592 réponses à ce sujet

[BFace]

After a quarter hour or so of Tessa pacing back and forth, watching the road both ways, she sees the group come from the Warden’s place.  She squints, trying to make out who all is there, letting out a breath she didn’t know she was holding when she saw Beldin towering over everyone else. He seemed hale enough.

 

She counted twice more, sure they were missing someone, but she couldn’t make out for sure in the dark.

 

Tess turned toward Sarel and nodded back at the advancing group.  “Here they come. Now let’s hope Bartha’s managed to stay out of trouble.”

[ChachiBobinks]

Etienne's stomach lurched at the sound of the lock clicking behind them. His doubting frown was shared with everyone, but steadied on Rael as he slipped his hand into hers. Yes, they were told of the security measures Tarl took but... his suspicions were still heightened.

 

"We have made the right choice, yes?"

[mysteriouspast]

Etienne's stomach lurched at the sound of the lock clicking behind them. His doubting frown was shared with everyone, but steadied on Rael as he slipped his hand into hers. Yes, they were told of the security measures Tarl took but... his suspicions were still heightened.

 

"We have made the right choice, yes?"

Rael's thoughts were scattered--still thinking about Laurelin and her incredible magic, Beldin's sudden reversal of fortune, and of course, Bartha and what kind of situation she may have found herself in. Her musings were interrupted by the sliding bolts behind them and she smiled inwardly, knowing that those locks would do little to keep her out if she wanted to go past them.

 

Without preamble or fanfare, she felt Etienne gently grasp her hand. She interlaced her fingers with his as though it were the most natural thing in the world and looked up into his concerned blue eyes. "We have made the only choice we could," she said thoughtfully with a smile she hoped he found encouraging. She then pulled his hand down, causing him to lean towards her, and whispered into his ear, "don't worry, serah Etienne--I will protect you. I am a deadly assassin, after all." 

[Mahumia]

Bartha's stomach dropped when she heard the sound of crushing wood. 'Fine... this is it then... but I won't fall without a fight.' She produced her daggers and readied herself.

 

Fast, heavy footsteps were closing in. She did her best to hear where they were... one was getting really close... 'Please don't see me right away... so I can try to run past you...'   

 

{Bartha tries to remain hidden: stealth check

 

3d6+3+2 → [3,4,4,3,2] = (16)

link }

[Lorien19]

The night was dark but the air felt pleasantly chilly, Laurelin’s vision was sharp enough, for her to see things that she wouldn’t be able to see, in her elven form. She enjoyed changing into a bird the most, the freedom she’d feel when she
It’s been a while since she last transformed into an animal, the Keeper discouraged her from using her shape-shifting abilities, and for a good reason.
Had he known that, not only she did shape-shift but she also did so in front of an audience…Of strangers…Creators she didn’t even want to think about his reaction nor the vein that would often become visible on his forehead, when he was furious.
Suddenly Laurelin spotted two figures in the dark, as she got closer she recognized Tessa and Sarel waiting for someone,but she flew right overhead, doubting that they could recognize her in this form anyway.
It was then when she reached the windmill that was situated on the top of the hill. At first glance there was nothing unusual about it, but Laurelin’s raven eyes noticed a large group of people situated at its base, six of them humans and the rest three elvhen. They appeared to be armed and armored, and apparently searching for something.
“Treasure, most likely. “she thought as some of them appeared to be digging. Laurelin decided to leave these treasure-hunters or possibly bandits to their task, and focus on her mission to find Bartha.
And there she was, a small figure f a dwarven woman climbing a ladder, she could even see the braids in her hair.
From what she could make from the scene, Bartha was trying to hide from the bandits, but if they found her then “Elgar’nan!She’s indeed in danger! ”Laurelin decided that transforming back into an elf in front of the bandit group wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do.
Hence she decided to go back and inform the others of Bartha’s whereabouts, but most importantly of the situation she’s gotten herself into.

Laurelin spotted Tessa and Sarel again and fortunately for them and Bartha, the rest of the group was approaching the warrior woman and the elvhen mage, from the direction of the warden’s house.
She found the perfect opportunity to land when the two groups finally merged together ,Laurelin landed feeling a rush of adrenaline as her talons touched the ground.

Again a vibrant light surrounded her as she closed the distance between herself and the group. Her black, lustrous wings turning back into long
delicate fingers, and her eyes were again the same gold that they were before.
“Bartha!”She gasped “She’s in danger,I saw her in a windmill up on the hill.There were bandits outside looking for treasure and she was hiding…”Laurelin’s voice became shaky ,the once pleasant breeze felt now more like a rather unpleasant blizzard, she shivered “We must hurry!”.
The sudden blast of cold was more than justified, as she realized that she was standing there, in the middle of the night,without her clothes on. But most importantly,she was standing there in front of everyone,Mercuriel included.
“Blast!”She muttered as what felt the breeze brushing against her bare skin. “My gear…I would appreciate it if…”She nodded, unable to speak due to the harsh Fereldan cold and covered herself as much as she could in a desperate attempt to warm herself,but to no avail.

[berelinde]

Bartha remains hidden... for now. A lithe but powerful-looking man with a longsword walks by, peering behind the gears. He leans over a little too far and has to scramble to disentangle his coak from the gear before it draws him into the mechanism.

 

A string of profanity follows, along with a "Pipe down, fool!" from below. He grumbles a bit and retreats from your field of vision.

[berelinde]

Summary: Beldin fumbles his way through a few more thank yous.

 

Spoiler

Beldin bounded up to Sarel and Tessa. He started to reach for Sarel's hand but thought better of it. It wasn't lack of gratitude that held him back, but an excess of it. He did not think Sarel would appreciate the display. He settled for something simpler.

 

"Thank you," he said. "I owe you a great debt. I know you're disgusted with what passes for justice here, and you aren't wrong, but it was your question that opened the way for the warden to toss out the old judgment and begin again."

 

Tessa... that was harder. He found that he couldn't meet her gaze, so he looked at his boots instead.

 

"I'm sorry I gave you such a fight in there," he said. "Even then, I knew what you were trying to do, but I couldn't allow myself to hope... I thought the end was inevitable and I just wanted to get it over with. I know it will never be over, not as if it never happened. A piece of parchment in my pocket won't keep the mob back if they see what they aren't supposed to see. But at least now..."

 

His voice trailed off.

 

At least now, what? He always knew he was innocent. Nothing Tarl Dale said changed that. He met Tessa's gaze and held it for a moment.

 

"I know I'm not alone anymore. Thank you."

 

He extended his hand. She might grip his arm as an equal or she might punch him in the jaw for being a jackass. Either was fine with him.

[BFace]

Tessa grinned as Beldin loped up to her and Sarel. It was good to see that he appeared in much better state than she’d last seen him.  He spoke to Sarel first and Tess grew serious as she listened.  His raw emotion was a little hard for her to take in.

 

Not because she felt that anything was wrong with it but because she wished that there was something she could do to make it not so raw for him.

 

When Beldin turned to Tessa, to speak to his shoes, Tess made a face at the top of his head. She listened to him with some sympathy, prepared to punch him in the arm or something else benign to let him know, in a friendly manner, to stop being an idiot about it.

 

Then he raised his head and met her eyes and she forgot what she was going to say,his earnestness taking her by surprise. 

 

“Idiot.” Tessa said to herself as Beldin extended his hand. She realized immediately that she’d said that out loud and thanked the Maker it was dark out, to hide her blush.

 

She reached out then and clasped his arm warmly, her hand feeling very small around his forearm, and said, “I meant me. Are you truly alright?”

[mysteriouspast]

As they approached Tessa and Sarel, Beldin ran ahead, clearly not finished with his rounds of gratitude. Rael held back to let him say what he wished, and exchanged a pleased look with Etienne.

 

As Beldin and Tessa finished their discussion, her attention was drawn by a flutter of wings as a raven landed in their midst. Before she could form the though that it must be Laurlin, the bird was enveloped in a dazzling flash of light. When she unshielded her eyes, Laurelin did indeed stand before them, with nary a scrap of clothing on. 

 

"Merciful Andraste!" Rael shrieked as the woman tried to screen herself from the bracing wind and the astonished eyes around her. Swiftly unclasping her cloak, Rael draped in around Laurelin, hoping it would suffice until someone fetched her clothes. As she turned back to the others, she leveled a withering glare at any of the men whose eyes lingered overlong on the Dalish woman.

[berelinde]

“I meant me. Are you truly alright?” Tessa said.

 

Laughter erupted from Beldin in a short torrent of hoots and snorts.

 

"Oh, Maker," he groaned once his breathing was under control. "I think I'm going to burst a blood vessel. I'll be alright. Everything feels like I'm trying to put a lid on a geyser, but it'll pass."

 

He wanted to walk away and sit in a dark room until he could sort his tangled emotions, but there was no time for that... and there was something he needed to do.

 

Shyly, he reached out until his free hand was beside her neck, almost touching her shoulder and stroked her cheek lightly with his thumb before snatching it back again. He was only glad that the darkness hid the blush that he knew covered his face from jaw to hairline.

 

"You were... marvelous... in there," he said. flailing for words. "I... I'm glad you've got my back, and I'll always have yours."

 

It might have been the stupidest thing he'd ever said, but it was too late to change it. Fortunately - or unfortunately! - he was spared the consequences of his fumbling by a blinding flash of light and the sudden and completely unanticipated appearance of a stark-naked elf.

 

"HNG GAH!" he gasped, throwing both hands over his eyes and staggering backward.

 

A root took his heel and he fell sprawling on his backside, but that was probably for the best. He hid his face inside the borrowed tunic. From the heat in his cheeks, he would not be surprised if blood were seeping from his pores.

[BFace]

You were... marvelous... in there. I... I'm glad you've got my back, and I'll always have yours.”

 

When Beldin touched Tessa’s face, she froze, her eyes wide in the dark.

 

‘MakerMakerMaker! What do I do?!’ she thought frantically. She had no idea whether to return the touch, to step forward or to run away.

 

Thankfully, a bright flash of light and the sudden absence of Beldin stopped her from having to make that decision right this moment.

 

“MAKER’S BALLS!”

 

Tessa was blind and her heart nearly burst out of her chest.  She held stock still and clenched her fists as she heard an almighty crash that might have been Beldin.

 

Tessa’s sight came back and she found herself blinking stupidly at a very naked Laurelin as Rael threw a cloak around her.

 

This was turning out to be the strangest night Tessa had ever spent, and they still had to go collect Bartha.

[Brian ofthe Dialogue Wheel]

Beldin approached him thanking him, but Sarel just politely nodded. Why wouldn't he defend an innocent party? What kind of person thinks someone needs to be thanked for being fair. Then he thought about his own experiences, and said, "You're welcome, Ser. Visit it back upon an elf or a mage at some point."

Sarel saw the raven land, then  turn into the Dalish Elf, Laurelin.

He had never seen anything so amazing. Such a unique and impressive display of magical prowess! "Creators, that was awe inspiring? How long have you been able to do that?" He said as he fumbled through his bag for a cloak.  "The Circle doesn't teach skills like that. . . probably because a tower loses its intimidation if you can fly. Is it related to creation magic or spirit? Does the magic fold you into the fade and replace your body with a raven, or does it manipulate your flesh into that of a raven's, then change it back?" Looking up, he saw Rael had given the Dalish Shapeshifter her cloak, so Sarel instead handed his to Rael, then dug for a quill, ink, and parchment. "Would you mind jotting down the theory for me?"

[ChachiBobinks]

Andraste's blessings, Sarel and Tessa!

 

Etienne couldn't help but beam as Beldin made his way to the other warrior. Personally, he was a fan of the two. They were endearing. Something about the juxtaposition of the two was absolutely beautiful. And, truth be told, it was refreshing to see Beldin do something right. He was such a loveable oaf.

 

He nudged Rael gently as he returned her smile. Things were... not so bad. They were certainly improving, aside from Bartha gone and the doors locked behind them and certain death. Other than that... splendid, really.

 

Hand tightening around hers, his gaze drifted to Sarel. "Did you find any sign of Bartha yet, sera-"

 

Words hung in his mouth as Rael ripped herself from his grasp and his brow rose, watching her dash away. It took him a moment -- or perhaps, two -- to realize what had happened. There was a bird, and a flash of Rael's beautiful red hair, and then a... flash of flesh as her cloak swung around her. "DEAR MAKER," he exclaimed, dropping his staff as he threw his hands up over his face.

[Mahumia]

For a split second Bartha wonders whether she should stay put or run. 'They will continue to keep looking until they find me... they know there is someone... and when they do find me, there will be nowhere to run.' With a sharp intake of breath, Bartha jumps up and starts to run as fast as her legs want to carry her. Hopefully past all those people and hopefully to an open door. As soon as she is on her feet, she realizes that she doesn't know whether the door is open... 'it's too late now... please, be open.'

[TreeHuggerHannah]

Tempest nodded silently when Etienne asked if they were doing the right thing, a little perplexed by the question. Surely it would not be the will of the Maker that a companion be abandoned to possible death? That made going after Bartha the right thing. Tempest was not particularly fond of danger. She didn't want to die any time soon. She did, however, want to do the will of the Maker. And that meant sometimes taking risks. 

 

She was quiet as they walked, but she thought that was probably for the best. They were out in the open, exposed, and it wouldn't be wise to draw attention with the noise of idle talk.

 

Her heart lifted with relief at seeing Tessa and Sarel safe, and she acknowledged her companions with a smile. Before she could formulate anything to say to them, though, a bird exploded into a naked elf. Not just any naked elf, indeed, but Laurelin.

 

"Merciful Andraste!" Tempest said, somehow managing to make the phrase sound almost like a prayerful invocation.

 

She wasn't sure whether to be fascinated by Laurelin's power or frightened by it, so she stood dumbly feeling both.

[obsessedwjpn]

Mercuriel followed the rest of the group outside and up towards where Sarel and Tessa had supposedly headed. Before leaving, Mercuriel noticed that Laurelin had left her gear behind so he decided to grab that just in case. He and Dog jogged to meet up with the rest of the group.

 

The reunion with Tessa and Sarel a little ways up was short lived as Laurelin's raven form landed in the middle of everyone. She began changing back to an elf except she had nothing on. Mercuriel's eyes almost fell out of his skull. Sure he'd seen naked women before, in a variety of positions, most very pleasurable he thought to himself, but never had he witnessed such public nudity. Not that it bothered him in the slightest. He was simply surprised for a moment.

 

He saw Rael rush to Laurelin's side with a cloak. He frowned at the quick cover up of Laurelin's body. From the brief glimpse he was no longer uncertain of her body's stellar beauty. Everything was perfectly situated, wonderfully shaped and just the right size for him. He wanted to kiss each and every inch of her. His tongue burned with the thought of what it would be like to taste her skin. His thoughts slowly swirled into an image of him and her together, completely naked in a private room somewhere. Why was he with the rest of these people again? Oh, right! They had someone to rescue! His libido kicked his logical brain hard. 

 

I know, I know, he responded in his mind. A time for everything. First, save the numbskull of their group who had wandered off. Then, find a moment alone with Laurelin to play out his fantasies. He sighed, then stepped forward and held up Laurelin's gear.

 

"I believe you forgot something in your haste," he gingerly held the gear up with a giant smirk plastered across his face. "Shall I help the lady change?" He made a show of waiting a moment for anyone else to speak up, starring around at the group with piercing eyes that dared anyone to challenge him, then added, "Sarel, I believe this outside changing room only has enough space for two." 

 

He shoved the other elf back in a playful manner. "No studying allowed in the playroom," he coughed to catch himself, "I mean changing room." He chuckled.

 

Seriously though, Mercuriel didn't show it but he did not want Laurelin catching a cold. Her standing out here in the dead of night with nothing but a cloak to protect her from the elements was crazy. He handed Laurelin her gear then whispered to Rael, "Please see to helping her, if you would."

 

He then walked over to Sarel and looked down at the parchment. "Do you think you could sketch me something? For study purposes only, of course." He thumped his shoulder into Sarel's teasingly. 

[ChachiBobinks]

Etienne buried his head in his hands, groaning. He was more than happy to be the one filling the silence the elf left in his.. gracious offer of assistance. "Mecuriel, you fiend," he cried out, voice pitched and uncomfortable. "Let the woman be, I'm sure this is.. quite embarassing for her."

 

Because in Etienne's mind, of course, no well-thinking individual would ever want such a thing as public nudity.

 

That said, his own reaction was somewhat akin to Sarel, minus the looking. The Circle didn't teach any sort of transformative magic. It was unheard of, as far as he was concerned, but he resolved to take more interest in it later. When she was fully dressed, perhaps. Or when one of their party members wasn't missing.

 

Clearing his throat, he kept his hand up as if it were a shield and looked to Sarel. "Pardon my interruption, serah," he said to the other mage, smile purposely charming. "Did you find any trace of Bartha?"

[mysteriouspast]

Rael suppressed a groan as Mercuriel made every off color comment he could think of. At least he'd made himself of use with Laurelin's clothes. And there was Sarel, practically throwing his cloak at her and taking out his writing tools as though he were taking a deposition from the shivering Dalish. At least Etienne and Beldin had the sense to cover their eyes, though they did so in the most extreme way possible. Maker, what was wrong with these men?

 

In the reaction over Laurelin's appearance, they had neglected to fully comprehend what she'd said. Bartha was at the mill, in extreme danger. Holding her lantern aloft, Rael cried, "Bartha's at the mill yonder--" she indicated the road leading up the hill. "I'll help Laurelin get equipped, but the rest of you should tarry no longer and make haste to Bartha!" She looked at Laurelin, then back to the others, and said with a curt nod, "We'll be right behind you. Go!"

[BFace]

Tessa shook her head as Laurelin’s, and then Rael’s, words sank into her rock solid skull.  She turned toward the windmill, frowning, then she looked back at the group.  Everyone appeared to be at the ready, except Beldin.

 

 He really *had* fallen over. Tessa briefly closed her eyes then offered a hand to him to help him up.

 

“If there are bandits at the mill, I don’t think we have time for subtlety.” She met Beldin’s eyes. “Are you sure you’re up for this? You’ve had…you’ve had a long night, I think.”

[berelinde]

Beldin accepted Tessa's help without complaint or reservation. She was right.

 

"That's why I need to go," he said. "I'll explain later. Right now, we can't let anything happen to her. Race you to the lighthouse!"

 

And he was off.

[berelinde]

{We're going to pause here while everyone who isn't already moving gets moving.

 

Barha has her own encounter going on at the lighthouse and I need to write that post, which isn't going to happen until much later, as I'm swamped at work.

 

The lighthouse is half a mile away, much of it uphill. Everyone in the party, even the most sedentary, is capable of jogging the whole way with breath left to fight (or complain about it), but it's up to you whether you think your characters can sprint the whole way. The warriors can, but for the others, it will be up to your interpretation of the character's athleticism. If one character moves at a jog, everyone does. They will arrive together, not in dribs and drabs.

 

Please, nobody post anything about arriving at the lighthouse until I set the scene.}

[Brian ofthe Dialogue Wheel]

Sarel was bumped and jostled by something, and heard "Sarel, I believe this outside changing room only has enough space for two." Dalish warriors can change like that, too? The tales of Dalish magical prowess are certainly well founded! Sarel thought, then turned to hear the Dalish man asking if he could sketch something. "My sketches are mostly limited to detailed maps, arcane summoning patterns, phases of the moons, and other such, but I don't really see what you'd have me sketch? Is it related to the transformation?" Distracted, from his inquiries, he dropped his writing tools back into his bag, turning when Etienne as Etienne went on about . . . Laurelin being embarrassed?  What if she accidentally just showed us secret Dalish magics, and I'm there recording her felony like an idiot. You must apologize later, fool.

Rael was shouting at them to hurry, so Sarel fished his gauntlet out of his bag and put it on, tossed his backpack to an inconspicuous corner, then darted after the others. He had only his staff and stachel, which held his healers kit, poultices, and wand.

[Lorien19]

Laurelin felt nothing but gratitude towards Rael's attempt to keep her from freezing,she smiled faintly and nodded at the elvhen woman "Tha...Thank you!"she whispered her voice low and shaky.The cold felt so intense that she wouldn't stop shivering.
She wasn't surprised by the reactions of her companions,after all her transformation was rather unexpected this time.However she din't know whether they were shocked by the not so discreet demonstration of her abilities,or the fact that she was naked.
to her surprice,Sarel took out parchment and quill and started to ask various questions,Laurelin sighed "May...Maybe we should leave that for later."She suggested "When Bartha is safe,and I'm not  on the verge of freezing to death."

When finally Marcuriel appeared holding what looked like her gear,she sighed with relief.Until she noticed the grin on his face.It didn't take long for relief to turn into embarrassment.
Laurelin didn't feel that cold out of sudden,she couldn't remember the last time she felt that embarrassed,her cheeks a deep crimson.
"The lady can change on her own,thank you very much!"She said sarcastically,creators,that man knew exactly what it took to make her flustered.

With Rael's help she managed to put her gear on.Feeling slightly warmer now,she smiled at the red haired woman "We're good to go!And thank you again for your help"She said kindly.

[BFace]

"Race you to the lighthouse!"

 

Tessa smiled to herself and took off after Beldin.

[mysteriouspast]

As she assisted Laurelin in fastening buckles and the like, she watched as Sarel, Tessa, and Beldin took off at a run. She sighed, knowing she'd never be able to keep up. Still, she had to try. 

 

Laurelin was thanking her for assistance, and she replied, "Of course, you're welcome." Once the Dalish mage looked fully assembled, Rael looked towards Etienne and extended her hand to him. "Shall we?" she asked with an impish smile.