RP: Aria, Neria

[meredith_fadewalk]

It was a maze, down in the bowels of the castle. Narrow corridors lined with innumerable doors, and Meredith could not let any pass by without checking. As bold as her enemies were with their threats, an ambush wasn't outside of the realm of possibilities.

Small rooms for the most part; storage, odds and ends, empty spaces that had likely been abandoned for years. No traces of spells cast or ambient magic. Still, Meredith searched them all. She found her way again to the large hall that led into the kitchens, close to where the traitor Sister lay.

She had found nothing, though there was still more of the twisting hallways to search. Still.

Unwillingly, she looked over to where she'd first entered the hall.

No traces of magic, nor of any recent traffic of people. She was no tracker, but Meredith knew the clues to look for when errant mages attempted to sneak about. Perhaps...

Still more to search. Yet to find this vault, if it even exists.

Meredith's gaze steeled, and she turned away. If the Sister had been in earnest, reparations would be made. For now she kept Certainty before her, letting the licks of red light lead her way.

Comments

[heromiyuu]

(ooc: Meredith/Aria/Neria for the RP order?)

[meredith_fadewalk]

((OOC: Sounds good to me.))

[biotic_boss]

[ooc|| Sorry about the late reply. I had a busy day!]

[meredith_fadewalk]

((OOC: Eh, it happens. You can just reply to my first post and that'll put us in order.))

[meredith_fadewalk]

((OOC: Aaaand I just realized I buggered up the order already. Sorry. If Aria goes and then Neria again, we're back on track.

[biotic_boss]

[ooc|| I'm going to use this thread branch for OOC things. But I've got to go to bed (I was dozing off in my chair!). I'll reply after work tomorrow!]

[biotic_boss]

It wasn't that Aria hadn't found a way outside yet. More, she had, and it had been even stranger than inside the strange building. Strange voices and floating images of what could maybe have been people all under an empty void where a sky should have been. She wasn't afraid of it, she just wanted answers. But stalking around the endless halways for someone to demand answers for was leaving her empty handed.

With a noise of frustration in the back of her throat, she slammed the side of her fist against one of the close stone walls of a narrow corridor. As she collected herself, looking up again, she saw a red glow around the corner up ahead. If what she had already seen was enough to go off of, things in "The Fade" didn't tend to glow red. The glow was getting brighter, too. Approaching. Aria straightened her shoulders, waiting for who or whatever it was to come around. And when they did, they would answer to her.

[meredith_fadewalk]

A noise.

Certainty hissed, burning strength coiling through her limbs as Meredith paused. Ahead, another corridor joined the one she'd been travelling down. No doors within ten paces of the junction, and only enough room to swing in the junction itself. A wry smirk pulled at her mouth. An excellent spot for an ambush, indeed.

Meredith adjusted her grip, sidling up to the corner. My Creator, judge me whole. Two quick breaths, and she pivoted out, Certainty held before her.

"Demon" Meredith growled, and let loose the concussive force of a Knight-Captain's Holy Smite.

[biotic_boss]

[ooc|| I wasn't quite sure which one to reply to but because this one actively involves Aria, I'll reply here. Sorry for my confusion ): ]

Aria was ready for bullets. Aria was ready for biotics and tech. She was not, however, ready for whatever that wave of energy was that ripped through her from the person (She supposed it was a person. It looked human enough. But that wasn't always a conclusive factor.) that had stepped into view. Her arms had come up, crossing in front of her face to shield herself from whatever that blast was. And whatever it was had taken down her barrier in one shot.

Remembering the warning from a human woman Aria had met upon first waking up, she supposed the accusation of 'Demon,' meant that this was a kill first ask questions later situation. The air around her fingers lit up with biotic energy and she threw a hand forward.

A tether of blue light lashed out like a whip. The end wrapped around her attacker's ankle, sizzling against the holy blessings on the Templar armor. Aria gripped the other end of the biotic strand in a tight fist, smirking at the opposition.

"Let's dance," she stated, her voice smooth, velvety, and dangerous. Then she yanked on the lash with strength enough to bring down walls.

[heromiyuu]

(ooc: omg, sorry, didn't even notice I had place my last post in the wrong place. I'll just replace after Aria then)

Neria's mind was spinning since her conversation with Anders, hours before. To think that the Cure was in front of them for all those years...

But she dismissed these thoughts, focusing on the tasks to come: help the Inquisitor with the Eluvian, cure the Grey Wardens currently at Skyhold (including the two Alistair's from different realities and Daylen) and, with lucky, find a way out of the Fade as soon as possible. She left the guest wing (and her husband) and headed straight to the underground library to catch some books before returning to the Mage Tower to work with Dagna when steps caught her attention on the Great Hall. She halted, approaching the door and opening it just enough to look the Ambassador's Office, moving with more caution now.

The place was clear.

Heart pounding on her chest, she felt something was wrong, but went downstairs anyway. Her chin fell, mouth agape, with the sight of Leliana on the floor, unconscious. "Leliana!" She called, dropping to her knees and casted a healing spell immediately, all her senses screaming.
Who could've done it?!

She dragged Leliana and removed her from the front of the stairs, leaning her head against her thighs. Her breathing was slow, but she should wake up soon, now that the healing spell had done its job.

But there were sounds of a fight nearby.
Whoever did this to Leliana was still around.

[meredith_fadewalk]

The demon yanked, and her front foot shot forward. Meredith went to one knee, twisted her wrists, and sliced down with Certainty to cut the line of magic. She came to rest a meter further down the corridor, knee guard badly scraped and her greeve partly crushed.

It was strong. Appearance like a mutated Desire demon, but the strength of a Pride. Meredith held her blade pointing toward the unknown demon one-handed, the other braced against the floor. She barked out a laugh, getting her foot under her enough to know that her greeve hadn’t crushed her ankle to uselessness, and that was all that mattered.

“Lets.” Meredith launched up, righteous power flowing down her arms and Certainty hungering to taste demon blood.

[biotic_boss]

For the briefest of moments, Aria was stunned that this human had actually cut through her biotics. Some sort of vibro-blade? Energy weapon? Her inaction gave the human time to stand, and that was a mistake.

As the blade came upon her, threatening to cleave her in half, Aria shifted to the side. The way her Lash had been taken out, she wouldn't dare risk letting that sword collide with her biotics again. She didn't need her shotgun to fight, but boy would she liked to have had it. She balled her hand into a fist again and aimed it not where the armor was lightest, but on the woman's chest, where it was thickest. As her knuckles made contact, a bright blue flare of energy and a following shockwave exploded, sending even Aria staggering back.

[heromiyuu]

Neria ran towards the battle, stopping by the corner of the hallway; Meredith was facing an purple-colored woman the Warden Commander thought was a Desire Demon at first, but when her fists shone with the so-called biotic power Commander Shepard had showed her before, she corrected herself.

Another member of his crew lost, perhaps?

The Red Lyrium blade wielded by Meredith made her shiver; the Knight-Commander's reasoning was probably lost. The purple woman was certainly handling herself, but an extra help couldn't be bad.

As soon as the woman attacked Meredith, she casted a shield around her.

She could think about who attacked Leliana later, after the fight.

[meredith_fadewalk]

Her Silence should have crippled the demon, left it unable to fight back. Yet as it’s fist connected with the center of her breastplate there was a moment of… feedback. Something about it’s magic…

And then Meredith was flung into the wall of the corridor, her head smashed against stone. Her hood was thrown back, hair stuck to her mouth as she heaved in a breath. Her chestplate wasn’t dented, Maker be praised, though her backplate likely was.

But her grip. Certainty’s strength infused her arms, whipping up into her chest. Her grip would not falter- could not falter. Something was hissing, whether her or her blade, and Meredith shouted a stunning War Cry and slashed across the narrow corridor to eviscerate the demon. She snarled when Certainty cracked against a Barrier, whipping her gaze up to where the taste of magic was sitting metallic on the back of her teeth.

A mage. It was a trap!

Faster than she should have been able to, she felt her Holy Smite form. With a push, Meredith sent out the wave of energy at the mage, red and thick and vicious.

[biotic_boss]

Something about this human just wasn't right. Not that Aria was exactly the best example of right and wrong herself, but that look in the strange woman's eyes seemed crazed. It reminded her of the look someone got when they tipped over the edge of indoctrination. That realization made her stomach bottom out, but her resolve double. Reapers had taken her home. Reapers had taken her people. Reapers had taken everything.

When the human woman turned away, Aria took her chance. She'd never been a clean fighter, and wasn't about to start now. She hooked her arm around the woman's neck from behind and tightened. No biotics this time, just raw anger.

[heromiyuu]

The Holy Smite striked Neria right in the chest, knock-backing the mage immediatelly. She rolled to her side, to avoid being in front of Meredith and open her guard for another attack. She was almost without mana, but there was plenty to weaken the Knight-Commander with a Weakness spell.

The purple woman had locked Meredith with her arms and the mage took advantage of it to drink a Lyrium potion. Mana replenished, she casted a barrier around her and waited for the right moment to use her powers again, not confident enough to attack with magic while the women struggled against each other.

[meredith_fadewalk]

She tried to strike the demon loose with Certainty’s pommel, but the demon twisted away like smoke and not even Certainty’s strength could bolster her own. She was fading, the blurry image of the mage getting to her feet not a meter away.

One hand gripped wildly at the demon’s arm, but where a moment ago Meredith could have ripped the offending limb away now she could only claw ineffectually as it closed around her throat. Her vision swam, lungs heaved, but nothing.

No. I will not be taken!

Meredith slammed the demon back against the wall. There was a moment, however slight, where it’s grip loosened and she heaved in a gulp of air. Her injured foot lifted and the sharp edges of her sabaton scraped down the demon’s shin. Certainty’s pommel at last found a part of the demon, and Meredith wrestled her way free.

The mage! Kill her and her demon will weaken.

Meredith charged, a Cleanse purging the unnatural Weakness even as blackness began to fill her vision, and her first swing shattered the mage’s Barrier. Sparks flew as Certainty’s edge scraped over the low ceiling, and Meredith snarled as she kicked out at the mage.

“Those who oppose thee shall know the wrath of heaven!” She chanted, raising Certainty for the final blow.

[biotic_boss]

The air was knocked from her chest as Aria was sandwiched between this madwoman and the wall. She gasped, swearing as she felt her hold loosen. There was a shooting pain from her leg and she tried to kick herself loose as the blunt force of the human's pommel connected with the side of her head. She went down to her knees with a grunt, the impact causing a ringing in her head. But even despite that, she got back to her feet to finish the fight.

Of course Aria had noticed when the third person had entered the fray, but only now did she get a good look. Another human--maybe? The features weren't quite right. But this wasn't any time to question a helping hand (no matter how hard she would insist that she had this on her own). The enemy of her enemy was her friend. For now.

As the sword started its decent for the killing strike, a glowing, blue tether snapped around the attacker's wrist. Another Lash, much stronger than the first. The air around it distorted with a low hum. Aria held the other end taut, a scowl of determination even through the blood that slid down one side of her face.

"I'm not done with you yet, bitch!" she shouted as she yanked the biotic cord. Only this time, she combined it with a secondary attack. The other hand thrust forward, launching a Reave blast to rend the woman's heavy armor.

[heromiyuu]

Neria grunted in pain when Meredith's kick met her left thigh, knee crashing on the ground. She raised her staff with both hands to stop Certainty, but fortunately that wasn't necessary thanks to the purple woman's intervention. Ignoring the pain, she stood again, casting a barrier on the woman and a long-lasting regenerating spell.

"We must deprive her from the sword! It's her power source and also driving her insane!!"

And with that said, she casted a barrier for herself, slightly frustrated; the Arcane Warrior abilities were useless inside the Fade. Since Meredith was clearly determined to bring her down, Neria backed way as far as she could without stepping out her casting range. She used a Curse Hex on Meredith.

[meredith_fadewalk]

The blue energy ripped through her, paralyzing her. Her lungs seized. A scream died in her throat.

No.

Certainty blazed, heaving over the line of energy around her wrist. Red reached for the demon, clawing, tearing up the tether while her body twitched.

Meredith opened her eyes as Certainty fought the demon, locking her gaze onto the mage. She had no air, but the Chant echoed through her mind.

Though all before me is shadow, yet shall the Maker be my guide.

Meredith took a quick step back as the blue energy surrounding her at last burned to red, at last as she took another breath. Certainty pulled it, all of it, so heavy, and with a massive swing Meredith sent it crackling down the corridor at the mage, breaking floor and ceiling as it flew.

[biotic_boss]

Dark blue lips twisted into a teeth-baring snarl as Aria's lash line was cut again. What kind of blade was that! Whoever that third woman was, they seemed convinced that the sword was the source of this madwoman's power.

There was an opening, as the berserked human gathered energy, red and deadly. Two things happened at once: the blast was released down the corridor towards the staff bearing woman just as Aria ignited a Singularity point right at the center of the armor's backplate. Immediately after, a Warp blast collided with it, causing an explosion that rippled gravity and time itself, bringing down chunks of the ceiling above. Aria threw a biotic push under her own feet, launching her with accelerated speed on top of her target.

Using her own bodyweight and momentum, Aria brought the armored assailant to the ground, one strong hand wrapping tight around the woman's throat--choking had seemed to have a very good effect only moments before--and using her other hand to pin the woman's sword hand to the ground. The air around Aria shivered and distorted as she summoned all of her remaining biotic energy into strength and endurance. She didn't want to break the woman's neck, just to knock her unconscious. Not for lack of wanting the woman dead, but because she wanted answers first.

[heromiyuu]

Things happened quickly; Neria casted another Hex of Torment to weaken Meredith just seconds before being hit with the massive Red Lyrium energy released by Certainty. The Barrier wasn't enough to stand such massive amount of power and she was sent across the room, colliding against the wall with a loud noise.

Air was violently expelled from her lungs with the collision, dark spots dancing on the corner of her eyes. Another explosion and another part of the ceiling gave up, her immediate reaction driving her to cast a barrier around Leliana, just a few meters from the fight now. She tried to stand up, but a stinging pain on her side made her falter, blood blossoming just where the energy had struck her.

Her hands soaked in her own blood trembled and all strength left her legs.

Falon'Din, please, not now... not n--

Neria just fell.

[meredith_fadewalk]

She saw the mage fall. Blood coated her tongue, her hair nearly covered her eyes, but Meredith saw the mage fall and she grinned.

And then.

Fire.

She staggered forward. Nearly stepped on the mage when a fist-sized piece of the ceiling smashed the crown of her head. Something slammed into her, and next she knew she was on the ground. Meredith gurgled as her crumpled greave was crushed under another piece of stone, but the demon had her by the throat and she couldn’t-

Meredith thrashed weakly, but it wasn’t nearly enough.

She couldn’t…

Certainty blazed, but her arm wouldn’t rise.

NO! Get UP!

My Creator, judge me whole…

[biotic_boss]

Chest heaving, Aria stayed her position. She waited, staring, glaring with sharp blue eyes. She waited until there was no more conscious movement from the woman under her, holding her grip for just a few seconds longer to be absolutely sure. When she finally loosed her hold, she saw the bruises her fingerprints left.

A smirk from the victor.

Aria stood, though her strength had been sapped, it was rebuilding quickly. There was nothing to bind the woman with, so she would have to get the body into some sort of holding cell soon. But there was at least time to check on the other woman, the one who had come late, and who had been hit with that powerful red blast. As Aria stepped over the unconscious pile of armor and flesh, she kicked the sword away. It was heaver than she'd expected, but it still skid out of reach.

She crouched, noting the pool of blood forming on the stone. She could carry them both, if she had to. Something caught her attention and she turned her head. A third body? Wait--that was the woman she'd run into just outside of the room she had woken up in. She'd never caught a name...

There was no way Aria could carry all three of them at once. She might have been strong, but even she had her limits. After some short contemplation, she reached out her right hand, the orange glow of the omnitool lighting up around her arm. It dispensed medigel over the currently bleeding wound. That would have to do, but now she needed to cage that raging beast of a warrior.

She returned to the heap of ceiling stones and body, carelessly tossing the larger chunks of stone aside so she could get to the woman underneath. Then she hoisted the body onto her shoulder, grimacing at how metal armor was so much heavier than plastisteel. She departed down the hallway, the way she had been coming from originally. If she was remembering correctly, she had seen a set of shackles behind a barred door not too long ago...

[nightingale_fadewalk]

((ooc: you ladies mind if I step in?))

[heromiyuu]

(ooc: go for it sis!)

[nightingale_fadewalk]

Sister Nightingale woke up with one of the worst headaches she could remember, her whole body sore. She moved slowly, checking herself after broken bones or any other kind of injury, but there was none. The hooded woman scanned the room with her eyes, trying to figure out what had happened, frown forming on her front as she saw a person lying in a pool of blood.

Leliana stood up, taking the elven woman's pulse; still alive, breathing weakly but steady. Certainty was on the floor just a few meters away and she glared, no signs of Meredith. She took off her cloak, wrapping the sword with it and strapping the pack on her back, approaching the elven woman after. She must one of the Heroes of Ferelden, the one married to her Alistair.

She raised the Hero, locking her arm around her neck and balancing her light frame with the other hand around her waist, slowly making it upstairs.