The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Varric]

"Sure? How... Involved is that?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"The process will take approximately ten minutes. This one will use the most powerful of this one's spells, which may cause backlash and damage if done improperly, but should be reasonably safe to use."

[Varric]

Eyes narrowing, Varric gives them a intense stare. "Define backlash."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Should this one fail to contact Alydra successfully, this one's mind would be damaged for a period of approximately four weeks, and this one would be unable to cast during that period. This has.... rarely happened," they admit. "It is most likely that this one will succeed."

[Varric]

"You are absolutely sure it's temporary?" Varric demands. "Completely and utterly?" 

[Helene Dakesh]

"Yes," agrees Helene. "It is a backlash due to improper shielding against the current of divine power, which causes damage only to the physical shell, but never to the soul, which finds nourishment in this current. Therefore, when the body heals, no scarring is likely to occur. This one has contacted the divine many times, and in fact, the dominant theory is that this one instinctively does so in a dream state, causing the oracular visions that this one receives. Thus, this one is well suited to full recovery from such backlash without any chance of permanent damage."

[Varric]

Varric shifts a few times, then finally nods slowly. "If you're sure," he says, tone protective and faintly worried. "Anything I can do to help?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene shakes their head. "This one will be able to ask multiple questions. This one will receive brief answers, primarily one word. If there are any other questions you have for Alydra, please prioritize and write them down."

[Varric]

Multiple questions? Interesting... After finding out he can get four answers, the dwarf takes a few moments to write out his other three questions. 

What is Alydra's opinion of mortals that do not conform their identity and behavior to the sex displayed by their physical shell?

Does Alydra prize Seeker Helene-who-was-Dakesh's longterm health and future actions over having access to that mortal's sevices as much as possible in the short term?

How can we best secure guest rights from Raplin without significant moral transgression?

The last question goes unwitten for nearly a full minute. When he finally shoves the paper at Helene, it's also written much faster, almost sloppily. ''Was it my brother's idea or order?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene frowns, looking over the questions. "The second is a waste," they ask. "This one has asked similar previously and believes the answer will be, both. The fourth is unspecific."

[Varric]

Varric frowns slightly but finally nods. Get back to that one later then. "Fine." He frown deepens, twisting to a scowl. "Reword the fourth as... 'Did Varric's brother knowingly cause or allow... that temple wall to... move directly or indirectly."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene frowns. "The wall that the Ancient One moved?"

[Varric]

"...yeah, something like that."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Is Varric implying that the Ancient One takes orders from Varric's brother?"

[Varric]

Varric smiles faintly, pleased at their pushing back. "Greybeard hinted at moving the wall after someone else did." Or possibly just influencing the results. Irrelevant. "Or accident, time, whatever, did. I want to know the primary cause." a beat. "Actually, change of question. 'Who was the person most significantly responsible for the wall moving in the first place?"