[OPEN, mostly] so please remember me as who I used to be

[amygdalae]

FORM: Sending crystal announcement
SENDER: Bruce 'The Loser' Banner
RECIPIENT: Everyone in the Inqusition, with a private note for the advisors
WHAT: rest in fucking pieces kain
WHEN: 8th Kingsway
WHERE: Skyhold, but everyone can listen :U
NOTES: Plot log is here for those interested or have missed it. This is pretty much just the aftermath of it all.

...hello.

[The voice that comes through the sending crystals is--well. He's clearly hesitant, for one, and its easy enough to tell that this particular person is not that all used to speaking at large. Not that speaking into a crystal counts as such, but. The effect is still there, knowing where these messages will go to.

The awkwardness lingers for a moment, but then Bruce clears his throat and speaks properly, this time.]

This is Bruce. [Pause.] And I have news to deliver for anyone who is familiar with Kain Highwind, the Rifter.

[Another pause, and a quiet breath, because no matter how many times he does this--delivering news such as this is never pleasant business.]

He is dead--killed in a fight against a desire demon and its companions. All the healers at the scene did whatever was possible to save him, but the wounds were too extensive for chance of a proper recovery. Kain Highwind passed away a warrior, fighting to his very last breath.

In his last words he sends his apologies and well wishes to everyone who knew him, and to not mourn his passing - these are the words I pass on now to those concerned. For those who knew him, he will be remembered in our hearts.

Thank you for listening.



[Private to the Advisors only]

[Switching over now, and in a quieter voice:]

To the advisors: I will send you a detailed report as soon as I am able to.

Comments

private

[stabsbooks]

Thank you, Bruce.

I trust that the demon is no longer a threat. We await your report.

private

[amygdalae]

You are welcome, Seeker Pentaghast.

Unless there are delays, I should be able to have the report in no later than tonight.

private

[lionheartedman]

If you inform me when you are finished... I can send a messenger to collect it.

private

[amygdalae]

[Ah...]

Thank you for the concern, Commander, but I will be fine. I feel it is more important to deliver this personally.

[Especially given the nature of what he's going to be writing about.]

private

[lionheartedman]

[Well, Cullen's got no idea what the truth of the situation is yet, so he doesn't have a grasp of the gravity of the report that's incoming.]

Whatever you feel is best.

[dashing]

I had no personal knowledge of Kain Highwind— ( a pause, as she considers how to continue. ) I am very sorry for the loss of your friend. How do you fare, Bruce?

[amygdalae]

[...they weren't really friends, honestly, but Kain had been a decent person - and he supposed they got along on a few things. And besides, its not like saying this would really be of any use anyway, so--]

I'm alright. [A brief pause.] Just a little tired, but I'll recover.

[dashing]

( she can't console someone about their random acquaintance bruce, deal with it )

That you will, I've no doubt. It is never easy so see one known to us, and who shares our cause, fall.

( queen of understatements ayy )

[demonicbeauty]

[Ariadne really didn't know Kain all that well. But as a fellow Rifter, she feels an obligation to honor his death.]

Does anyone know anything about the funerary customs of his world?

We should honor him somehow.

[amygdalae]

[...Bruce probably shouldn't say that they already burned his body...]

There is another Rifter who is familiar with him from beyond Thedas, I believe. She was with the party. Hopefully once she feels better, she might give that particular information.

[demonicbeauty]

[She gets a little green with envy, sometimes, when she finds out about Rifters coming in from the same world. It makes her feel more isolated.

But now is not the time to be thinking about that. A man died.]

I guess it would be morbid to go around, collecting that information from all the Rifters 'just in case.'

private

[theproperglove]

( They are at war, and people die in wars. Josephine knows this, but it doesn't make it hurt any less. Less is precious and while she hadn't known him particularly well, she liked Kain. When she answers, her voice is soft, quiet. )

Thank you, the update is much appreciated. We will await your report.

private

[amygdalae]

I'm only doing my job, Ambassador. I should have the report in by nighttime.

private

[theproperglove]

( She chuckles slightly, but the sound rings hollow. )

Aren't we all?

[gatheringstorm]

...shit.

[A heavy sigh.]

I knew he was too damn reckless for his own good, that he was going to get himself killed. I just hoped it wouldn't happen somehow.

Come to the tavern, and I'll buy you a drink. You don't have to get into the gory details, but it sounds like you need one.

[amygdalae]

[Bruce kind of wants to turn down the offer, honestly, mostly because he's not a drinker person and the true circumstances of Highwind's death is... unsettling for him, to say the least. But he doesn't exactly want to rouse suspicion either...

(He's probably thinking too much into this.)]

If I have time later, I may take up on your offer.

[gatheringstorm]

Yeah, whenever you're up for it.

Did you find his mount and that damned bird?

[chainlightning]

Oh.

Oh, no.

[ :C ]

[amygdalae]

[Nooooo Merrill.]

...I apologize that you had to hear this.

[dreadinquisitor]

[Maxwell stops. Physically stops, right in the middle of the hall.]

I-- what? But I just... [He gestures, a hand moving back, pointing at nothing - his mind leaping quickly to the trip he'd just made to refill the silly feeder he'd put up for Kain's parrot.]

...Damn.

[amygdalae]

[Well Bruce can't see any of that, but its easy enough to hear the emotion in his response, and Bruce is apologetic as he responds.]

Delivering news like this is never a pleasant thing. I apologize for this, but it had to be known.

[serannas]

He'll be missed.

[ She didn't know him terrible well, but Ellana fought demons with Kain before. It's terrible that it's this very creature that took him down. ]

You were there, I take it?

[amygdalae]

Yes. We were asked to investigate demon attacks, but we had not expected Highwind to already be involved in it by himself.

[...if only they knew how 'involved' the Rifter actually was...]

[sistertohermen]

Oh. That...is terrible. [Shocking, actually, but she imagines he died by pushing himself too hard or something else semi-noble.] Have you burned his body? I know that's a custom you surfacers seem to have.

[amygdalae]

[...well, he can't skirt around the issue.]

Yes. It was done before returning to Skyhold.