Blood from Stone [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

"Well, what kind of-"

~Is this something that must be solved this day or can we focus on more urgent and relevant matters? Such as the continued possibility that Varric is infested with evil mind bugs. Or his general absence and negligence. Or where the twins and Liz have been.~

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene hesitates, then writes down, "there is food + scrying @ crystalwing."

[Tethras Clan]

~That is a sound plan. We might also corner Varric there. I have... questions I wish to put to him at claw if need be.~

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene shudders, but notably doesn't argue, merely moves to collect their things. Perhaps today, he will have comfort...

[Marian Hawke]

Everything was dark.

There was no light to see by but it didn't matter, she'd long learned how to see in the dark with her magic, only her magic was nearly out and Cindy's blood was all over her body and he couldn't remember how the dead bodies had gotten there and he couldn't focus, couldn't figure out who to be, what to be, only Cindy was lying in his arms and blood was everywhere and everything was dark and tinged with red, the red he should be seeing but can't see because it's so dark, but it doesn't matter, the red has bled to the edges of his vision, seeping into everything nearby, and he'd bandaged Cindy but there was nothing he could do, no way to get her help, no way to drag her all the way to the exit, and he couldn't stay here in the dark with his love bleeding in his arms and he couldn't leave her here, to be killed or eaten or--

[Isabela]

"Looks like someone needs a hand."

Isabela brings the light with her, orbiting her head, calculating the risk that drew: it was likely to lead to ambush, but she could handle herself. And she's glad she brought the torch, glad she took that risk. 

Liz looks nearly feral as the light hits her, crouching, the body of Cindy in her arms. There's blood everywhere; Cindy is too pale, too still, but no, she's breathing, barely. Liz looks like that brief space between 'barely' and 'not' is the only think keeping her sane. If she ever was.

"Come on. Let's get out of here."

[Marian Hawke]

Liz swallows, hard, then again. Slowly, carefully, she stands, cradling Cindy to her. "I.. I can't leave her," she says, and her voice is a hoarse crack. 

[Isabela]

"No worries," says Isabela breezily. "I brought an extraction team. We're getting you both out." 

Please come with me. The force of the sentiment startles Isabela; something stirs in her breast, something she didn't think she could feel for the elven girl. Please don't make me leave you. Please don't die. Please come home safe to me. Don't let the storm take you away.

[Marian Hawke]

Liz's focus is on another part of the statement, however. "Extraction?" she whispers. "We've.. we have to..."

[Isabela]

"There won't be reinforcements," she says gently. "The prison is lost."

[Marian Hawke]

So we failed. After all that, we failed. Marian bows her head, tears dripping onto Cindy's face, and she gives a small nod. Life over death. We can find another way, if we survive.

[NPCs]

Reaching Cattown, Miki leads Carver and his uncle directly to the center. Not geographically, no, but the heart of it for sure. Bharnorol's temple, the Keeper's home and the main school and daycare center for the catfolk. It takes all of them to get there without fighting- Carver to get them past the guard patrols, which are getting thicker and thicker, Miki to get them past a group of catfolk who have armed themselves in defence of their people. Even Gamelan is helpful, if only because three hale and healthy looking mortals with weapons is more discouraging to the two small groups of rioters they pass than two would have been. The temple itself is under guard control- or rather, the area around it is. There's a cordon around it, nearly three dozen guards in fact, far more than they've seen anywhere but here so far. 

"Sgt. Hawke, sir."  The first person of any rank that Carver finds it Sgt. Mulligen, a swarthy merikos dwarf that Carver has worked with a few times. Strangely and annoyingly reedy voice, but solid enough man. Terrible poker face but at least he knows it. And, most importantly, willing to answer when Carver asks what the fuck is going. "Got word that some group had taken the cat's temple, so we send over a squad. Dennis was leading. They figured out right quick the group inside is more than just rioters. Got a few mages, good weapons, some of them enchanted. One of them even summoned a fucking dire bear. That was a dicey minute I hear. Dennis pulled back, called for help. Got it when the group inside- calling themselves The Sons of the Starry Flame- bragged they had a Light inside. Folks uptown did a scry or whatever, confirmed it, and here we are. We're still trying to figure out how to get him out but we don't have any clue what's inside really."

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods. "We're going in. We have reason to believe they have Founder Adonis zi'Goldclaw in there." 

[NPCs]

"So we assumed but... no idea how many men are inside, where he's at... Hells, we don't even have a layout of the place. It's warded. Not great, but well enough to block the mages we have on hand for peeking in. We send guards in there, it'll be a slaughter. And, like as not, the Light'll be the first to get killed," the guard protests.

[GamesMaster]

"I know the layout," says Miki, tail twitching. "We can sneak in," he adds, in Catfolk, to Carver.