The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Merrill]

Merrill whines softly, the sound cutting off when Hunter scrambles at her legs with a few whines of his own. He's just like them... Or are they like him? Why do they care about me? Why... why didn't anyone e- "Y-yes." Merrill swallows thickly, trying to decide whether to trust. Might as well. If... if they don't keep their promise then... then I'll finally find out what being a spirit is like. Her voice turns wooden, dull, as if discussing a simple maths problem or reading out a list of ingredients. 

"Layla and Windheart found me sleeping under a bush. They dragged me out and- and pushed me into a mudpit. I... I dragged myself out while they threw rocks at me. It... it took a while because they pushed me back in few times and I had to keep Little Shine safe." She sniffles loudly. "I'm not sure when Raynare arrived, but she was there when I finally managed to get out. I tried to run but I kept falling. I... Layla tripped me and I fell onto some brambles and..." She finally loses steam there, her breathing growing too fast to talk. Her head starts to swim and she sways slightly.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian snakes an arm around her waist, trying to steady her. "Was this the first time they attacked you?"

[NPCs]

Most of the crowd is silent at this point, deeply absorbed in the story. Some faces show guilt, other shame, while still others simply an excited curiosity. Worst of all perhaps, are the ones that don't really seem to care. "I... I am sorry to interrupt, but who is Little Shine?" Elder Blossomsong asks hesitantly.

"Just another one of her delusions, like as not." Elder Jorim brighten slightly, as his own words give him a glimmer of hope that he can still control. "Point of fact, now that I think about it. Is it not true that Truthing spells merely enforce the truth as a person believes it to be? So someone who sees things..."

[Carver Amell]

"She had a pet with her -- a little dragon. That must be who she meant," says Carol, firmly. 

[Helene Dakesh]

"It is true. These spells do not account for mortal imperfections. This one can cast a divination if preferred, which would reveal truth as Alydra knows it."

[Marian Hawke]

"And this one would feel better if Elder Jorim were under this truthing," growls Marian.

[Bethany]

"He does seem really, really, really, really, reeeeeeally interested in this not being the three bitches' faults," Beth observes.

[NPCs]

"How dare you-"

"Isn't Raynare your youngest descendant? The only one of your line in that generation? Having this sort of charge- even only as an accomplice- would make it very hard to find a match for her," Elder Marthuc says coldly, clearly pleased to have such an opening to discredit what must be a bitter rival.

[Marian Hawke]

"He looked almost gleeful when he saw a way to blame Merrill again," Marian adds. All these people think about is marriage -- just like nobles back in Nyra. "Elder Marthuc, are any of your descendants involved in this? I don't know who belongs to who around here."

[NPCs]

"Sorry, just- did no-one else hear pet dragon a moment again?" The elf who had done the enchantment detection spell asks loudly.

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one heard," says Helene, helpfully.

[Marian Hawke]

"Merrill was guarding a small dragon, about the size of my fist. We have it currently, tucked away and napping."

[NPCs]

The crowd all pauses, turning to look at Merrill, who flinches under the weight of their regard despite not looking back at them. "Okay, so yeah. Baby dragon. Where's Mama dragon?" the bard asks with a fixed smile.

[Varric]

"Faerie dragon, by the way, not a true dragon. Pranksters and sometimes thieves, not disasters," Varric adds.

[NPCs]

A collective sigh ripples through the crowd. "Ah. Must be from the colony in the woods a day or two from here. Wonder how the fuck it made it this far at that size..." the bard wonders. "Anyway, you were asking about corruption and bias? Marty is single, got an elder sister who works a loom and has a mean right hook she ain't here. One nephew, no higher than my knee. That's it from him. Windy's got a kid and two grandkids but none of them are involved in this shite near as I can tell. Mighta known about it, they're the right age to be gossiping with them three but..." He shrugs, then steps back out of the Truthing Zone.