Warden Kain (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
in_death_sacrifice) wrote2016-09-11 02:36 am
in_death_sacrifice) wrote2016-09-11 02:36 am
Fade Rift Inbox
[It's too bad he moves that hand away so quickly, but the gesture does prompt Inessa to look back up with a small smile.]
Good, I appreciate that. And I'm sure we can find some means to alleviate being stifled, when escape is less feasible.
[Garahel perks up and barks, tail waggging.]
...I think a certain someone already has ideas regarding that.
Good, I appreciate that. And I'm sure we can find some means to alleviate being stifled, when escape is less feasible.
[Garahel perks up and barks, tail waggging.]
...I think a certain someone already has ideas regarding that.
I couldn’t leave you… Well, I mean you and all of the Wardens and our duty… well… you know what I mean.
[Kain is still a bit hesitant about showing affection, too shy to really go for it. But he knows he must make his move soon. He’s waited too long. The injury had set back his plans, but he still wants to tell her how he feels. But he wants to do it when he’s well.]
Hm… I for one would like to try Garahel’s plans. I’m sure they’d involve considerable adventure and excitement. Right, Garahel?
[Kain is still a bit hesitant about showing affection, too shy to really go for it. But he knows he must make his move soon. He’s waited too long. The injury had set back his plans, but he still wants to tell her how he feels. But he wants to do it when he’s well.]
Hm… I for one would like to try Garahel’s plans. I’m sure they’d involve considerable adventure and excitement. Right, Garahel?
[Inessa nods in understanding, that awkwardness met with a small smile. Whatever she might sense of his intentions, the elven mage isn't one to pressure. Some things just need to wait for the right time, if there ever is one.
Garahel leans against Kain, panting happily.]
I hope your arm is rested, because he's missed your throwing ability. All those field trips, and he's still best satisfied with a game of fetch.
Garahel leans against Kain, panting happily.]
I hope your arm is rested, because he's missed your throwing ability. All those field trips, and he's still best satisfied with a game of fetch.
[Of course, Kain is more than happy to offer Garahel plenty of petting. He's good and vigorous about it too, finally having the strength for even that again, too. He nods to Inessa.]
I believe I can handle fetch yet again... and it would be a good way for me to practice and rebuild my strength, too.
I believe I can handle fetch yet again... and it would be a good way for me to practice and rebuild my strength, too.
[Well, that sure sounds pretty bad, coming from someone so even-tempered.]
What's happened, Inessa? Is everything all right?
What's happened, Inessa? Is everything all right?
No.
[Huff.]
Warden Loghain is here. We have no choice but to work alongside him, but if I could, I'd hex the man until his eyes bleed.
[Huff.]
Warden Loghain is here. We have no choice but to work alongside him, but if I could, I'd hex the man until his eyes bleed.
Ah, I didn't realize... It seems the Inquisition will take in anyone, these days.
[First Anders, now Loghain. Even if Kain personally has nothing against the former, even generally likes him, his history can't be denied. Now this... yeah, this one is definitely much worse.]
I've always been surprised he wasn't executed, given those stories about what he'd done. Though perhaps hold off on the hexing until the day comes when it's needed. [Not "if", but "when".]
[First Anders, now Loghain. Even if Kain personally has nothing against the former, even generally likes him, his history can't be denied. Now this... yeah, this one is definitely much worse.]
I've always been surprised he wasn't executed, given those stories about what he'd done. Though perhaps hold off on the hexing until the day comes when it's needed. [Not "if", but "when".]
[She huffs, generally not so bloodthirsty but at the moment, it's all she can think about.]
The man left our fellow Grey Wardens to die, actively hunted down the rest, looked the other way while the elves of Denerim were taken by slavers...and we're just supposed to ignore all that? I know some Grey Wardens have criminal backgrounds, but that...that is too much.
[And it hits too close to home.]
The man left our fellow Grey Wardens to die, actively hunted down the rest, looked the other way while the elves of Denerim were taken by slavers...and we're just supposed to ignore all that? I know some Grey Wardens have criminal backgrounds, but that...that is too much.
[And it hits too close to home.]
[He can tell, and he's only rarely seen her like this before. There are definitely things that can push her over the edge though, of course. He understands completely in this case.]
I know. It goes beyond what's reasonably expected... occasional crimes are one thing, but... this is inexcusable. He's not our commander, though, right? We don't have to take orders from him. [He even starts to sound amused.] All the more reason to come out to the cave. There's less chance of seeing him out there.
I know. It goes beyond what's reasonably expected... occasional crimes are one thing, but... this is inexcusable. He's not our commander, though, right? We don't have to take orders from him. [He even starts to sound amused.] All the more reason to come out to the cave. There's less chance of seeing him out there.
No, Nathaniel and Alistair still share that burden. Thank the Maker.
[She sighs deeply, though it doesn't help as her tone isn't any more calm after.]
That...is an excellent point. I think I'll have to prepare for an outing, then.
[She sighs deeply, though it doesn't help as her tone isn't any more calm after.]
That...is an excellent point. I think I'll have to prepare for an outing, then.
Then there you have it. We don't answer to him. I'm sure you could request from someone not to be sent anywhere with him, as well. They'd surely honor that, as best as possible.
[But he realizes that may not always be the case, sometimes they have to do what's for the good of the Inquisition. Sigh.]
Good. I have yet to receive any visitors out here. [Because he doesn't tell anyone about it usually, it's the Kain way of doing things.] You and Garahel will be the first.
[But he realizes that may not always be the case, sometimes they have to do what's for the good of the Inquisition. Sigh.]
Good. I have yet to receive any visitors out here. [Because he doesn't tell anyone about it usually, it's the Kain way of doing things.] You and Garahel will be the first.
At this point, I suspect they would be swamped with such requests. I may just have to live with it, as best I can. But I won't forgive.
I'd bring Potato, too, but having a mabari near her, let alone on her, could be problematic.
[And if she has to choose, well, the answer is obvious.]
I'd bring Potato, too, but having a mabari near her, let alone on her, could be problematic.
[And if she has to choose, well, the answer is obvious.]
Edited 2017-09-15 13:41 (UTC)
No... nor should you have to. I don't think anyone could fault you for that, either. There are undoubtedly plenty who feel the same.
Agreed, we should hold off on mabari griffon rides for the time being. But I suppose, I should have said, Potato has already been out there, one of the times I took her out solo. She enjoys it. So I've had exactly one visitor, two, if you count Highwind.
[But griffons and dracolisks aren't people, he knows this.]
I think Garahel will like it out there.
Agreed, we should hold off on mabari griffon rides for the time being. But I suppose, I should have said, Potato has already been out there, one of the times I took her out solo. She enjoys it. So I've had exactly one visitor, two, if you count Highwind.
[But griffons and dracolisks aren't people, he knows this.]
I think Garahel will like it out there.
Kain, meet me in the Rifts and the Veil laboratory. There's something I need to show you.
[Urgently said, she's not going to waste time.]
[Urgently said, she's not going to waste time.]
[That sense of urgency isn't lost on Kain, who'd checked for messages while in between training sessions. It has to be important if she'd interrupt that, she knows what it means to him to get back into top form.]
[So he's sure to towel off any sweat, sheathing his sword and taking off for the laboratory. He makes haste as much as possible, peering around for Inessa once he's there.]
[So he's sure to towel off any sweat, sheathing his sword and taking off for the laboratory. He makes haste as much as possible, peering around for Inessa once he's there.]
[What awaits Kain is...interesting and horrifying, all in one. The body of a young woman is placed on a table. One of her lower arms is missing, the stub horribly infected. That alone isn't relevant to her project, but the additional state of the stump is worth noting. Crystallized tendrils reach up her veins, turning some of them visibly green and hard beneath the skin from the edge of the stump to the shoulder and stretching toward her chest and up her neck. In addition to that, they have also grown outward from the stump of her arm into the air in unbreakable, spidery strands that spread out in various directions.
The woman -and what extends out of her- is entirely frozen for now, at least partly due to Inessa, whose palm exudes frost as she renews the preserving magic. She lifts her head a little upon hearing footsteps, and calls out.]
Step in closer. You need to see this...and I'll need to place her back in storage before long.
Edited 2018-11-06 00:27 (UTC)
[Not about to hesitate, Kain does as Inessa bids him to do, and moves on in. He'd seen well enough what they were looking at, even from afar, so he's not exactly eager to see it even better up close. But if Inessa is able to stomach it, then he ought to do the same. He won't show any sort of fear in front of her if he can help it. Even so, clear disgust crosses his face as he focuses his gaze on that stump of an arm, and the sight of what's become of it.]
What exactly are we seeing here? What sort of... what befell her to cause this?
[Well, he has some idea, but better specifics would be nice.]
What exactly are we seeing here? What sort of... what befell her to cause this?
[Well, he has some idea, but better specifics would be nice.]
[Her tone is one of forced calm; having witnessed this in person makes it difficult to be detached.]
This young woman gained an anchor some time ago. Her fiance told he she had meant to seek help at Skyhold, but received no word that she had ever been there. Church, Christine and I visited her parents, but they were evasive and suspicious. While they were out on an errand, we searched the house and eventually found her, in the cellar. They had chained her, cut her arm off...and it didn't save her. Without other anchor-bearers to mitigate the effects, her own went wild. We did our best to make her comfortable, but she did not last long.
[A sigh escapes her as she meets his gaze.]
I know you've been considering it, thinking it would help. But the evidence doesn't lie, and I won't lie to you.
This young woman gained an anchor some time ago. Her fiance told he she had meant to seek help at Skyhold, but received no word that she had ever been there. Church, Christine and I visited her parents, but they were evasive and suspicious. While they were out on an errand, we searched the house and eventually found her, in the cellar. They had chained her, cut her arm off...and it didn't save her. Without other anchor-bearers to mitigate the effects, her own went wild. We did our best to make her comfortable, but she did not last long.
[A sigh escapes her as she meets his gaze.]
I know you've been considering it, thinking it would help. But the evidence doesn't lie, and I won't lie to you.
[Well, that… certainly is troubling. Kain's expression goes from shock to disgust to horror as he eyes the aftermath of the attempt to spare her from keeping that anchor. He clears his throat, unsure of what to say, but then averts his gave, his tone full of guilt.]
Sorry about that, I… I probably should have actually said something to you directly, about what I've been considering.
[He doesn't want to keep things from her, but there he was, holding back again. It's such a bad habit that he needs to break. He's just lucky that she knows him all too well, she can figure out what he's really thinking.]
And I trust you. I do. I… I just couldn't stop thinking about it. About what a frustration it's been, more of a nuisance than it's worth. I don't want this thing, Inessa. I want it gone. But… not like…
[He gestures to the body.] ...that. [He pauses.] I suppose this is also a way to caution me against ever leaving the Inquisition. Not that I would, not with you here, I promise, but… I don't often think much about the effects of not having other shardbearers around…
[He does like his solitary trips, after all, although the wilderness around Kirkwall isn't that far away, really, so he's never had problems. But there is always a chance something could happen to drive him to go off farther and… the effects of such a thing would not be good.]
Sorry about that, I… I probably should have actually said something to you directly, about what I've been considering.
[He doesn't want to keep things from her, but there he was, holding back again. It's such a bad habit that he needs to break. He's just lucky that she knows him all too well, she can figure out what he's really thinking.]
And I trust you. I do. I… I just couldn't stop thinking about it. About what a frustration it's been, more of a nuisance than it's worth. I don't want this thing, Inessa. I want it gone. But… not like…
[He gestures to the body.] ...that. [He pauses.] I suppose this is also a way to caution me against ever leaving the Inquisition. Not that I would, not with you here, I promise, but… I don't often think much about the effects of not having other shardbearers around…
[He does like his solitary trips, after all, although the wilderness around Kirkwall isn't that far away, really, so he's never had problems. But there is always a chance something could happen to drive him to go off farther and… the effects of such a thing would not be good.]
[Inessa ices the body a little more before coming over to stand by him, her gaze returning to the fallen woman.]
Well, you need to. When the pain from your anchor increases, don't ignore it. I just ask that you return while it's still in good condition. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, isn't that the phrase? I know it's a nuisance, as much as I can understand without having one myself...but her end was a horrible one. Don't bring that upon yourself for no reason.
Well, you need to. When the pain from your anchor increases, don't ignore it. I just ask that you return while it's still in good condition. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, isn't that the phrase? I know it's a nuisance, as much as I can understand without having one myself...but her end was a horrible one. Don't bring that upon yourself for no reason.
I'll try not to ignore it... even if I wish this thing could just be gone, already. I can't help but wonder if there ever will truly be a means to be rid of it... or if we're forever stuck with them.
[It sure is one way to keep him from running off for good, that's for sure. Even if there have been times when he'd wanted to. He clenches his shard hand into a fist.]
You're right, though... I don't want to go out like that.
[It sure is one way to keep him from running off for good, that's for sure. Even if there have been times when he'd wanted to. He clenches his shard hand into a fist.]
You're right, though... I don't want to go out like that.
I wish I could give you an answer on that. I'm sorry I haven't been able to provide one.
[Inessa's shoulders sag as she leans into him, still guilty for not having done more as the head of the Rifts and the Veil project. Perhaps they would be further along toward an answer if she'd just stuck it out longer.]
[Inessa's shoulders sag as she leans into him, still guilty for not having done more as the head of the Rifts and the Veil project. Perhaps they would be further along toward an answer if she'd just stuck it out longer.]
It's alright, Inessa... it's alright. You've done so much already, and made what progress you could... but this isn't so easily resolved, if it ever will be.
[Kain wraps his arms around her to hold her close, doing what he can to help soothe her. He knows she's tried hard, that she's always worked her hardest for his sake.]
This project is just far beyond anyone's capabilities right now. Perhaps in time, there will be better answers.
[Kain wraps his arms around her to hold her close, doing what he can to help soothe her. He knows she's tried hard, that she's always worked her hardest for his sake.]
This project is just far beyond anyone's capabilities right now. Perhaps in time, there will be better answers.
Page 4 of 4