therookery | crystal ||

FORM: sending crystal
SENDER: Matthias, on behalf of team rescue
RECIPIENT: everyone. except the dead people :,(
NOTES: info here to help you mourn accordingly. this is forward dated to 5.24 so we can make the most of this tragedy.

This is Matthias. I'm with the team that went after the missing party. They were on an assignment, looking into these elven ruins at Baron Deshaies' estate, and they--

They're dead. [He doesn't sound sad, precisely. It's the calm of someone that's gotten used to this.] We confirmed it with an Inquisition contact. Their capture from Deshaies' was purposeful but their deaths, they were-- The whole thing was the work of these mercenaries. They had a Tevinter mage with them, he was there on an assignment of his own. Somewhere on the way back, our party tried an escape. That mage, he's dead now as well, from their attempt. So they must've come close. Not that it matters now. Sometimes it's a comfort, is all.

We've made our report to the Division Heads and we're coming back, to the Gallows. We've got some of their things, that were recovered. The bodies were burned. But we thought everyone ought to know, now. Instead of waiting.

[That's the script. Matthias hesitates, and in a break from what he'd prepared to say--speaking now with more conviction, speaking in half a rush, as if he might regret what he's going to say and so has to get it all out--]

Their names were Merrill, Kitty, Anders, Sorrell, Teren, Wysteria, Bastien, Gwenaëlle [a name he's practiced saying; he stumbles on just a little], Ilias, Kain, Darras, Iorveth, John Silver, Loki, Sidony, and Magni. Saying their names, it's important. There's nothing we can do to change it or bring them back, but--they ought not to be forgotten.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Fucking Nevarrans!

[Something crashes in the background.]

You declare my brother dead and then have no substance to back this up with?

It's not Nevarra or Nevarrans--

[EXCEPT ONE NEVARRAN and somewhere Matthias is furiously doing the international hand-slice-at-neck gesture in Kostos' direction, shut it]

The things that were recovered aren't meant to be the proof. Not wholly. They were found and-- our source, she was around for when the mercenaries reported back. That's the larger part of the proof.

They are dead. We'll have the things back and you can see then, what-- I didn't know him so I can't tell you.

She saw...

[He wants that brief flash of anger back. It was nice.]

You trust her?

[The question is half-mumbled.]

She's trusted by the Nightengale.

[So that would be enough to stand by itself, but if it wasn't--]

And I could tell. She meant it. What she said, she saw.

She saw it.

[He sounds defeated.]

Did you retrieve any of the ashes?

[Steadily:]

She saw the bodies. Yeah. She brought back what things she could. Ashes were part of that. She tried to do right by us--by everyone--and not get herself caught. For her and for everyone else we'll be bringing it all back.

[A few hours later, tiredly:]

I forgot to thank you. Thank you.

[Somewhat uncomfortably, Matthias stares at his sending crystal before he mumbles--]

I didn't do anything, really. None of us did. It was the mission, and we did it.

Some of his ashes will make it home. It is something.

Yeah. Well. For you, I guess. Good. It's just that it... doesn't bring 'em back or anything. But I know, it's--like the things that get brought back. They can help as well. S'ppose I don't get it.

I would give...

[He trails off, and when he speaks again his voice is distant.]

There is nothing that can bring someone back. If there was, I would gladly fling every resource of my House at it. Without that, I can at least give him this.

You can remember, without ashes. No matter who they are, or what happened.

I can remember, but it is not enough to remember. He needs to go home, even a small... even that.

And I need a drink. Or fifteen.

He's lucky to have had a home to go back to. Whatever there is.

[Of him, of the home, of whatever. Sort of a sulky reminder that it could be worse, but--well, it's not exactly a laugh that he gives next. Just an extra huff of breath. Only it's relatable, that last bit.]

Drinking does usually make a bit better, yeah. No one'd stop you.

[Not that anyone would try, probably, to stop him. Matthias has seen for himself the size of this bloke. Even trash-talked him a little behind his back, in the way you can only do on someone whose bicep is four times the size of you.]

I'll buy you one. When we're back. Be a bit late for it then, but better'n nothing.

There is nothing that says I cannot have a drink now and then another when you return and it is fresh all over again.

[His voice is quiet.]

You said you were Matthias? You are one of the small mages, are you not?

[Matthias pulls a face, unseen. This is probably the wrong time to say this, but it's got to be said--]

I'm not small. Not that small, anyway. [Okay you know what never mind, saying it aloud just sounds like petty sniping--] I mean, yeah. I'm Matthias. That's me.

[He coughs, as close to a laugh as he can get right now.]

I will not call you small again.

[A short beat.]

We will have that drink the day after, if that is all right. I must see to a tradition when the ashes are here.

[WELL GOOD because he's NOT small but he manages not to say that. Barely. By biting the inside of his mouth.]

Yeah. Well-- Yeah. I mean, it'll take me a bit, to get back, and then tradition, and all. Yeah. I mean, if you like.

[Kicking at the dirt, trying to be gruff and cool and manly.]

Yeah.

[Nailed it.]

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Private

Private also & forever

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