eachdraidh | Video; Unseelie Locked [Foward-Dated to Event: The Awakening]

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Video; Unseelie Locked [Foward-Dated to Event: The Awakening]

[Those who have been to the Llarona Ring may recognize the area. It's late afternoon, and the sun has not yet set, which means that the surroundings don't look quite as menacing as they could. In fact, there's an eerily bright glow to the air wherever the sunlight touches it... but the trees behind Cole still cast deep shadows.]

Too quiet, too still. Voices, somewhere, crying out to be found, but they are so far away. They can only whisper.

There are things here that want to kill us. Dark things, hissing and hunting. They wait in the shadows, under the surface of the water, ready to strike. And the shadows are deep.

I know the way to the walls of the sunken city. I can kill things that want to hurt you. I can stay awake and watch, so you can sleep.

My name is Cole. If you want to get to Quendi, I can keep you safe.

((OOC: Because this event lasts 10 days and travel takes time, the number of individuals/groups that Cole is able to lead to the edge of Quendi is limited. My plotting comment is over here if you want to snag a spot before threading it out!))

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Not all things that want to kill us deserve to be killed.

They are doing what is in their nature, as do we.

But if they attack us, we fight back. Isn't that nature, too?

Yes, but if they are attempting to kill us to eat us, and survive, perhaps we do not have to kill them.

There are many ways to incapacitate a creature.

I don't like killing. [Just so they're clear on that.]

Even those that deserve to die?

[Yes, she is delving deeper.]

[His reply is slow, considered.]

Deserving isn't for death. Everything dies.

But sometimes it is better for something to die than to live.

Everything may die.

But that does not mean they stay dead.

[She thinks that some things might not even die, entirely. But that is for another conversation.

Still, his last words hit home.]

And yes, some things would do better to be dead. I do not disagree.

[How many times had she begged for death?
And yet...she is glad that Ethan had not listened to her.]

[Bringing it back to the question of survival:] Is it better to leave them limping, unable to hunt?

Then they become prey and food for others.

Most creatures don't want to eat dead prey.

[...interesting.]

Keep the self safe, keep the cycles turning. The hunters become the hunted, and new life will be nurtured.

Yes.

[He understands.]

Do you know what my mentor used to call me?

[If they were close to one another, he might be able to pluck the name from her mind. As they are...]

No.

Little Scorpion.

[The hunted, and the hunter. The small thing with a deadly sting.]

People called me a Ghost, and a Murderer. That was before anyone understood. Even me.

And what would you call yourself now, besides Cole?

Nothing. I'm just Cole. [That hasn't stopped the people of the Drabwurld from giving him a title, but as far as he's concerned...]

And you? Are you a scorpion still?

Yes.

I have my name, and what I am, as well.

There is no removing it.

I doubt you can remove such things from yourself, even if you wish to only go by Cole.

I didn't know what I was. Now I know I was never a ghost.

Spirit, demon. One and the same, a shifting nature. Now, shardbearer. A name that means I hold a piece of my world.

Which is perhaps more important than all the other things we are--for to hold a piece of our world, means we have a chance to save it.

Do you believe that many people will be headed to Quendi? [Lightning had every intention to head there, but she suspects her reasoning for speaking to the Shuck differs from many others'.]

I don't know. But I do know the way, and I know it is dangerous. If I can get one person through the forest safely, I will have helped.

If you find that your hands are too full, let me know. I can help, too. I know that forest well now. [She had spent more time in it, after all.]

Yes.

[Yes, she does. And yes, he will let her know.]

Have you learned any more about the Shuck?

Not since we last spoke. But I plan to see him myself, and if you're not around, I'll message you with what he has to say.

...I'm going to Quendi.

A guide might not be so bad. Actually, a guide would be great.

I can only take you to the outer walls. I don't know the way inside.

[Just letting her know ahead of time. Wouldn't want to get all the way there only to disappoint her — plus, she may need to prepare for going inside on her own.]

That's okay.

Some things you just gotta do yourself.

Let me know when you're ready. I will meet you by the Llorona Ring.

Yeah, I just have to gather up some stuff and then I'll head out.

If you're offering... I would like to head that way. [he wants to 'see' and feel the Shuck for himself. If he's going to be helping his banshees.]

[Ooh. Cole's glad Po heard this broadcast. Going into the forest alone could be doubly dangerous for him.]

Not everything that sees and smells thinks of people. Some see only food, victims, pray. They won't understand that you are you.

[And he doesn't know if that sort of abstract thought would set off Po's Grace. Stating it out loud is one way to find out.]

[A pause then he decides to answer the unasked question.] Their intentions are harder to pick up. I can feel that they're there as I can feel the fish in the river.

I have better luck knowing what a hare thinks of me than a spider. [It's insects and other invertebrates that give him trouble. That was never a problem at home but here...]

Then I will be your eyes.

Meet me at the Llorona Ring, when you are ready.

Can you hear the words being whispered, Cole? When I am near water, they turn into a soft, lamenting song which I can understand.

( She pauses. ) I would go to Quendi, to seek out further information regarding my visions. But I also would keep you safe.

I hear them, yes.

Wondering, I waited
Lonely, I lingered
My love was dead in the field of battle
Each day I listened for her armor's rattle.

They were people, before they became what they are. They sing about their lives.

As do I. It is like the wailing of Melusina carried upon the river each time a member of my family perished.

( Oh, no. That's sad and also hits very, very close to home. Her breath catches. )

Yes. Merida tells me they are meant to herald death, and so without their voices, Life and Death are hitherto unbalanced in this world.

Might I ask where you heard that particular song?

In Llorona, at the edge of a pond where I planted Blood Lotus.

Don't forget to stay safe, yourself.

I know where the dagger wants to go. I know how to follow, let it dance.

Glad to hear it.

Don't forget to bring me a souvenir.

[He's joking about that second thing. Mostly.]

Like what?

[Womp womp.]

[too bad they don't have tshirts with dumb slogans in Thedas...]

I don't know, something small. Maybe a nice potted plant or something.

[Cole. Cole, he's still joking...]

I think you can get those anywhere...

[And he's still not getting it.]

[okay, now he's laughing a little]

That's true, but that's not the point. Even if it's something that can be acquired anywhere, the point of bringing someone a souvenir is to let them know you were thinking of them, and to bring them a token from the place you'd gone.

It's like how you can get fine Dwarven crafts direct from Orzammar pretty much anywhere, but if you actually go to Orzammar to get them...the sentiment's different.

[Now he's gonna bring Cole something from Treun...]

[This is what happens when Varric isn't around to point out when he's being teased.]

I see.

[Congrats, Hawke. After Cole's visit to Quendi, you're getting a very old, small vase with a swap flower potted in it.]

[That will probably occur to Hawke later, but by then it will be too late]

Anyway, stay safe. And let's meet up at the end of the month to swap stories.

[And gifts! Hawke will come up with an assortment of feathers and ribbons and things that Cole can use to accessorize his hat.]

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Video; Unseelie Locked [Foward-Dated to Event: The Awakening]

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