001

[coppermarigolds]

Who: Aveline and you
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: Pre-Shuffle

Ugh, Maker.

[Aveline is... just waking up in the Hospitality Deck. Hello. She blinks several times, disoriented and feeling rather like she had far too much to drink the night before -- and not even good stuff, but more like something questionable and tainted with rat droppings that one might find in the Hanged Man. She sits up, rubbing her temples for a moment, with her eyes squeezed shut. This is all very... strange. And unfamiliar. And yet... she knows it, too. And that doesn't make sense, not remotely. She stares across the room for a moment, trying to put the pieces together. She touches the augment behind her ear, experimentally, and for a long moment is quiet as she looks around the room, scowling like a thundercloud.

Okay. First things first.]

If someone's there, come talk to me face to face.

[It's not a suggestion. It's an order. She pulls herself to her feet, still frowning.]

Comments

[openhands]

[The frustration is understandable. Were things not already resolved with Corypheus, Cassandra would feel very much the same. But her duty, for the most part, is done. And while she doesn't find the situation particularly agreeable, there is less that rests on her shoulders than might otherwise. Certainly not the weight that some of the others she's come to know and trust feel.]

It was for a time.

Divine Justinia attempted to broker peace between the Templars and mages at the Conclave. But a greater threat that you likely have not yet heard of arose.

[coppermarigolds]

Tell me.

[Because she'd rather know than not know. And since this is all new to her, it's all important to hear. War is bad enough, but what's worse, other than a Blight?]

[openhands]

A darkspawn named Corypheus created a breach in the sky. He was trying to create rifts that would allow him to enter the Fade physically with an elven artifact.

[So much worse than a Blight.]

[coppermarigolds]

Corypheus.

[She repeats it, darkly. She knows about this. Hawke told her about Corypheus, though seriously intoxicated at the time.]

Corypheus was killed. Hawke told me.

[openhands]

Hawke was wrong, [Cassandra says with a small shake of her head.] The Grey Wardens sealed him away because he could not be killed. Corypheus was able to transfer his essence through the taint.

[coppermarigolds]

Maker, no.

[Does Hawke know? Maybe in the future. Is that something she should tell him if he doesn't know? Of course it is.]

Really, it just begs the question of why we're here instead of doing some real good at home.

[openhands]

I wish I knew why. [Cassandra shakes her head a little.] From my time, Corypheus has been dealt with. But there is still a great deal of work to do.

[coppermarigolds]

There... usually is, after this sort of thing, isn't there?

[Blights, or immortal darkspawn, or knight-commanders possessed by red lyrium. It's always a mess.]

So it's not just all this [accompanied with grand gesture to everything around her] I have to play catch-up on, then, but my own future. Fine.

[openhands]

I am sorry to be the one to deliver such news.

[And she means that genuinely. Life in Thedas is tough, man.]

[coppermarigolds]

I appreciate it, Seeker. I would have to find out eventually.

[Still, this is... a very big day. A lot has happened.]

[openhands]

Then I hope there aren't any further surprises waiting for you.

[coppermarigolds]

[She gives a laugh, a small and bitter puff of air.]

I wouldn't count on it, at this point, but thank you.

[openhands]

[Cassandra smiles mildly.]

I should probably let you get settled. If you should need anything, I would be happy to help in whatever way I can.

[coppermarigolds]

Thank you, Seeker. I appreciate it.

[She returns the smile, faintly.]

[openhands]

Of course.

[Cassandra nods and then sees herself out, not wanting to overstay her welcome.]