fadewalk | Open to all: kill the demon

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(OOC: Let's get the demon out of Skyhold. If a number of people are interested, then we can divide up into smaller groups for the hunt, have the demon skirmish with each, and use a random number generator to see which group kills the demon.)

Cullen didn't have time for anything but seeing his task through. He left the cells and strode to the war room, noticing the blood on the floor, Josie's desk askew. The blood was fresh yet old enough to indicate that the battle had moved on, though he made a note to search for the injured. But first...

A crate had been moved in the War Room, but that wasn't enough to ruffle his suspicion, especially as he focused on checking his armor and strapping on his sword. He took just enough time to jot down a note in the journal, and then he was striding out to track Envy, crouching by the pool of blood just long enough to catalog the scene and determine which way the demon had fled.

Then he was off.

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Message received loud and clear. Cullen gave a faint nod of acknowledgement. "That sounds fair enough. I don't know what your weapon will do to a demon," he added, moving closer. "But I'm eager to find out."

Tali's voice was filled with sardonic humor, the metallic tone of her helmet's speakers increased slightly. "Super-heated metal slugs propelled magnetically are pretty effective against just about anything. And if that doesn't work..."

Tali raised a hand, and tiny electrical discharges sparked between her fingers. There was a satisfied tone to her voice when she spoke again, "I can always drain whatever barriers it has."

"I have no doubt you are capable," Cullen said. "Though perhaps, if you are willing, sometime we can teach each other the ways of magic and...biotics?" The word didn't quite fit right on his tongue. "Tech. So that we are prepared for anything--or at least understand what we can about it. But for now, we need to hurry. The demon has already attacked twice."

"It couldn't hurt to try." Tali nodded thoughtfully, and then snapped to attention. "Lead on, Commander. Skyhold is unfamilar terrain for me." She fell into step beside Cullen, taking a guard position just as she would have with Shepard.

After a moment, she asked, quietly, "What have we seen of this...demon so far? What can it do?"

He felt strangely comfortable with Tali at his side. Perhaps it was because she was, unquestionably, a competent soldier. The familiarity spoke across worlds. "An envy demon gets in your head," he said, "and seeks to take over you. It tricks you into giving up your secrets so it can take over your life. This one is...uncommonly strong."

Strong enough that it couldn't be detected no matter what they did.

"They're rare demons--rare enough that most Templars aren't even trained to fight them."

"Lucky for the both of you that I've seen and dispatched more than one in my life time!" Dorian chimed in suddenly. He was leaning one shoulder against the stone as the two came around the corner. Castle walls carried sound like nobody's business, and Dorian was a very nosy man. "I'm sure no one's surprised that they're more common up in Tevinter. What with all the vying for other's positions and power, and all that."

(OOC: perhaps a posting order of Cullen, Dorian, Tali then?)

Tali had swung up and out into a position which gave her a clear shot as soon as Dorian's voice filled the hall. Again, she didn't immediately shoot - the voice was familiar, even if the face was not. With a note of confusion, she asked, "You...are the other Dorian from the journal?" She looked from Dorian to Cullen, he body tense and weapon ready. "Commander...?"

"He's a friend," Cullen said, breaking into a brief smile despite himself. "A friend who will not hesitate to tell you how charming he is, but a friend nonetheless. Well met, Dorian," he added. "Your knowledge of envy demons will come in great use."

"I tell you because everyone likes hearing a bit of truth now and then!" Dorian gave a polite nod of his head to the masked stranger (strange something, anyway). Then a smile to Cullen, whom he hadn't seen in well over five years. He had to remind himself this isn't the Cullen Rutherford he knew once. Impossible that any man could go that long without the addition of a single age line.

"I do not, however, know where it is at the moment, so if either of you have any insight on that fact, you might wish to speak up."

"I don't even know what it looks like." Tali's tone was self-deprecating, but meant with humor. "It sounds rather like a creation of the Collectors or the Reapers...but I suppose that doesn't mean anything to you two."

She gestures with the muzzle of her gun, back towards the door which Cullen had come through. "If it was headed away from there..." She gestured towards the the far end of the hall, and then towards Dorian and the door. "Perhaps it went up or out?"

"That seems the best bet. It was wounded, so keep your eyes open for residue."

"Like this?" Dorian had fallen into step with the other two, but now he paused to poke at a bit of magic sludge on the floor. Even in the fade, it looked foul and demon-y. Wiping it off on the nearest tapestry while making a face, he gestured in the way the trail apparently led. "Let's catch it before it starts to stain, please."

Tali followed Cullen and Dorian, taking the rearguard position - something about the Commander made falling into step very easy, and this Dorian seemed friendly enough. She paused to collect a small dab of the residue, and let her omni-tool begin analyzing it. Soon her heads up display was pinging at her, and she pointed - down the stairs, and under the arching bridge...towards the barn. "The trail leads that way, it looks like."