'I like your rings,' Hawke had said, completely off-topic and out of the blue and with an expression that sticks with Emmrich after he wakes, along with how Hawke had definitely sought prolonged contact with him. Emmrich lays in bed for a few extra moments. He can't let any thoughts or emotions get out of hand. Hawke could be dead, and there's no having more with a remnant in the Fade.
For the first time his hopes that Hawke is alive include a little selfishness, though.
The primary issue, the one he heads to deal with as soon as he's out of his nightgown and armed with tea, is figuring out if he can coordinate efforts with the Caretaker. There are no maps of the Fade. The river feels old, incredibly so, but that doesn't mean it's been there for any longer than the couple of weeks ago Hawke's armor had shown up. It also doesn't necessarily mirror any real rivers. Even trawling the Necropolis' library doesn't help him with sorting out the Caretaker's destination. They'll try to find the current, they assure him. It's something. Audric promises to see if he can help as well, and that too is something. Knowing he's not alone on this side of the Fade trying to figure out a way to help Hawke is even far more than merely something.
Neve finds him when he returns to the Lighthouse and jerks her head in the direction of her corner of it. Emmrich raises an eyebrow and follows her into her wisp-filled office.
"This seems personal," she says in lieu of small talk. He appreciates that.
"I am the Fade expert, and I'm the one who found him. It can't not be personal."
The corner of her mouth curls up in a half-smile briefly as their gazes meet. "But that's not all."
Emmrich takes a seat on her table. He knows it's more personal than that, but he's not had the time or the desire to really break down the situation. Not until now. It doesn't help that he's a bit tired; when he's aware in the Fade his sleep isn't nearly as restful.
"It is more than that," he says after some consideration. He's still mulling it over as he talks, since sometimes speaking helps his thoughts fall in order. "I think in part it's due to the scope of everything we're facing. Killing two gods, along with all of the rest, would generally be considered impossible. Rescuing someone from the Fade who has been in there for a decade would also be generally considered impossible. If I can do the latter, it makes the former feel more approachable."
"More possible." She nods, looking out the 'window' to the Fade. "And you're sure this isn't the trick of some demo--spirit? I have to ask."
"Of course." They're mages. They know the importance of asking questions. Emmrich shakes his head, half-smiling. "I'm nearly sure. Unfortunately I can't think of any way to be absolutely certain. The messages he had for Isabela were just on the side of specific enough to be believable, but anything more specific would likely be too personal. There are any number of beings wandering the Fade that are clever and capable, and I can't deny there's obvious appeal to rushing in and rescuing a handsome stranger."
Neve suddenly looks very amused as she looks back at him. "Handsome, is he?"
Emmrich raises an eyebrow in return. "Oh, that's the point we're focusing in on, then?" He refuses to be embarrassed when he's quite certain she'll agree if she gets the chance to see Hawke.
She laughs. "It's far more fun than the risk of bringing something powerful to the Lighthouse. I know you know better than to go and get possessed, but there's a fourth Forbidden one still wandering about out there and he's a tricky one."
"Imshael," Emmrich confirms. Stories say that Gaxkang had been dealt with by the team with Hero of Ferelden, that Hawke and his friends had seen to Xebenkeck, and recently the Lighthouse crew had banished the Formless One, but of Imshael there's only tales of meeting him, nothing of his defeat. "From everything I recall reading, he prefers to be clear about who and what he is, but yes. The fact that he's Choice from Desire while Hawke's nearly undressed hasn't escaped me. I have to try, though."
She nods. The conversation continues for a time, covering nothing he's not been concerned about, but it's helpful to go over it out loud. When night falls he's returning to the Fade, a little tired, a little subdued, but still determined.
"Hello again," he says, smiling, as soon as he sees Hawke. "I hope things have been peaceful enough in my absence? Either way, I bring news: the one spirit I know with a boat is going to see if they can find us. Let's continue down the river, of course, as it may still lead us out on its own, but we may have assistance coming. And if I remember right from last time, yes. A griffon. The Wardens found a magically protected nest, it seems, and so we have a young griffon named Assan on the team."
There. That should set the mood well for this leg of the trip, bringing a little more hope and joy into the mix to help Hawke with all of the heavy news weighing him down.
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For the first time his hopes that Hawke is alive include a little selfishness, though.
The primary issue, the one he heads to deal with as soon as he's out of his nightgown and armed with tea, is figuring out if he can coordinate efforts with the Caretaker. There are no maps of the Fade. The river feels old, incredibly so, but that doesn't mean it's been there for any longer than the couple of weeks ago Hawke's armor had shown up. It also doesn't necessarily mirror any real rivers. Even trawling the Necropolis' library doesn't help him with sorting out the Caretaker's destination. They'll try to find the current, they assure him. It's something. Audric promises to see if he can help as well, and that too is something. Knowing he's not alone on this side of the Fade trying to figure out a way to help Hawke is even far more than merely something.
Neve finds him when he returns to the Lighthouse and jerks her head in the direction of her corner of it. Emmrich raises an eyebrow and follows her into her wisp-filled office.
"This seems personal," she says in lieu of small talk. He appreciates that.
"I am the Fade expert, and I'm the one who found him. It can't not be personal."
The corner of her mouth curls up in a half-smile briefly as their gazes meet. "But that's not all."
Emmrich takes a seat on her table. He knows it's more personal than that, but he's not had the time or the desire to really break down the situation. Not until now. It doesn't help that he's a bit tired; when he's aware in the Fade his sleep isn't nearly as restful.
"It is more than that," he says after some consideration. He's still mulling it over as he talks, since sometimes speaking helps his thoughts fall in order. "I think in part it's due to the scope of everything we're facing. Killing two gods, along with all of the rest, would generally be considered impossible. Rescuing someone from the Fade who has been in there for a decade would also be generally considered impossible. If I can do the latter, it makes the former feel more approachable."
"More possible." She nods, looking out the 'window' to the Fade. "And you're sure this isn't the trick of some demo--spirit? I have to ask."
"Of course." They're mages. They know the importance of asking questions. Emmrich shakes his head, half-smiling. "I'm nearly sure. Unfortunately I can't think of any way to be absolutely certain. The messages he had for Isabela were just on the side of specific enough to be believable, but anything more specific would likely be too personal. There are any number of beings wandering the Fade that are clever and capable, and I can't deny there's obvious appeal to rushing in and rescuing a handsome stranger."
Neve suddenly looks very amused as she looks back at him. "Handsome, is he?"
Emmrich raises an eyebrow in return. "Oh, that's the point we're focusing in on, then?" He refuses to be embarrassed when he's quite certain she'll agree if she gets the chance to see Hawke.
She laughs. "It's far more fun than the risk of bringing something powerful to the Lighthouse. I know you know better than to go and get possessed, but there's a fourth Forbidden one still wandering about out there and he's a tricky one."
"Imshael," Emmrich confirms. Stories say that Gaxkang had been dealt with by the team with Hero of Ferelden, that Hawke and his friends had seen to Xebenkeck, and recently the Lighthouse crew had banished the Formless One, but of Imshael there's only tales of meeting him, nothing of his defeat. "From everything I recall reading, he prefers to be clear about who and what he is, but yes. The fact that he's Choice from Desire while Hawke's nearly undressed hasn't escaped me. I have to try, though."
She nods. The conversation continues for a time, covering nothing he's not been concerned about, but it's helpful to go over it out loud. When night falls he's returning to the Fade, a little tired, a little subdued, but still determined.
"Hello again," he says, smiling, as soon as he sees Hawke. "I hope things have been peaceful enough in my absence? Either way, I bring news: the one spirit I know with a boat is going to see if they can find us. Let's continue down the river, of course, as it may still lead us out on its own, but we may have assistance coming. And if I remember right from last time, yes. A griffon. The Wardens found a magically protected nest, it seems, and so we have a young griffon named Assan on the team."
There. That should set the mood well for this leg of the trip, bringing a little more hope and joy into the mix to help Hawke with all of the heavy news weighing him down.