Don't Panic

[fleurdesel]

FORM: Sending Crystal
SENDER: Adelaide, Sam, Anders, Ruby, Velanna, Bruce
RECIPIENT: Everyone
WHAT: DON’T PANIC
WHEN: During the Fade Sickness Event
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: N/A.

[ Who's exhausted? The healers are exhausted. It shows in their voice, especially Adelaide as she starts up the call- the sounds of coughing patients and soft murmured comforts audible in the background. ]

There is an illness spreading in Skyhold with peculiar symptoms- those afflicted say they see the green of the fade at the edge of their sight and see strange figures, hear voices. What you are seeing are beings of the fade on the other side of the veil. It has not thinned, merely become transparent to those that are ill. These beings cannot harm you, touch you, or possess you; there is no need to fear. If you are disconcerted seek out the healers or a mage with which you are comfortable.

[ A soft rustling like fabric, as though the crystal is exchanging hands before there's a murmured 'Go ahead, Bruce', and Bruce takes up the rest. ]

The first sign of the illness, as we can tell for now, is a rapidly rising fever that will reach its peak in a few hours. From there the rest of the symptoms begin to show; so if you are feeling this sudden onset of a fever or know anybody who is experiencing it, please do seek out help as soon as possible.

[ Ruby needs no such prompting, picking right up with a cheerful enthusiasm the rest seem to be without. ]

The healers are doing everything they can, but we’ve got other people in the case for figuring out what’s causing this. If you can think of anything you’ve consumed or been near or stuff you’ve done the past few days, let us know! It’ll help us look for any patterns. Any information will help!

[ Another handoff, another voice, Sam putting out the call for aid. ]

As mentioned our healers are doing everything they can to take care of everyone who is coming down with this new sickness. There are a number of those who are sick with simple colds or injured from the floods and mudslides though. Those who aren't sick and able, it would help us a great deal if you could come and offer aid to these individuals.

[ Anders pitching in from the side might be unexpected but- he's as tired and elbow deep in patients as the rest of them. ]

We understand that the situation is stressful. The healer’s tents is fully staffed, and several of us have seen disease spread rapidly before. Please, if you’re feeling symptoms, come to the tents. If your friend is ill and being stubborn, please drag them. Having the ill here is the fastest way to get this under control, stop the spread, and discover a cure.

[ Then, from nowhere? A final, cutting opinion courtesy of Velanna. ]

What we know for certain is the Veil is not weakened any further than it has been. Most of you aren’t dying. Some of you might be, but that likely cannot be helped by needless panicking.

[ A beat of silence before irate, aghast, or wryly amused voices scramble over one another. ]

For fuck’s sake Velanna- So much for trying to keep calm- Maker's breath, we're trying to be comforting- Get her away from the crystal-

[ Oh so helpfully off to one side- ]

...you do realize that everyone can still hear us, right?

Comments

[chainlightning]

It always helps not to panic!

[ #POSITIVITY ]

Is there anything we shouldn't do while sick? I mean, other than usual things you shouldn't do while sick? Specific to the weird Veil things?

[justice_is_blond]

It doesn't feel any different, not the thinness that we saw in Kirkwall nor the way it felt after being thrown out of the Veil. I don't think it's doing anything to the Veil at all, just enhancing perceptions.

[chainlightning]

That still counts as weird Veil things right now, [ decisively, because her feverbrain Said So. ]

Just- when your throat is sore you drink hot things and try not to shout. There has to be something we can do to help ourselves too, even if it's not doing things.

Or. Something.

[justice_is_blond]

Rest would help a great deal. Not overworking, probably not using any spells that are spirit-based even if it's just wisps for lighting. Not to say delirium and candles are a good combination, so rest is the key thing here.

Are you ill, Merrill?

[chainlightning]

I'm going to try not to use any spells unless I have to, I think. All the flashes of green are giving me a headache.

[ So yes. She's ill. ]

Although some fire wouldn't be bad -- it's very wet.

[justice_is_blond]

Please come to the tents. We've warmth here, and...

[He exhales.]

I don't suppose you're close or know the way? If you tell me where you are I can find you and lead you.

[Very worth it if it keeps the one blood mage he knows about here from casting when there are so many demons pressing in. Except if people can hear Justice, then they can hear his commentary... Maker's breath. No one needs what she does repeated. That it's in Tale is bad enough; Anders doesn't want her dead for it.]

Or, better yet, can you get in contact with someone who isn't healing who can get you to the tents?

[chainlightning]

I was thinking of finding Martel, [ she admits. ] So I'll either have someone bring me to the tents or I'll rest with him. Does that work?

[ She doesn't want to be a bother, Anders. ]

Oh- um, see if some of the Dalish healers, especially Firsts, know of any herbs that can help. Don't ask them for the names, just see if they can. Secrets, you know.

[justice_is_blond]

That works. Though I have to admit I've not paid attention to what Firsts are here. I didn't even know we had Firsts here. Who are they?

[chainlightning]

Well, they may be former Firsts. But Pel, of clan Ashara, and Sina, of clan Dahlasanor. I don't know if they're sick or not- oh, but someone really should check on Sina, she has that shard so close to her heart...

Oh! And Velanna was trained as a First, of course.

[failedfirst]

It is just a sickness that is coupled with... strange hallucinations.

[chainlightning]

They're even educational hallucinations, if you've never seen a spirit before.

[ so. if you're a dwarf, probably ]

Considering the weather, it's not surprising that people are sick.

[failedfirst]

No, although I don't think the weather is causing the hallucinations. Even if this is a place of spiritual energy, it shouldn't be so that... this happens.

[chainlightning]

I don't suppose there could be a rift that we can't see very far up in the sky that the rain is coming through, could there?

[failedfirst]

I... [huh.]

I don't think so? It's been some time since I was in the Fade physically, but I do not think it rains there.

[chainlightning]

Perhaps if it were raining in your dream, it would rain there? I suppose I've always been dreaming when I was in an outdoorsy part of the Fade.

[failedfirst]

That would mean the rift would need to be connected to a dreamer, would it not? It would also need to be quite large to be creating so much rain. I would think someone would have noticed.

Although perhaps even the sealed breach is causing some kind of reaction? [She feels like they're grasping at straws here, but talking helps with the clarity.]

[chainlightning]

Well, I don't know about you, but I haven't been physically in the Fade for an extended period of time. It could rain in the Fade outside of someone's dream. We just- don't really know enough about it to know.

Maybe! Or even the creation of it had effects that aren't being seen until now, since they're being all stirred up by this much rain.

[fleurdesel]

Panic. Or engage with demons; the usual advice offered mages.

[chainlightning]

I've never been able to panic overly much while feverish, at least.

[fleurdesel]

A strange benefit to the illness, I suppose.

[chainlightning]

Well, except every time I try to go somewhere I end up tripping.

But I suppose that's somewhat better than going long enough that I get lost. It's at least different.

[fleurdesel]

Perhaps that is a sign you ought to remain in bed and rest. Wandering about does you no favors.

[chainlightning]

The voices from beyond the Veil are louder if I'm just in bed not doing anything.

[fleurdesel]

If it will keep you from wandering around and from being driven to distraction- we can use more hands in the healing tents.

[chainlightning]

Oh- I'm a terrible healer. And I'm not very good with people.