place, and skims it.

[Helene Dakesh]

Dear Varric,

I apologize for deceiving you. In truth it is not possible to prevent the destruction of the shell of the caster of the ritual, and this one does not wish to argue over whether such a ritual is ill-advised. This one knows what you will say. This one appreciates what you would have said.

It is my honor and privilege to give my life in the service of Alydra, saving Nir wonderful city and the people within. But more so, as this one is not a pavitra, it is my honor and privilege to give my life to save you and the children. I truly love you, Varric zi'Tethras, and the children as well. Thank you for blessing me with your love for these short years we have been together.

I wish we had more time. But what's done is done. I will reincarnate, as my people always do. Please hold onto the last of my journals for my next incarnation. Tell my next self that there was joy, and there was love, and there was peace, even despite my defects, despite everything I struggled with. Tell my next self never to give up on miracles.

I love you
Helene who was Dakesh who was Avanti who was Eden

[Varric]

The room is still and quiet for a several minutes. Then a faint flutter of paper falling, the soft scrape of it against flagstone. Finally...

"Please. Please no. Not again."

[Marian Hawke]

"You can't," argues Liz, pacing behind Helene. The room is small, only fifteen feet on a side, and there's no walls, just a mystic force of grey swirls that holds them back. The floor is etched with chalk designs, the double summoning circles they'd decided on; Vig has leapt into his before it was finished, and the other is empty, waiting for Helene to finish the summoning spell ne is casting. 

Liz is taking full advantage of Helene's distraction to lecture the samsaran on nir choices. It will be at least five hours before they can get out of the room; even if they summon the devil, they don't have to go through with the second ritual yet. The circle will hold him for seventeen hours. Plenty of time.

"It should be me," she argues again. "You saw how bad off he was. You want to take away his spouse? You're probably the person he leans on most. He's going to need that for what's coming. I'm disposable. Let me do it."

[Vigile]

"You are not disposable. You have already seen the damage losing you did to your family. Having it happen again, to sceleratis no less, so soon after getting you back? I suspect Carver in particular would never recover." Helene cannot talk, but Vigile simply cannot leave his circle.

[Marian Hawke]

"There's no other options. Helene or me. If it has to be one of us, it should be me," argues Liz. "I'm damaged, I'm not... I don't contribute to the family. Nobody comes to me for support. I barely fit in, I'm the outsider, the third wheel. This is probably why I was spared, why I haven't made progress. Let me do it. Let me be good for once, let me save someone. Let me pay Varric back for saving my family by saving his."

[Vigile]

"Exactly so. Helene is the elder of you. Ne- apologies- they you have decided on currently, correct? They are the parent, the mentor, the elder. It is their role to stand and give offer that final defense. You may well face this choice someday. With a heart as noble and loving as your own, I would not be surprised. Dismayed, perhaps, but not surprised. But for now, it is their time. For you, it is time to heal and grow. You have made progress. A great deal of it, though you are stubbornly blind to seeing it. In truth, your inability to recognize your own strength and value is your only real remaining flaw of significance, as it prevents you from using those strengths for any good."

[Marian Hawke]

"Then let me use them now," she begs, as she reaches the end of the room, turns, paces again. "Please. This will destroy Varric. You know it will."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene finishes tapping with a flourish, turning to watch the devil appear in the summoning circle. 

[Vigile]

"No more than losing you," Vigile says softly, then shifts his focus to... a dwarf?

[NPCs]

"-simply think that we need-" the dwarf cuts off, looking around in sharp, crisp movements. "Well. This is... unexpected." Aideasant Dunswithe offers Helene a kindly, almost grandfatherly smile. "Little Helene. What a pleasure to see you again. I hope you're doing well?"