(no subject)

[strangel]

FORM: crystal
SENDER: Helena & Sarah
RECIPIENT: everyone
WHAT: request for aid and also hi, red lyrium darkspawn
WHEN: nooowwish?
WHERE: Hunterhorn Mountains
NOTES: Helena, reference to injuries. For the To Catch A Darkspawn assignment.

( The voice is muffled for a moment, and presumably the crystal was activated a little early. )

Do not fret, Sestra. It is steady. Be resting.

( And, more clearly: )

We are on mission in Hunterhorns. Only two for stealth, but we are needing help for bringing our quarry back to the Kirkwall. Sarah was very brave and kept our captive from escaping, but her ankle is much broken, now, and she is very bad at steering the lizard horse.

Comments

[strangel]

I am very serious. Mission was going well, before Sarah got hurt, but I cannot think of way to keep her safe and bring back the darkspawn and be sneaky. Moving through this territory, it is difficult.

( Orlais, the Anderfels, and the shitty mountains sandwiched between them during a war. What a time, what a destination. )

This is part of mission. ( If only he were there to see the zipping across her mouth gesture. )

[mousquetaire]

[ Yes, it would be, with a captive and a broken ankle. He sighs. ]

Understood. I can bring a horse, but I'm not a medic.

Where are you now?

[strangel]

In cave. Darkspawn move at night, and Anderfel soldiers patrol also. For now we hide, stay safe. Darkspawn is injured enough not to cause trouble, but I am keeping the watch.

[mousquetaire]

All right.

You've got to keep it restrained, Helena. For God's sake don't let either of you get infected. Are you far enough from where you caught it that the rest of its brood can't follow?

[ Because holed up in a cave with darkspawn chasing them would be in an even worse scenario, and it will take him time to reach them. ]

[strangel]

( She scoffs a little. ) I am not stupid, Musketeer. Do not worry on this.

( Even so, she does sigh a bit. It's been a long couple of days. )

We will know if they do not find us. Darkspawn are... not in my world. There are things I am still to learn.

[mousquetaire]

They're not in mine, either, thank God.

[ He's had more experience with them than he cares to admit over the last few months. Journeying the Deep Roads had been a lesson all by itself. ]

You said it's injured. Reassure me that it isn't bleeding, please.

[strangel]

Not now. We know to stay away from the blood. We have been very careful.

[mousquetaire]

All right. Good.

[ He knows the kind of fighter Helena is. He has no doubt she can defend herself, and Sarah. It's just that these things are dangerous in more ways than one. ]

I'll come for you as soon as I can. Can you tell me anything about where you are, aside from that it's a cave? Odds are it's not the only cave between here and those mountains.

[strangel]

( And usually she has no qualms about blood. It's rough, man. )

I can. Hanzo, he is saying he will help. He knows to look for you.

( And then follow some instructions and information about where on earth the cave is, because I sure don't know enough about that area. )

[mousquetaire]

Hanzo and I were in the Deep Roads together. He's a good man.

[ And they've both fought darkspawn before. The whole team is getting back together. ]

We'll find you, Helena. We'll have fresh supplies as well. How is Sarah?

[coppelganger]

Sarah is fine and perfectly capable of keeping herself alive, thanks.

[ huff huff huff ]

[strangel]

( elbowing her sister BE NICE )

[mousquetaire]

[ She might be huffing, but that makes him smile. ]

Your ankle may disagree, Mademoiselle, but I'm glad to hear it. Do the two of you have anything for the pain?

[coppelganger]

Yeah, we've got a bottle of that elfroot stuff.

[mousquetaire]

Make it last, and I'll bring more. It may take us some time to reach you, but we won't delay.

Please do not take risks with that thing. Your lives are more important than a mission, Sarah.

[ She seems like she'll be more receptive to that advice than Helena, for some reason. ]

[strangel]

And I found the whiskey also.

( But she is listening to musketeer and sestra, and watching Sarah closely as she does, immediately going digging for the potion. )

[aceso]

If you are volunteering, I can make up a medical kit for you to take with you to replenish what they may have used.

[mousquetaire]

I am. I'd appreciate your help, Madame.

You're part of the project that has interest in these creatures, are you not? I've fought them before, but if there is anything else I should know, I'd be grateful for it.

[aceso]

Indirectly, yes. Our main focus in research into red lyrium, but with reports of the substance infecting darkspawn, we have broadened our research.

You have seen them up close before, so you must know to cover your nose and mouth and any open cuts. The Blight is most easily contracted by those means. Anything deeper than that, you will want to talk to the Grey Wardens. Darkspawn killing is their specialty.

private

[mousquetaire]

[ Okay, so let's just-- ]

So I take it, then, it is important that it is returned alive.

[ Great. ]

They say it is restrained, that they have stayed away from its blood. I pray that is so. What should I do if I reach them and the worst has happened?

[aceso]

It was the goal of the mission, but I have no qualms about it being brought back dead if it proves to pose too great a risk. It is simply that more can be studied if it is alive.

[ There is a pause, and when she speaks, it is slowly as if she is only just thinking of each word before she says it. ]

I am unsure of the protocol... when a Rifter has contracted the Blight. But the most merciful thing to do would be to end their suffering. Should they be deceased already, the bodies would have to be burned to ensure no one stumbles upon them and becomes infected themselves.

[mousquetaire]

I will keep it alive if I can, Madame.

[ The thought of needing to take that latter advice makes him feel ill, quite frankly. Regardless, he'd rather be prepared.

He must reach them with all haste. ]

I shall bear it in mind, and hope it does not come to it. Helena is a good friend.

[aceso]

I have only met them recently, but they are Cosima's sisters and should anything happen to them— Well, it will not. I must leave you to prepare for the journey. Perhaps there are others to go with you.

[mousquetaire]

At least one other, I'm told, but if you hear of more I'd be glad of it.

I'll do my best for them.

[aceso]

Thank you. Good luck and do take care.