"I was in a rift," he says, looking increasingly concerned. "There was...a disaster, tears in reality. We were all trying to seal them."

The idea of the moon shards creating a passage between worlds isn't too crazy; magic does such things. He has to get back, though, and he certainly can't afford to die outside of Caldera. He holds up both hands, belatedly showing he's mostly unarmed, though there is a dagger in the sheath at his waist. Barcus certainly knows he's not fast enough with it to take an elf by surprise from this distance, even if he wanted to fight.

(Also, deformed?? He begs your pardon, he's a very handsome gnome!)

"Please don't kill me," he somehow manages to sound more long-suffering and irritated than actually afraid. "I have so many things to do, you have no idea."

But wait-- "Lavellan? Is...is Beleth here?" If she came through the rift too, they can work together and presumably her clan won't kill him!