[crystal] this is major tom to ground control

[thereneverwas]

FORM: Sending crystal
SENDER: Barrow, and then Tiffany
RECIPIENT: Everyone in Riftwatch
NOTES: Injuries, violence

[A desperate whisper crackles over the network, so hoarse and strained as to be barely recognizable as Barrow:]

Went… tits up. Shit’s fucked. Griffons gone. ‘Starion’s out, I’m hit.

[He coughs horribly.]

Stop it, you’ll make it worse--

[Tiffany’s voice starts distant and barely more than a whisper--gets louder as she gets closer, though she never lets it get above a whisper. There’s a brief scuff of sound as she takes the sending crystal from Barrow.]

This is Seeker Hart. Shit is only ninety percent fucked, but Barrow was right about the first and last parts. We are--the three of us--entirely alive, but without griffons or a good way out. We went down in the Silent Plains, fleeing the base. I can try to give what details I can--please, anyone that can offer assistance. We can hold out for a bit but we need rescue. Or reinforcements.

Comments

[kantikoy]

If someone is willing and ready to ride a griffon with me, a rescue can be had.

[ Adrasteia sounds steeled, a strong opposite to how she feels; panicked and worried. ]

Anything you can tell me about where exactly the three of you are would be appreciated.

[tender]

I'll come with you.

[kantikoy]

Fantastic. I'm the elven mage currently running up the stairs to the roost.

We should bring them food and blankets if we can. Healing I can manage.

[tender]

I'm a healer as well. But we should bring bandages anyway, for whatever can keep until we get back to the Gallows. They're close enough to enemy territory that we might have to fight.

[acreage]

I'll come too.

[kantikoy]

Wonderful, Captain. I'll meet you at the roost.

[acreage]

Copy that. [ and since adrasteia's clearly got a good idea of what materials they'll need, he only adds on: ] I know you and Derrica are mages, but it'll be a good idea to bring our firestarters, in case we need to sterilize anything or start a fire without magic.

[ thank god for the magic lighters. ]

[notathreat]

I'm in. Saddling up and grabbing supplies. I'll cover you.

Tell me anything you need and I'll grab it.

[kantikoy]

There are bandaging and healing kits in the infirmary. Several potions and Antivan fire grenades wouldn't be remiss either.

[notathreat]

If there was ever a good reason to use 'em, it's this.

You have a good idea where we're going?

[fairforce]

Thank you.

We can't have been more than a hundred leagues out from the base when we fell. We were heading south, south east, maybe--it's hard to say. It all happened quickly.

The ravine runs for ages. I remember seeing that. If we can, we can send a signal of some sort when you're close. I'm--not sure of what, but I can think of something.

[kantikoy]

Ah yes I remember that feature of the landscape. Did the griffons already leave you?

[fairforce]

Some time ago, I think. On the plus side-- [is there such a thing right now] --we're far down enough that any soldiers of Tevinter will have as hard a time finding us as Riftwatch will.

[illithidnapped]

Bastard— [Astarion gasps, the sound rasping and far too wet to be anything good.]

I'm...not out yet...

[The fall woke him up. The pain puts him right back under again.

Or is it the blood loss. Either way, the last word is his.]

[notathreat]

You fucking better not be. We're on our way.

[illithidnapped]

...can't manage...a thing on your own without me, I see.

[It's meant to be a sly dig, but it comes out middling at best. Alas. Wasted humor.]

[kantikoy]

Don't waste your breath. Just hold on — we'll be there as soon as we can.

just for posterity's sake

[fairforce]

[Caught by the crystal, distantly--]

Shut up.

[--kindly, quietly.]

[illithidnapped]

[A softer, utterly withering snort before he concedes in fading patterns of consciousness. Not that there's much choice right now.

Yes, darling.]

[notathreat]

How bad is he?

[acreage]

[ save your breath, he wants to say. but instead: ]

I can't be too worried if you're feeling well enough to argue.

[ he says, words lighter than his tone; he sounds less like he's worried and more like he's gone past that to the calm of action. but not without, you know, worry. ]

Just hang tight till we get there.

[illithidnapped]

I don’t...as a habit...go down easily. [The antithesis of saving breath, but he's proud of his ability to withstand, so that's what you're getting for as long as it lasts.] I’ll be alive when you get here.

....but it wouldn’t hurt to hurry.

[acreage]

What exactly are the injuries we're looking at?

[fairforce]

Astarion was hit with a spell before we could clear the fortress. Barrow took an arrow. And we took a fall, then, trying to escape--we did our best to tie them to the griffon, but Astarion was unconscious by then and Barrow not far behind. My arm isn't well and I know I've bruising, at least, but I've not taken off my armor to look too closely at it, and it's all rather minor compared to them.

[acreage]

[ jesus. ]

What kind of spell? [ and, seriously — ] I know what you mean, but are you going to be okay until we get there?

[ all rather minor in comparison is reassuring, but also: she's going to have to take care of the two of them, which means all three of their survival depends on her well-being — her ability to fight off threats, ration supplies, keep herself going — until the cavalry arrives. ]