The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[GamesMaster]

The ritual is a success; near the end, when Marian gets impatient and tries to skip a step or two, she gets a twinge of ache in her mind until she stops, walking through the steps the long way. The painstakingly long way. Still, she gets no aura, and an hour later, still no sign of real headache, meaning it's possible for her to do rituals -- if she's patient, and doesn't skip any steps. 

Varric's work, meanwhile, is a flawless success. The letter seems to be gibberish -- not the best disguise ever, but it's in a cipher that's nigh-unbreakable without the decoder text and the knowledge to use it. Someone not trying to be sneaky, but trying to ensure they aren't intercepted. Of course, Varric would never go anywhere without his dog-eared first edition of The Mechanisms of Machinery, in the original Gnomish, so it's child's play to decipher the text. 

The contents are more challenging to grapple with, of course:

My favorite savant, 
I need you now more than ever before. If there's anything left of what we once shared in your heart, come to me now. I fear if you do not, we will never be able to finish our prototype together -- or anything else. 
Your devious mastermind

No names; nothing that could incriminate her. But damn if that's not one hell of a letter.

[Varric]

Well... shite.

[Varric]

It's not until the next morning that Varric takes a step of actual action, as opposed to mental planning- and worrying. Specifically, he approaches Helene as ne is finishing their morning prayers and other such ablutions. "Hey, Helene, you... you got some time for a walk?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene holds up a hand, jotting down a last few notes in nir journal, before nodding. "Of course. This one always has time for Varric." 

Helene grabs nir shawl, pinning it around nir shoulders, and heads toward him, letting him lead the way outside.

[Varric]

That... doesn't get a smile, which is strange. Instead, he just nods, an distracted expression on his face. He waits for nem, then heads off away from the house, towards the forest. Despite the single direction, he manages to give the impression of someone pacing furiously. And silently, which is also strange for him.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene trails a few steps behind Varric, frowning in thought. Varric hates wilderness. Trees creep him out, and animals belong in pens to him. Something has gone horribly awry.

[Varric]

They're several minutes into the woods when he finally stops. Well, stops going deeper in, as he now shifts to actual pacing. He's scowling, with something- a paper?- in his right hand. "Can you-" He cuts off, seeming to change his mind on what he was about to ask. "What do you make of our current situation? What do you think needs to be done next?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one is uncertain," says Helene, eyes fixed on the paper in his hand. "Varric... is something the matter?"

[Varric]

"Yes. Don't be certain. Sorry. I mean- take your best guess," Varric asks, still pacing.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene blinks. "Ah. Well. This one's apprent-- Marian needs a new teacher. Carver is doing well, as is Merrill. The situation in Nyra is stable, if not resolved. It would seem what is needed most is a direction -- this one must decide where to take up residence once the debt to Raplin is finished being paid."

[Varric]

Take up residence... "Do- do you require- would a..." He takes a deep breath. "Retrying. You mentioned finding a place after we're done here- what's your... thinking on that?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"Ah," says Helene, glancing away. "This was... not a matter of some small consideration. Varric has made his plans to return to Orzammar plain. This one... it depends on... how this one's relationship with Varric progresses whether this one could try to accompany him."

[Varric]

Okay, that was... direct, which is just the way Helene is. "And... and if- if I had to go back... now? Tomorrow morning?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"I would ask to accompany," says Helene, glancing back in his direction. "May this one ask what happened?"

[Varric]

"I... I got a message- as you must have guessed," he says, finally glancing at nem. He forces a glimmer of a smile, though it can't touch the worry and agitation in his eyes. "My- my oldest friend- she- she wouldn't have called me back, not like this, unless she didn't have another option. She... She needs help bad. I can't not..."