[close] If this is to end in fire, then we should all burn together

[morework]

Who: Cullen Rutherford, Garrett Hawke, Nathaniel Howe, and Robyn Cousland
Where: Tartarus, Arqa Block
When: sometime between October 7th and 9th
Rating: R for violence and Garrett "Way Too Casual Friday" Hawke
Summary: Everyone loves a good monster-filled tower. Scratch that, nobody loves a good monster-filled tower. But misery loves company, and company is what they've got. OR IN OTHER WORDS, the people from Thedas meet up and fight things.
The Story:

Cullen rounds the next flight of stairs carefully. Blood still stains the tip of his blade. That creature, it was very intent on touching one of them. Not merely attacking, touching. He keeps his eyes and ears open wide. If there are more like it about, then he would rather not risk discovering why.

"Did you have a chance to listen to the latest transmissions?"

The stairs below are clear. He glances back at Nathaniel.

"I tried, just before we met up. Apparently so far nobody has volunteered information about- any of this."

They walk past a window. Cullen only glances through it briefly. The view only told them so much last time. On the bright side, walking down the stairs does seem to bring them closer to the ground. If nothing else they can cross being trapped in an infinite maze off of their list of problems.

Comments

[noble_son]

"I did," Nathaniel mutters in return. His own eyes are keen on the path ahead, his attention piqued for any noise that sounds out of place save for their own steps. Cullen only glances, but the rogue pauses to look through the window and down at the ground, and he carefully adjusts the string of his bow across his bare chest.

"The messages were unclear. I expect, because of this tower."

And, he expects, in the way that Wonderland seems to wish to make even the simplest of things as difficult as possible. Nathaniel hasn't spent a single moment looking the least bit amused since this began, and even less so now that he's starting to run low on arrows.

"From what I can tell, we were lucky to find each other as we did."

[heroica]

Cullen and Nathaniel are not the only pair from Thedas that's managed to find each other. Though, they both have decidedly more clothes on than the one she'd found...

"We should, ah... be close to one of the exits, I think." Maker, is she trying hard to not look sideways at the enormous, hairy man walking next to her. "Are you still holding up well?"

His fire magic is what's allowed them to survive this far, after all. Her steel bolts hadn't done a thing against the tower's monsters.

[bloodmagics]

Normally, Hawke possesses roughly no shame. Normally. Robyn had come across him while he was fighting something and needless to say, the aftermath wasn't pretty. She got an eyeful, he had to awkwardly cover himself and figure out how to walk while covering his shame.

The monsters are an afterthought at this point.

"As well as I can," he answers, glancing out at the window to avoid looking at Robyn. At least he can claim the flush down his neck is from the fighting and fire.

"Wait. Did you hear that?"

Voices.

[morework]

"Apparently so. We should--"

Cullen stops. A sharp nod for Nathaniel to see, but no doubt he heard the murmurs from below as well. He raises his sword cautiously. He would prefer shield and armor to shirt and trousers. Suppose he should count his blessings still, a few minutes later, and he might not have had even that.

"--find as many others as we can, and take them to safety."

He finishes more quietly. Voices. Either from some of those others, or an enemy more intelligent than the one they faced before.

[noble_son]

The rogue pulls up short as the commander does, only a few steps away from the window he had been so curiously peering out of. He stills almost entirely, his head moving slowly, trying to find the direction that the murmurs are coming from.

'Below' is neither accurate or comforting enough for his liking.

"... Agreed," he murmurs, shifting his bow into his hand but not picking up an arrow just yet. In a pinch, the bow is sturdy enough to be used as a melee weapon... although he would rather not. "But at the same time, I don't think it's wise to spend too much time here so sparsely armed--..." A quick glance goes down to his state of undress. "... And clothed."

[heroica]

Voices, just as Hawke says. Luckily, they sound familiar... though, that doesn't have her easing up any.

"They could mimic sounds," she warns quietly, glancing to Hawke (or, at least, to his face). "We don't have to jump out and attack straightaway, but we should be cautious."

Obviously. The place is full of monsters.

"Are you ready?"

[bloodmagics]

"I'll draw their attention, if need be. Fire might be all that works, but you can do some damage before they realise you're there."

It's worked well for them before, even if the battles have been far closer than he'd like. Still beats Kirkwall, though. Hawke nods, expression firm.

"As always."

Hawke approaches the corner, edging closer and closer when --

"-- Oh thank the Maker."

He rushes forward, arms open. Plural. Sorry, Nate.