open.

[exequy]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Nell Voss & Kostos Averesch
RECIPIENT: Everyone
WHAT: Helpful advice
WHEN: On the way to Nevarra City
NOTES: Necrophilia mention

Hello, Inquisition. Since we are now on our way to Nevarra, we--your friendly [ accompanied by a quiet snort in the background ] local Nevarrans--thought it would be helpful to provide some basic information about our homeland.

Specifically, questions you should refrain from asking when we get to Nevarra City.

[ They do sound Nevarran, more or less. (Him more, her less.) They also sound like they're probably sharing a bottle in addition to sharing the crystal.

Nell begins: ] Does everyone have sex with corpses?

Do the Mortalitasi have sex with corpses?

Can I have sex with corpses?

Are there dead people in this tavern?

Are there dead people beneath this tavern?

Can I talk to the dead people?

Can you talk to the dead people? Are you a dead person?

If Andrastians elsewhere burn their dead to honor Andraste, because she was likewise burned, does that mean Nevarrans believe she was mummified and stashed somewhere?

Can I see mummified Andraste?

Can I see a mummified dragon?

Are there dragons at court? Does the king have a pet dragon?

Did the king kill his pet dragon?

Isn't the king a dragonslayer? Aren't all Pentaghasts dragonslayers?

Isn't everyone in Nevarra a Pentaghast?

What about necromancers, aren't you all necromancers?

Is the king a necromancer?

Is the king a dead person? And isn't Nevarra basically just Tevinter Junior?

The answer to all of these questions is no. Whatever obvious question we didn't include that you now want to ask us, the answer is also no. If you think it would be clever to make your question a negative so the answer will have to be yes, you are both wrong and obnoxious.

Comments

[thunderproof]

❰ what on the gods' green earth... adalia has a number of questions, but one stands out as the most important. ❱

Are your dragons necromancers...?

❰ time to start panicking, if so. ❱

[galvanising]

Yes.

[thunderproof]

❰ frysquint... ❱

Are you saying yes because you're annoyed by the question or because that's the real answer? I'm not from here, I'm not being rude. I don't even know what a Nevarra is, other than "apparently obsessed with dragons and necromancy."

[galvanising]

I wouldn't joke about something like that. It's become a very serious problem in recent years.

[thunderproof]

❰ with a cumulative 10 on her insight check, adalia is suspicious but can't take the chance. when next she speaks, her voice is suspiciously peppy. ❱

Cool cool cool, awesome, so if I wanted to head back to this Kirk's Wall place, where should I go? Do you have a map? If there's a map I can totally get there by myself.

[exequy]

She’s joking.

[ He’s a helper. Or a spoilsport. Take your pick. ]

[galvanising]

I never joke about the dragon necromancers.

[ it's not precisely a lie; this is the first time ]

But fleeing at the first mention of trouble! I can see you'll be a true asset to the Inquisition. These Rifters really must be sent by the Maker.

[thunderproof]

❰ damn her low wisdom. adalia huffs for a moment, barely holding back a childish rant about how really rude it is to lie to people who are ignorant when all they want is to know things —

and then she's all but called a coward, and there is no holding back a rant on that one. ❱

Excuse you, do you know my life experiences? Maybe I have really shitty traumatic experiences with dragon necromancers I don't want to relive. Maybe you could throw me at your so-called demons and I would be fine! Maybe I just don't want to see people die melting in a puddle of acid again!!! Maybe that!!!!

❰ she lets that rant sit for a moment before she breathes out sharply through her nose, disdain positively dripping from her voice when next she speaks. ❱

You're a piece of shit, lady. Dude, thank you for being honest.

[galvanising]

[ her tone makes this very clearly an aside, complete with a soft rustle of cloth and very faint thump of someone nudging someone else with an elbow ]

Dude. I'm not sure it suits you.

[exequy]

[ Dude, Kostos mouths silently, like maybe he’ll understand it better if he does. He does not understand it better. Nonetheless: ]

No? Piece of shit suits you perfectly. [ That part is low, barely audible over the crystals, and intended for Nell only, because he would actually never agree with a stranger over her except to tease. Meanly.

Then he gets louder, for the rifter’s benefit. ] There is no acid involved.

[thunderproof]

❰ as with most things adalia does, she regrets the rant about as soon as it's out of her mouth, so her response is rather sheepish when it comes, some moments later. ❱

That's good to know. Thank you! Again. Is there anything you, specifically, Mister Whoever You Are, not Miss Terrible McAwfulPerson, think total and complete strangers to this world should know about Nevarra? For instance, say, would a baby dragon from a different world be unsafe there?

Purely hypothetically speaking.

NOT PRIVATE bc I remember how crystals work really!!

[faithlikeaseed]

[Myr cuts in—] Serah, what’s your name?

Promise I’ve a good reason to ask.

[thunderproof]

❰ oh this sounds like a disaster waiting just around the corner. adalia is this close to just saying her name is fuck off go away, but... ❱

Adalia. Why, who wants to know?

1/2;

[faithlikeaseed]

My name’s Myrobalan; it’s a pleasure, Adalia.

2/2, private;

[faithlikeaseed]

—And I don’t know if you’ve been told, but you don’t need to speak to the whole of the Inquisition on one of these if you’d rather speak to one person or a few people. Simply ask for them by name.

Now. Are you all right?

[Earnest worry here.]

Beyond the part where you've just been dumped into another world and you've got a pair of Nevarrans making sport of you, that is.

private;

[thunderproof]

I'm fine, ❰ adalia snaps... and then immediately feels bad, cuz this guy sounds like he's really concerned, and she's just being a dick for no reason, now. he's been nothing but genuinely helpful, and she's just an asshole. ❱

I'm... I don't like being made fun of. I know no one does, I shouldn't have — I was being stupid. I'm alright. Thank you for your concern. And the information, I'll keep that in mind.

private;

[faithlikeaseed]

[Gently,] It’s no trouble. You’re no doubt in need of some concern right now.

Is there anything else I can answer for you?

[thunderproof]

❰ the words "i'm fine" are on the tip of adalia's tongue again and she opens her mouth to say them, but... she's not fine, is she? she can't just admit that, but... she doesn't have to lie, either. she's quiet for a long moment before she shifts, frowning down at her crystal. ❱

I'm in the caravan on the way to Nevarra. I didn't know about the necromancy or the dragon-hunting when I agreed to continue with it. If I wanted to leave, would I be allowed? I would go wherever I was told to, I don't want to be lost in a world that's not my own, but I have... There are considerations. I wouldn't have agreed to go to Nevarra if I'd known about these things.

[faithlikeaseed]

If it's any consolation, dragon-hunting's likely not on the agenda with what we're out there for--though the necromancy's a little harder to avoid. [His tone is sympathetic on that last; he's not wild about necromancy himself.]

That's--mm. I'm not the one to ask on that; I'd like to say you would and that you're under no obligation to stick with the Inquisition on an operation you wouldn't have volunteered for. But--that shard you've got won't let you get very far on your own; once you're away from other shardbearers, I'm told, the pain from it will be unbearable.

You might need to convince some of them to come with you. Don't know that our leadership will be thrilled about that.

[thunderproof]

❰ necromancy isn't necessarily evil, adalia isn't so irrational that she can't admit that. that doesn't make it any less terrifying, or violating — when people die their bodies should be left free for their spirits to return to, or disposed of according to their cultural mores. they shouldn't be raised without their permission, and certainly not without their spirit animating it. just the idea is... nauseating. ❱

What are they out here for? I've gotten a little bit of a general primer, but I don't really know why this group is headed for Nevarra. I've only just become certain that Nevarra is an entire country.

❰ well... that's not particularly encouraging. pain adalia can stand, most likely — she's squishy, but not as much as some other mages she knows — but she doesn't want to run afoul of her new benefactors without first making herself useful enough to stay. she can't continue on to nevarra, though, if charis is going to be in danger... ❱

How forgiving is the Inquisition? ❰ she asks slowly, considering. ❱

[faithlikeaseed]

Gratitude for our defense of Perendale, I think--or that's the story. Practically I'm sure there's a lot else we'll be doing while we're there, whether or not all of it's above board. [His voice is dry with a note of self-deprecation: What does a Circle mage know about all of that, &c.

The question of the Inquisition's forgiveness--makes him think for a moment. A long one. Finally:]

Very, in some things, especially if you've got something they need. [Damned if he knows what that might be for Certain Persons, but there had to be a reason...] And you shardbearers are our only way to close up the rifts.

You're thinking of asking forgiveness rather than permission? [There's amusement there.]

[thunderproof]

❰ drily, ❱

What's a Perendale and why did it need defending?

❰ come on, myr, you can't just say things like that and assume she knows what you're talking about.

that is just the answer she had been hoping for, and it solidifies her resolve. she won't stay with this group if it will put charis in danger and herself in contact with necromancy. when she gets... wherever she's going, she'll apologize for leaving and make herself as useful as possible and this will all be forgotten in the course of a month or so.

though she's not ashamed of her plan, myrobalan calling her out on it does make adalia blush, and even though he can't see her she shrugs. ❱

Maybe. If I was, would you want plausible deniability?

[faithlikeaseed]

[Laughingly,] Sorry--you'd think I'd know better than to do that, since half the things anyone talks about around here are new to me, too--but it'd be worse for you.

Perendale's a city in western Nevarra they took from their neighbor, Orlais, oh--years and years ago. The Venatori, [and oh, how to explain them; he'll think on that a moment,] laid siege against it; if it had fallen to them, they'd have that much firmer a grip on the north and a foothold for pushing further into Nevarra and Orlais alike. Needless to say, the Nevarrans--and anyone else who isn't in Corypheus' thrall, [damn it, another name to explain,]--weren't having any of this and called the Inquisition out to repel the assault.

The Venatori are a group of fanatics dedicated to restoring the glory [he puts heavy irony on that word,] of the Tevinter Imperium--Tevinter's to the north of Nevarra and the Marches and once counted most of Thedas their territory. Mages and magic rule, there, and have for ages; aside from that, they're also known and reviled for their slave-taking. To his credit, their current Archon's not thrown in behind the Venatori, but-- Well; I don't have much of a head for politics, [international or otherwise] so I'll spare you the inept speculation.

By themselves, the Venatori would be worrisome but not nearly so much of threat without the ear of someone in power, but this fellow Corypheus--he's claiming to be a sort of ancient Tevene hero, one of the Seven Magisters who-- [...he trails off, then gives a brief helpless laugh,] Maker, this is only going to get worse if I go on like this. --well, suffice to say they did a lot of harm to the ancient world with their magic. Which I can explain at more length, if you'd like, but it's a long story.

[And given what she's intending to do, well, she might not have time to sit for it--but he'll give her that option.]

No, but thanks for thinking of it. If someone comes to me direct I won't lie about knowing what you intended, but I don't think that's likely.

Just keep your wits about you if you go, take company if you possibly can--and stay in contact at all times with someone in the Inquisition. Doesn't have to be me, if you've found someone else you trust, but the Venatori have kidnapped and tortured shardbearers in the past. You'd be at much more risk for quietly vanishing since you've not been around long and no one knows you well--and we'd do poorly to lose you. You deserve better than that.

[thunderproof]

❰ as usual when someone is explaining something thedosian to her, adalia has her quill to the pages of the book inessa gave her and she takes notes without thinking about what she's hearing, so that she may write it all down as quickly as possible and avoid having to ask for any repetition. even the things she already knows of — tevinter and its slave-owning magocracy — get written down, because who knows if myrobalan will have given her any new information? when he finally stops, the scratching of her quill sounds over the crystal for a few moments more before she sets it down. ❱

So, to sum up: A big bad evil from the country of big bad evil wanted a thing, and you wanted him to not have that thing, so you booted his forces out of the thing?

❰ another one of those things she knows is more complicated than she's giving it credit for, and it's not as though myr explained it poorly, or even that she doesn't appreciate the extra information, but it was a lot of words to explain "it was a place the enemy wanted we couldn't let them have". ❱

I appreciate the advice, ❰ she says to the last, and she does, even as you deserve better makes her stomach turn in a strange way. with a thoughtful hum, there's the sound of rustling, then of footsteps. ❱

Do many people on this plane fly, Myrobalan? ❰ adalia asks speculatively. a strange question for anyone who doesn't know she has a flying broomstick, probably, and yet... adalia feels no need to explain. if nothing else, it will be a way to get a leg up on anyone who supposes her bound to terrestrial transportation. ❱

[faithlikeaseed]

[For a moment, he's caught in the very strange position of wanting to leap to Tevinter's defense--because whatever else they're responsible for, Corypheus' modern manifestation isn't precisely the Imperium's fault. (There's something beneath that, too; something he won't quite confront head-on. Half his blood is Tevinter; if it's all unmitigated evil--)

File that one away for later thought and prayer; keep going.

Wryly,] Got it in one.

[He'll cop to be prolix when he gets going; it's hard not to want to share everything at once out of sheer enthusiasm for a subject.]

Ah-- [That is a strange question, though he's accustomed enough to thinking practicalities that he's a hint of why she's asking.] --not many. Shapeshifters and the Wardens if they're out with their griffons. Is it more common where you're from?

And what's a "plane", beyond a flat spot with a lot of grass?