( voice )

[chantes]

You could be happy here. Having anything you desire, or being given a second chance. You could be happy, or at least not faulted for wanting to believe the dream. Dreams can be powerful, or quickly become a nightmare.

( Three guesses as to what Leliana's considering and the first two are probably correct. She knows that this is not in fact the Fade but it's the closest base of reference that she has -- somewhere that isn't quite real, where magic is more powerful than you would believe, dreams, desires. Demons. There is some influence here, and something else -- what else would want them captive? )

It would be more unsettling if we are simply left to our happiness. They take memories, feeding from us. Is that power only to feed what they do or is there more to it? What else will come, even if some have been waiting for so long?

( Perhaps some of the memories were not powerful enough, only giving a fraction of the power another memory did. Was it happiness or sadness, perhaps fear or anger? )

Would you give up something to keep this happiness going, or does fear of what may come stop that?

Comments

[chantes]

How many have gotten lost there?

( She doesn't expect that it'll randomly spit you back out )

[circlejerked]

Enough for it to have become common knowledge over the years.

_{["Too many" is the answer.]}

The mansion similarly defies all laws of physics. You can hike for miles down a hallway and never seemingly reach the end. A side distortion or a hefty illusion--either way, this place runs on a freakish amount of magic power.

[chantes]

That is a concerning thought.

( And one she's already had. Leliana knows it's not the Fade but there are similarities -- the distortions, people coming or going, the lack of proper physics... It's a place to worry about )

Is there a source to the power? Something buried deep?

[circlejerked]

_{[A spymaster who's mastered the art of understatement. A woman of many talents, this Leliana.]}

My guess for a long while was the Core. Have you been told of it already? But after an unknown entity left a series of cryptic riddles last year, I'm not so sure. A popular theory is that Wonderland is possibly sentient.

[chantes]

I've heard of it, and that theory.

( And with how much magic this place would need to change as people say... )

It would not be so surprising if it were sentient. It changes, and it takes from us. Magic cannot do that without a will behind it.

( As he should know )

[circlejerked]

I'd never been a big believer in alternate dimensions before coming here--or dimensions that have a mind of its own, for that matter--but I've been over a year here already. I wouldn't find it so surprising, either.

_{[Between his experience and her deductions, the theory is one with merit.]}

You've got a knack for information gathering, don't you? If any of us is likely to dig something up, when I knew you here before my sovereigns would've been on you.

[chantes]

( There's a chuckle. That would be money well placed, Anders )

I'll let you know should I find something more.

( When she does. She's going to find things )

There's somewhere to start, at least.

[circlejerked]

_{[An offer deserves a fair trade in return.]}

And you're free to what I've gleaned so far during my stay. Robyn's been here a while herself, but I'm happy to answer questions should you have them.

_{[You find those things, Leliana. Find all the things and save these hapless people.]}

[chantes]

Perhaps I'll send you a list.

( Dangerous offer, Anders. But she's not that bad )

[circlejerked]

Usually when a woman hands me a list, it's a list of charges. Questions are a welcome change.

I believe this is going to take all of us working together to figure out, besides. You and I might not know these versions of ourselves very well, but anyone from home has my support in getting out of here.

_{[Even Cullen, not that Anders is liable to admit that.]}

[chantes]

We all have our role to play.

( As they had during the Blight, and later the Inquisition, this would also take a group effort to succeed )

I have no doubt of that, but first we need to know more. I have a somewhere to start.