The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Marian Hawke]

Marian pales, sheathing her belt-knife. "Let's hurry. That could be-- well any number of things ,none of which are likely to be good."

[Haliel Lightsong]

"No, they are not," Lightsong says grimly, giving Marian one last look over before striding towards the tunnel. Not a minute later, she's back, face grave. "It's blocked. Massive cave-in and- it's- it's completely blocked."

[Marian Hawke]

Marian pushes past Lightsong, racing down the corridor. Once she gets to the rockslide, she stares at the rocks, heart sinking. They're dead. They're dead and I'm all alone. 

"Helene," she whispers, stunned. Survive now, grieve later.

"How do we get back up to the surface?" she demands, turning to Jass. 

[Jassinth]

Jass, having just caught up, freezes. "Ah... well..." He looks around wildly, then sags a little with relief. "I can see... four more tunnels out. Three seem to slope upwards, I can try to... figure out if any of them... Where are..?"

[Haliel Lightsong]

"On the other side of blockage," Lightsong says firmly. "We need to get to the surface and come back with help. Tools. Some of the druids must know a transmutation or tunneling spell, right?" Jassinth nods, eyes wide. "Good. We need to move quickly, they have limited water and many need medical attention."

[Marian Hawke]

They might be alive. Marian shakes her head, focusing. I have to get back to the twins. I can't die down here. If they're still alive, we can find that out later, consult an oracle. 

Gods, please spare them... Please.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene swallows again, nausea rippling through nem as ne struggles to focus through the pain, the fear, the longing. Ne prepared healing; ne should be healed by now, if only ne could use nir left arm, if only ne could focus. The yawning void of terror roiling in nir gut threatens to open wide and swallow nem down -- but if ne shuts down, ne might not survive. Ne needs to remain alert, active, long enough to cast. Then ne can lose nir grip. Then ne can...

Steady. Ne takes a deep breath, then another, coughing up more red-tinged phlegm. Thankfully, ne had ascertained that nir throat was scratched, nothing more; ne can breathe, but ne has to swallow periodically, little trickles of blood running down the back of nir throat. Focus. Pray. Cast.

[NPCs]

With the sense of clarity that comes of being healed, Helene is able to take better stock of nir surroundings- what little there is to take stock of anyway. The pocket of clear space ne is currently in is only roughly the size of their rented rooms back at the inn. You can fit a bed, a small table/desk, a chair and a wardrobe in those rooms, but only because the walking area is tightly restricted and down the center. The air is filled with rock dust and dirt, the walls around nem creaking and groaning heart-stoppingly. It's pitch black, of course, though ne didn't expect otherwise. After a few moments of gathering nemself, Helene slowly becomes aware of a faint sound. Like... air being forced through too small an opening, but with a wet- breathing! Laboured, shallow and ragged, but breathing.

[Helene Dakesh]

Ne struggles to adjust, sitting up partially -- as much as nir trapped left arm will let nem. Ne spies a boot after much careful searching; ne reaches forward, straining, and grips it, tugging until it comes free, until ne can touch the socked foot underneath. Ne prays again, slumping with relief as ne feels the spell take hold. Spells can't heal the dead, after all. 

The small motion causes pain to shoot through nem. Of course; the spell can't mend nir arm while it's pinned between rocks. Ne knows what has to happen, but just the thought of it makes the Seeker ill. Just a few minutes more, ne promises nemself. Then I'll dig out the knife, get to work.

[Varric]

The laboured breathing spikes into a pained wheeze, then goes quiet. A beat later and a strong hand grabs nir own in a tight grip. One more beat and a tight voice chokes out, "Helene?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"Here," she manages, in a choked sob. Alive. he's alive. He's safe. I saved him. 

[Varric]

"Where- status?" His voice is tight, gritted out between tightly clenched teeth. Stress? Pain? Both?

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene's stomach churns, and ne glances at nir arm, biting nir lower lip. "Fine. Healed. Do you need more?" 

[Varric]

A long pause. "Stable. Others?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"No," replies Helene. Ne takes a deep breath, lets it out slowly. "Can you escape?"