Mountains are crumbling like statues of clay.

[dreadinquisitor]

Who| The Thedosians & Friends
What| Reuniting and Planning
Where| In the area of the Cornucopia
When| Late evening/night, the first night
Warnings/Notes| Open to all Thedosians and allies who are interested in reuniting post-Cornucopia and plotting out next moves together. This will function like the War Room posts in the Capitol: tag Maxwell, enter into the "planning" catch-all starter, or talk amongst yourselves! If you'd rather your character remain separate, feel free to say they missed this!



Maxwell convinced Shepard to wait until the sun began to sink before he made his move. It had been hours since they'd tucked themselves into the little, bowed house at the edge of the village. Longer still since the troll-child, Karkat, had passed.

The sounds of the blood-bath at the makeshift Cornucopia had faded and died, and an eery hush had fallen, broken only rarely by speech. Far more often it was the house, creaking and groaning around them, squeaking beneath them as they moved about, spending the last of their adrenaline and rage and worry in pacing and checking the ramshackle rooms for anything that might be of use.

There wasn't much. A dirty, chipped cup. A few rusted utensils. A straw-hewn bed, torn full of holes by rodents and an old blanket, still wet green with mold in the folds of the fabric. But without knowing how the Cornucopia went for the others, it was difficult to pass up anything.

Piling it together, they'd waited. Then, finally, Maxwell moved.

As the sky had began to shift from ashen grey, to steel, and then slowly to coal, he clambered onto the sill of one of the open windows and hauled himself as carefully as he could up onto the roof. The wood complained and sank threatening beneath his boots, but it held.

He'd wrapped the silly little cap Jolie had given him around the Anchor to try and disguise it, but he unwrapped it then. The others from the Inquisition would know it for what it was, he was certain, and hopefully the rest would have heard enough about it or were with someone who had.

Holding up his arm, he opened his hand and the ghostly green light spilled free.

Comments

After the Death Announcements

[dreadinquisitor]

After the last of the faces had melted from the sky and the music had finally faded away, Maxwell climbed back down from the roof and joined the others who had gathered in the house.

Looking around at them, he nodded.

"We know now where we stand," he said. "Now we have to decide how to move forward. Are there any ideas?"

Re: After the Death Announcements

[andrastian]

"That depends on our intention as a group."

Sebastian had wanted no part in killing more than he had to, but that had been before the Cornocopia, before he'd smelled the blood around him and heard screams and been reminded of the most recent events of his life. It tended to drive a man's mind backwards a bit, and had him mulling over ideas that could give them a chance at getting to people before they got to them.

"Are we in this to survive and keep out of the way, or do we mean to try getting rid of our...competition?" He asked, the word and concept distasteful, still, but seeming a bit closer to necessary now.

"For our immediate protection here...has anyone experience with traps? They may at least keep out those we do not want coming in."

[dreadinquisitor]

"That is if we intend to stay here," Maxwell pointed out, leaning back against the windowsill, arms folding across his chest as he looked at Sebastian. "It may not be wise to stay so close to the Cornucopia. Even if the supplies were all destroyed in the fire, other tributes may still come looking."

He looked around at the others gathered nearby.

"And I'll be the first to admit I haven't seen what else the arena has to offer in defensible positions besides the castle."

[andrastian]

"Indeed." The threat seemed ever present, even if it was just the threat of others like himself. It did hang heavily, especially here. Perhaps moving away from it would slow his nerves a little, or to make them worse.

"And then we would be sitting ducks. We could play with that, if we wished." He said, simply thinking out loud. "I doubt that I would wish to use it, but it's there."

He nodded toward the others as well, hoping someone else may want to join them. "I haven't seen a lot myself. What we need is some higher ground. Maybe, the roof?"

[dreadinquisitor]

"Contrary to first impressions, many of the other tributes don't really intend harm. Like us, they're just trying to survive as long as possible." The Cornucopia had certainly been quite the show, but Maxwell still wasn't exactly prepared to start hunting them like game. "The others...."

His head tipped, broad shoulders rising and falling again in a small shrug.

"We have no way of knowing what they might be capable of, now that the Capitol has returned their abilities. And we can't even claim the element of surprise." Gesturing upward, he pointed to the flames burning cheerily above his - and now Adella's - head.

[andrastian]

"The others..." Sebastian picked up on that little shrug and what it meant, well enough.

"Ah, so we're winging it. Well, at least we do have..." He nodded toward Maxwell's hand. He was not sure where the man stood on Andraste, but there was some reminder of her presence, and he found that strangely comforting.

"No way of knowing, but they would be marked as well, I'd guess? Well I know who to stay away from then." He says, without much thinking of the fact that Maxwell's marked as well. But he and Adella are theirs, so naturally they do not count in that.

"If either of you have to leave here, I would suggest that you are not unguarded. Nor our mages either if that can be done."

[dreadinquisitor]

"Maybe, maybe not," Maxwell replied. Not comforting, perhaps, but honest. "The marks seem to be less permanent for others. Both Shepard and Dorian had them earlier, but now they've faded."

While he and Adella remained bright little beacons.

When Sebastian mentioned staying away, his head dipped, understanding... but then it lifted again in surprise when the man went on.

"So you would feel comfortable with my staying?"

[andrastian]

Nothing could be counted on here, could it? Sebastian suppressed the groan he wanted to let out at that. Not comforting in the least, but better to know offhand. "No guarantees. I shouldn't be surprised. At least I know to run screaming if I happen to notice it from those I don't actually know and trust."

Personally, unarmed, Sebastian knew the screaming wasn't something to help, and he was collected and experienced enough to avoid making noise as any kind of 'enemy', even just a fellow tribute got the definition now, regrettably, approached him, but he couldn't help throwing the weak jibe at himself into the mix anyway. Self deprecation seemed to come to him just now, when he didn't have much power to do anything else. There was an amusing irony about it, anyway.

And hopefully the last would throw some clarification in there, so far as he knew.

"Of course I would. It's different with most of you. There is only one man from Thedas in Panem now, who I would wish to send away, and its a petty bit of me who'd want it. " He could admit to that much, of his soul searching where Anders was concerned. "Unfortunate...side effects or not, you're one of us, and you stay one of us if any ask for my opinion."

[dreadinquisitor]

"They wouldn't want to make it too easy for us," he said, one corner of his mouth twisting wryly. The humor slightly bitter.

Still, when he looked at Sebastian there was an honesty in his gaze.

"And...thank you. I realize that I am little more than a stranger to you, and I wouldn't have blamed you if you decided to air on the side of caution. I appreciate the support regardless."

[andrastian]

"I suppose it wouldn't be a game if they just handed us the easy answers." Sebastian's own humor matched Maxwell's there. For a moment, he wondered what Varric would make of this situation. He'd wish it on no one but he wondered all the same.

"In times like these, we can't be strangers." He said, quite serious about the fact. "Side of caution or not, there is only one way out of this for most of us, probably both you and I." And everybody in this little house.

"Still, even if there were a chance...I've done the wrong thing enough times to recognize it when it stares me in the face and does its best to tempt me. Any chance that allows for only one of any of us to get out of this, or abandons anyone is surely that. And, of course, this is an incredibly bad time to suggest it, but there is no rule saying that we must say strangers, right?"

[dreadinquisitor]

"Technically? No, I've heard no rule against it." But his smile was no less wry than it had been a moment before. "But definitely prefer it that way, and do try their best to get us to as well."

Jason, in particular, seemed determined to work into every conversation Maxwell had this misfortune of having with the man.

"They will likely try to drive us apart, on way or another."

[andrastian]

"Something to look out for, then. At least, we'll have the warning."

Sebastian allowed, expression thoughtful. His friendships in the past few years, even the closest ones had been formed in spite of issues that should, by all rights, have driven most of them far apart after all. Hawke had shielded apostates, Isabela was a wanted woman who had stood against political enemies in Kirkwall, Aveline had stood for total right and order, Anders and Merril...well, and Fenris had been different to them entirely.

And Sebastian himself, with his convictions that had, in those early days, been more like parroting his own beliefs in an effort to feel secure around differences. Yet, they'd managed to spend some years together all the same. They'd mostly grown from the experience. He suspected, awful as this was, it may still be possible here.

"Not that I suspect we would be able to determine exactly how, until it begins happening." He allowed, shaking his head.

[dreadinquisitor]

Maxwell knew the feeling. If someone had told him, before, that would one day consider a Qunari, a Tevinter mage, the witch of the wilds, and a spirit of compassion among his closest he would have called them mad.

"It sounds paranoid to say it..." he allowed wryly, "but it's best to keep it in the back of your mind. They'll do anything - the Gamemakers - to not just kill us, but make sure our deaths are entertaining for the audience. Hopefully, if we can keep that in mind, we can deny them that much."

Death would come, one way or another, unfortunately. But perhaps they could be lucky enough to choose how they went.

[allyorfoe]

"Surviving." Tabris told him helpfully, rubbing the back of her neck. "That's my idea." She paused, then sighed, shaking her head. "Iunno if Cullen told me, but the Wardens and I are going to be, ah. Separated from you guys." She gave a little shrug. No need to get complicated on matters, right. "But we'll be close enough, if you guys need us, we'll come. So...I'm not sure what we'll be doing. Might check out the castle? We still need to find Bayard."

[dreadinquisitor]

"You're leaving?" It was clear from the look on Maxwell's face that no, Cullen hadn't told him. Surprise and worry crossed his features, uncertainty pulling at the corners of his mouth. "...You believe that's best?"

But didn't mean it argumentatively, Tabris was the Warden-Commander and knew she would hardly make such a decision lightly. He just... wanted to understand.

[allyorfoe]

"Yeah, I mean. A group our size is going to attract too much attention anyway. But there are also..." Her eyes drifted over to Anders, then flicked back to Maxwell. "Extenuating circumstances. It'd be best for everyone, I think." She shot him an apologetic look, reaching to pat his arm. "Not being around for you guys isn't my favorite thing, trust me. But I don't want...to make things weird." She shrugged. Didn't want to make things hostile. That's what the gamemakers wanted. And she wasn't going to give it to them.

[dreadinquisitor]

His gaze followed hers to Anders. Ah. He couldn't claim not to understand that. He himself even had yet to speak to the man for that reason. (What did one say to a man who had single-handedly kickstarted a war? Especially being the man credited with tempering it?) It just simply hadn't occurred to him to think of splitting them up.

Every since arriving the only plan that had ever been discussed, at least by the group as a whole, was to find one another and to stay and work together. But now that she presented it, knowing his own current predicament, he began to wonder....

"That does make sense, and when you put it that way--" he glanced away, at something (someone) behind Tabris, and then up at the burning marker, still floating bright above his own head, "--maybe I should give it some thought."

[allyorfoe]

She glanced at him, face somewhat nervous. She didn't like the way that he was staring off at someone (it was Dorian, wasn't it), then at his marker. She frowned, and reached out to grab that dumb glowy green hand of his, staring at him with a sternness usually reserved for fledgling Wardens.

"Maxwell," She started, voice calm, but sure. "Adella has one of those, too. And so does Anders. And both groups aren't abandoning either of them. You are welcome to stay with me and mine, or stay with the others from the Inquisition. But what you aren't welcome to do is wander off on your own like a damn fool."

She tightened her grip on his hand. "So if you try it, I'll hunt you down and pull you back here by your ear, you hear?"

[dreadinquisitor]

Maxwell was silent for a long moment, his thoughts equal parts selfish as selfless as he listened, watching the flames flicker against the roof.

"The things you said, Tabris. About the danger, about the discomfort... they apply to me as well. If you're going to leave to try and make it easier, the very least I can do is consider the same."

He looked at her, expression steady. Tone decided.

He wasn't the Inquisitor anymore, but he was still a leader.

"'What we must,' that's what the heroes do, remember?"

They'd promised, hadn't they?

[allyorfoe]

"You didn't see me decide to take off on my own like some kind of tool, did you?" She replied pointedly. She squares her shoulders, looking ready and willing to make good on her threat to drag him back by his ear. He wasn't her leader, he was her friend, and she was going to protect him whether he liked it or not.

"We already have walking targets, Maxwell, you're not going to unduly put anyway in any awkward situations."

She puffed her chest out, like she wasn't a head shorter than Maxwell, and stared at him firmly, hand still firmly in hers. "And furthermore, I won't allow it! I'll wrestle you to the floor right now, watch if I don't." She had already decided, too. "You can stay with us, if you want, but you're not going alone!"

[dreadinquisitor]

"But you are leaving, of your choice," he said. His free hand rose, palm out, toward her in a gesture for her to leave it. "Allow me to make mine. I promise I will consider it, carefully."

His hand lowered again and his expression softened.

"And I do appreciate the concern, though. Threats and all."

[allyorfoe]

"I'm leaving with a group, Maxwell!" Her voice was frustrated, clinging to his hand like a child would an elder sibling. "This place is dangerous, do you even have any weapons? How are you going to sleep at night? Everyone can already see you, you're in danger if you go alone."

The elf's voice pitched up slightly, as she got more worked up by the idea of Maxwell just ditching everyone.

"No--Please, come on. If I stay with the rest of the group, would you stay?" It was a dangerous gamble, because that would mean having to deal with Anders and Cullen glaring daggers at each other, but if it kept Max alive, she'd be willing to do it.

[dreadinquisitor]

"Maker's breath, Tabris."

He was one person. Likely to die anyway. If he could spare the others, if he could.... His eyes closed and he shook his head, pushing out a long breath.

"Go. I promise I'll keep put if it means that much to you."

[allyorfoe]

His reward is a sudden, crushing hug, arms wrapping tight around his chest. She gave a slow sigh of relief, feeling the weight that had been piling on her chest slipping away. Fucking overly altruistic assholes, the both of them, but at least Tabris wasn't fucking suicidal.

Also, you'd have to probably kill her to separate her from Alistair.

"Thank you, Maxwell. You're the best, you know that?"

[dreadinquisitor]

"...So they tell me," he grunted, ribs and the lungs beneath protesting as her arms squeezed. But he didn't resist. He knew it wouldn't matter if he did - if Tabris wanted to hug him she was going to - and... it wasn't unpleasant. Burning pressure aside.

It always good to know someone cared. Good to have a reminder that he wasn't what they wanted, he still belonged.

Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he hugged back.

"But it goes by ways, Tabris. You be careful or I'll have Dorian bring you back just so I can tell how disappointed I am."