Blood from Stone [AU]

[NPCs]

"There is... well... My Patron has told me about... other things one can do for pleasure. Things that your stunted, freakish body won't diminish," he says softly, standing. "Yes... I think trying something new could be good. And best to use defective goods as a trial run before moving on to something more desirable." Nodding, he moves over to the ritual supplies. Ah. Spider silk, perfect. And some dragon hide strips. A bit short but I might be able to get some snap from them. "Maybe Beth next, if she's back. Certainly not the elf. Ugh."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene lets out a low moan of terror as it all snaps home. This one is going to be used. This one is going to be raped. This one is going to be-- This one will be--

It finally hits home, then, as he speaks of Beth. It's possible, though farfetched, that Varric might wish to do things to Helene's body that don't involve penetration, but Beth is his daughter. Varric would never harm her. Just like Varric would never harm Helene. Deception isn't something Helene is overly familiar with, but at this point, as ne freezes in terror, gut churning, it's abundantly clear at last what's happening:

That is not Varric.

[Varric]

It's a close run, whether the three inches of cold, messy water running across the entirely of the back of his body or the smell is worse. Worse than either are the tight, magically sealed chains that criss-cross his body and pin his arms and legs tightly together and the close confines of the tiny drain he's been shoved into. Though he would say that the drain itself is ever so slightly worse than the chains. So perhaps... Drain, chains, water and smell? The water is more likely to make him ill after all, and one does get used to foul smells, for the most part, after a long enough duration. 

Of course, none of that is really the worst part of what Varric is faced with. 

He's failed his kids. He's failed his spouse. He's failed his employees, his office and his peers. He's failed his duty and his honor, his obligations and promises. He's failed his ego and his intellect. He's failed his Clan, his legacy.

And all at the hand of his own flesh and blood, the brother he had distance himself from, had thought had moved on from. All his plans, his careful husbanding of resources, connections, prestige, reputation and personal power. All of it, useless. All of it, negated and neutralized in a single moment. 

And now Helene is going to pay for it. Closing his eyes- not that it matters, given the curses he's under- he prayers. Please. Helene, be strong. Be wise. Figure this out and keep our family safe. Please Helene. Don't let him hurt you.

[Carver Amell]

Carver's anger has faded by the time there's a knock on the door. It threatens to flare back up at the thought that this could be Dad -- but it vanishes entirely when he opens it to spy Aveline, his Aveline, standing on the doorstep. 

He gives an exhausted, pained, genuine smile, stepping aside to let her in. "Aveline," he breathes, looking her over. "You're alive."

[Tethras Clan]

That causes a slight pause in her stride, a worried look on her face as she takes him in. "Yes..? I've been running the coordination, I've not even seen combat as yet." Her tone, while worried and even, has more than one note of bitterness and annoyance over that fact. While it's true that her experience and training makes her very well suited to run things, and that she could do more good making sure everyone else does their jobs in the best manner possible, it still irks to have to step back and help indirectly. "Can you give a report?"

[Carver Amell]

"Yes ma'am," he breathes, still in a wondrous whisper. Then his tone firms up and he reports in: "Cattown is on fire, Lt. Peregrine is overseeing the relief efforts but between the riot and the fires, it's uncertain how many deceased we're looking at. We confirmed the survival of Founder zi'Goldclaw, but he's been tortured -- specifically he's lost all ten claws and he's been neutered. We have him here, resting. Confirmed deceased include Mriy -- I don't know her last name if she has one -- and Gamlen Amell. Confirmed survivors include Miki, myself, Bethany, Merrill, Helene, and Glimmerwing. Oh, and Kevin, wherever he comes from. We have wounded and we're on rationed healing -- Miki's healing's spent, mine's spent, Merrill's spent, Silence is spent, but Beth managed to rest long enough to pray for more so she's our primary healer. We're going to need a few regenerations -- Silence lost an eye in the fighting as well -- but we'll survive. Summerhill was stable when I left it, and I left Sage zi'Smith in charge of the relief efforts. We've lost contact with Merchant zi'Tethras -- and he's being a right asshole about it -- and Liz, Cindy, and Hunter."

[Tethras Clan]

For some reason, the random addition of some new name sticks in her head. Who the fuck is Kevin? Whatever. "I... I knew about Cattown, and about Adonis being... taken. No report as yet that he's safe, so that's a big relief." She pauses a moment, trying to process all of that. "Okay... give me a minute to think that over. In the meantime.." Stepping forward, she shifts her armour so it takes on the seeming of the dress uniform of the guard, just sturdy wool and silk trim and pulls him in tightly.

[Carver Amell]

He squeezes her as tight as he can, relishing the feeling of being safe for the first time all day. Aveline's here. Everything will be okay. He shudders, burying his face against her shoulder. I can relax a little. 

"I haven't slept yet," he mumbles, swallowing hard. "I've been trying to keep everyone together. But Vangal's Mercy is it good to see you."

[Tethras Clan]

Subtle, love. Chuckling softly, Aveline diverts a slight degree of focus to that core of Dedication inside her. A second later, Carver feels strength and health pouring into him and washing away the fatigue and aches still lingering. Pulling back a little, she kisses him softly. "You've done well. The last forty-eight hours have been a hell. Let yourself relax a little, alright?"

[Carver Amell]

He blushes faintly as the magic washes over him, invigorating him -- I didn't mean that, but thank you anyway. Then he's kissing her hungrily, letting himself be a man alone with his love for just a brief moment. 

As he pulls back, he shakes his head. "Can't. This isn't over. We still don't know what the fuck is wrong with Dad, or if that demon summoner was working alone."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline stiffens, eyes blazing. "Demon summoner? On top of this devil enticement? Godsda- wait. Do you actually mean demon or are you just doing that thing were you call all sceleratis demons?"

[Carver Amell]

"I.. actually don't know. Which one's a hellhound? And I don't have a positive ID on the thing possessing him, other than it was possessing him, and it popped out of his back to give him extra arms like a -- like words not fit for your company, ma'am," he adds, sheepishly. 

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline relaxes, though only a little. "Hellhounds are ordered evil, so devils. Beastal and primative, yes, but they follow a strict pack hierarchy and are very obedient to their masters." She shakes her head a little. "Explain. Who is him? What was he after, where was he, is he dead, details, now."

[Carver Amell]

"I don't know, I don't know, in the Keeper's Temple, and yes. He was the one who had Don. Unfortunately I didn't get any intel before Miki rushed in and we had to fight our way out, but he summoned black fire -- real nasty shit, nearly killed Miki twice -- and a hellhound before the thing possessing him popped out to lend a direct hand. Don might know more, or your Lt after they finish securing the place; we were just the extraction team at that point."

[Tethras Clan]

That would make sense with the report I got about some adventurers getting involved in that mess. "I see... Did he say anything at all during the fight? Most devils and their slaves like bragging."