Merrill (merrills) wrote in prospectives, @ 2012-02-21 00:17:00 |
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It had been unlike anything Merrill had ever seen before, even in all of her long years of life, dwarfing Kirkwall in its size and (rather questionable, really) splendor. Seeing it on the horizon, lighting up the sky with neon colos, it had been the first time she and Sebastian were forced to realize that this was not the Thedas they knew -- not even in the Tevinter Imperium, where the magisters still the worshipped the Old Gods, could such a place exist. Blood magic had been a reasonable explanation, and Merrill held no ill will towards Sebastian for suggesting it, but she had merely shook her head. "No, no, I don't think so." The worry lines in her brow only deepened further the closer they got to the city, until finally it seemed much clearer to her. "No, lethallin, there is no magic here." Her eyes had drifted up towards the towering signs, glowing with the same unnatural light that was cast into the sky. "A lot of bad taste, really, whoever it is in charge of decorating, but no magic."
Everything else had looked so similar to Thedas until now -- had they not been separated from the Champion and their allies, it would have been safe to assume that this was just another land affected by the Blight, but now everything was different. Foreign. It was almost as if they truly were in an entirely different world. Acknowledging the potential danger and difference of this place could not truly prepare either Sebastian or Merrill for what lay beyond the city limits -- walking into the strangely overcrowded streets, they had been assaulted by sounds and sights and smells completely unknown to them. Inside, the streets were packed with men and women who seemed to be oblivious to the plight around them, and loud music accosted them whenever they stepped too near to an open doorway. "What is this place, Sebastian?" Merrill had covered her ears as they navigated the various streets and alleyways that shot off in every direction. "Why are they all so noisy?" She had bumped into a loud woman wearing an equally loud feather boa, and was about to shrink back and apologize before the lady scoffed and turned her nose up to her. "A fashion disaster! Did you see her surgery?" she could be heard telling a friend, before going about her business.
It seemed that the majority of the city was occupied most densely in its center, where bells and whistles and the constant chiming of coins seemed never-ending, but the outskirts of the city were oddly barren. Sebastian had led her to what seemed to be an empty shop, many of its windows broken and many of its goods rendered unusable, scattered on the ground. Stepping carefully over the broken glass, Merrill had sunk back gratefully onto crate covered with a dusty pillow, sighing deeply. "I think I can still hear all the music in my head -- oh, I hope that means I've not gone mad. What a strange group of people, Sebastian. It's almost like they're all in a desire demoness' dream, but there's no demonic presence here."
As long as no one came to their tiny hovel, it seemed like a safe enough place to spend the next few days, at least until they could decide what to do next. Provisions would need to be seen to first, and then to figure out who, or what, was responsible for the madness taking place around them. Somehow, neither of them thought that they would find a Viscount or Chantry in which they could seek answers from, but at least they were able to protect themselves. A bandit would be hard pressed if they tried to attack them now -- it was a small comfort, but one nonetheless to be thankful for.