The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Marian Hawke]

Marian hesitates. "I mean... I can't put you up or anything." Given they said not to come back. "It's not like i'm walking into a warm welcome, I just... it's just a nice place."

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one has no objection to Nyra," says Helene, from her place behind Varric in the hall.

[Haliel Lightsong]

''Of course. I can easily stay at a temple, as can you and Seeker Helene I'm sure. So that just leaves Mister Varric.'' She stops, frowning in thought.

[Marian Hawke]

"Nyra has inns, unlike Draslina," offers Marian. 

[Varric]

''Yeah, I can take care of myself. If I can get back to my inn, I can see if my stuff is still there. Paid damn enough that it had best...''

[Marian Hawke]

Marian pulls on her leggings, tucks both tomes into her satchel, and straightens. "Then let's go. There's nothing here for me anymore."

[Marian Hawke]

Prologue * Act 1 * Act 2 * Act 3 * Act 4

Act 1

The trip to Nyra is mostly uneventful. They're not an adventuring party; they don't get sucked into helping some poor village or raided by bandits. There are some close calls with monster attacks, but nothing too serious, nothing the guards can't handle. No, things run mostly smoothly -- something that helps Helene and Varric tremendously with settling down, becoming more solid.

And also becoming more friendly. Along the way, they grow to be friends; after dinner there are often lively academic debates that even Marian occasionally chimes into. Things are just... nice. Pleasant. A good change from the terror and pain that began the relationships.

Lightsong gets used to the way Marian holds back, plays things close to the chest. Even so, it's mildly surprising when Marian chooses to speak up the morning they're arriving in Nyra, as they're an hour out from the gates.

"So, ah, I think it best if we split up here. I'll make my own way inside, and meet you at the Temple of Living Waters?" she offers, tilting her head slightly, as if this is all perfectly normal.

[Varric]

''That is an interesting suggestion that seems to be worth having an explanation for,'' Varric says smoothly, stopping Lightsong before she can say something. He's learned by this point that Marian has been burned enough to give her a shell of wariness, a streak of self-protectiveness. And that while Lightsong means well, she can be blunt to the point of offensive, taking hurt when people don't react to her (as far as he can tell and he's been trying to disapprove it) utterly sincere offers of help with forthrightness and trust. 

[Marian Hawke]

"Well, I don't know how well traveled you all are," begins Marian, glancing at Lightsong. "But generally speaking, when you enter a city, you go through processing. They want to know who you are, why you're here, that sort of thing. Nothing any of you need to be concerned about. But, well, there's reasons I might not want to go through processing. It'd just delay all of you getting in."

[Varric]

''Sorry, did I forget which one of us is the wanted murderer?'' Granted, that's not a huge problem, as a crime as small as mine doesn't really get spread from city-state to city-state that often. Still though.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian waves a hand. "I doubt they'll care. But if you want, we can both try to sneak in."

[Varric]

Dodged nicely. ''How hard you thinking it'll be to sneak in? For you, I mean.''

[Marian Hawke]

Now Marian hesitates. "I'll manage," she says, after a moment. I know there are ways in, smugglers manage it. And I have a decent guess as to where the entrances are. It's gotta be caves, right? Just like Draslina -- caves leading to the undercity. 

[Varric]

''So no real plan?'' Varric asks wrly.

[Haliel Lightsong]

''Mister Varric.''Lightsong's tone is gently chiding.