faderift | Open Log

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Open Log

WHO: Inessa, Garahel (her mabari) and OPEN to anyone.
WHAT: A new Warden arrives.
WHEN: Beginning to mid-Solace.
WHERE: Camp Shady, Skyhold. Specifics in prompts.
NOTES: I'll match formats!

Mabari nonsense included at all stages. Weisshaupt and what went on there will likely be referenced, so blood magic/demon-summoning/coup warnings in effect.

I. Camp Shady

There's a new arrival at the Grey Warden camp below Skyhold...well, actually two. Inessa arrives mid-morning, a pale, petite elven woman with a staff on her back and clad in what is unmistakably Grey Warden battlemage attire. Sometimes at her side is an adult mabari who in all honesty isn't that much shorter and considerably more muscled, adorned with kaddis markings. Faced with new surroundings and new people, he's regularly running off to have a look around but always returns to his mistress, perhaps with a new friend?

After setting up her tent wherever there's space (and perhaps double-checking to ensure that particular space won't be needed), Inessa could rest...but she's not going to. Instead, the young woman can be found looking for the nearest campfire to join or starting her own, just wanting to sit down and relax with Garahel and perhaps catch up on recent events. Or she can be found wherever the griffons are kept, observing them with quiet awe. Having seen them at Weisshaupt, they're not exactly a new sight and yet she can still scarcely believe they're real. A small smile forms on her lips as she looks them over, mindful not to get too close or make sudden movements. "Hello again. My, you've grown...."

II. Rotunda library and frescoes

The Grey Warden camp is nice, but there's one thing it doesn't have; stacks upon stacks of books. Inessa's a devoted Warden, but she was also raised in the Circle and if there's one thing she misses, it's the library at her tower. For the first time in over a year and a half, she actually has the time and opportunity to indulge, so she does...with Garahel in tow, of course. Having been instructed previously, the mabari actually behaves himself in this area, no running or barking or running over to harass the ravens in the rookery. Instead, he plops down somewhere reasonably out of the way to nap while Inessa inspects the stacks. No one topic is off limits to her, and soon she accumulates a sizable crooked tower at her table. Much of it involves magical theory or history, but lighter subjects are definitely possible. Varric's books were known even in the Circle.

At some point, because of her petite stature and a dearth of ladders, she'll swallow her pride and look over to the nearest (undoubtedly taller, unless they're a dwarf) person, and smile apologetically. "Excuse me, but could I borrow you for a moment? I need a longer pair of arms to reach a book for me."

Some time later, Inessa descends with a sated mind and a lighter heart. Upon reaching the rotunda below the library, she pauses to inspect the frescoes painted there. They had been noted before, but now that her greatest priority has been tended to, she can spare a little time for such things. The Siege of Adamant Fortress particularly captures her attention, unsurprisingly, and she lingers there, gazing solemnly upward.

III. Battlements

In what will become part of her routine, Inessa takes to strolling the battlements with Garahel before heading back to the Grey Warden encampment. It's a chance to savor the mountain view and stretch her legs, and let her attention-needy mabari get some petting from friendly soldiers and scouts. The direction isn't important, just the chance to clear her head and enjoy the brisk winds, a sharp contrast from the oppressive heat of the Western Approach.

IV. Wildcard

Catch her nearly anywhere. Perhaps she's discovered the vault library (and Garahel abandons her for the kitchen, since he can't fit) or is getting treats for Garahel at the kitchen. Curious Warden is curious and will want to see everything Skyhold has to offer that's not off-limits.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ellana spends quite a bit of time down at the Warden camp, and the new arrival does not go unnoticed. It's hard to miss a fellow elf, especially one with such a large companion by her side. The corner of Ellana's mouth lifts in amusement, because the mabari looks so inquisitive and friendly, but she knows better than to reach out and pet him just yet. Right now, she sits near the fire, her lute in her lap. She strums the strings absently, not sure what she should play. The truth is, she knows few songs and can play even less well. Subjecting the Wardens to the same songs over and over again seems like it could classify as some form of torture, so for the moment, she's improvising.

"Hello," she greets both dog and elf as they get closer. "Are you a new arrival?"

The Dalish woman is noted with some curiosity, as exposure to them beyond books or at a distance hasn't been a thing for Inessa until now. She's also been told that they likely wouldn't care for her, a city elf and a Circle-raised one at that. Any initial hesitation fades at the greeting, and it's enough to encourage her to settle in by the fire as well, personal space respected of course. Nodding politely, she manages a tired but genuine smile. Her accent, what there is of it, is unsurprisingly Fereldan.

"Extremely new, yes. We just arrived this morning, in fact. I'm Inessa, one of the Wardens rescued at Weisshaupt. My companion is Garahel." Upon hearing his name, the mabari perks up and wags his tail hopefully. She'll pet him, right?

"Oh, then it's good to see you both here, safe and sound!" Ellana knows that she probably doesn't know even half of what went on at Weisshaupt, and that town criers aren't to be trusted (especially when two give completely opposite accounts), but she knows it was a bad time.

"I'm Ellana," she adds, lifting her hand and smiling at the dog. "Do you want pets? You're in luck, because I love petting dogs." So come on into her space and she'll give you all you can handle.

"I'm not a Warden myself, but I do spend a great deal of time here."

Yaaaaay. Garahel loves you, Ellana. Happy at the acceptance, he darts over and bumps against her, eager for pettings. But he's well-trained enough not to jump on people, so knocking her over, thankfully.

"Now you've done it. Pay attention to him, and he'll never leave you alone. It's a curse." Inessa smiles, somehow still managing despite such a dread fate.

"...you do? I admit, that's a pleasant surprise. I thought the reputation of Grey Wardens as a whole has suffered, in light of recent events. Some of us did not support them, it's true, but many don't seem to realize this."

"Isn't that true of most dogs?" she asks, dutifully petting the happy animal. While she does find dogs to be loyal and sweet, she thinks she'll stick to the halla for now. They're a big responsibility, after all.

"I'm friends with several of them, and I happen to be in a relationship with one as well. So I tend to stick close by."

Garahel's in heaven, making a contented huff and flopping by her to encourage continued attention from this new person. Pets are nearly as good as treats, which Inessa already gave him not too long ago. She's not about to encourage more just yet.

"Ah...well, that would make sense, then. I'm still grateful, regardless." The stink-eye from some of the scouts could be from any number of things -being and elf, mage or Warden- but given that Ciri had noticed it directed at herself as well, Inessa's leaning towards the latter right now.

"And I wouldn't know, actually. My mabari was a gift after my Joining. Before then, I lived in the Circle and we were not allowed pets there. Is it common of the Dalish?" Inessa's suddenly reminded that she barely knows anything about them; the library at the tower didn't have much information and what little there was seemed biased, and her darkspawn-hunting hasn't taken her to any Dalish-visited areas so far.

"I'm afraid little is really common among the Dalish now," Ellana stresses. "The clans are all spread out and we only meet every ten years. It means that what one clan does could be completely different from what another does." She knows most don't seem to understand that, even though it's perfectly logical. Just because they pass down their lore and traditions doesn't mean their day-to-day life is identical in every clan.

"I can say that in my clan, we didn't have pets. We raised halla, but they're our brothers and sisters. We take care of them and they help us move our aravels."

"Why so long an interval? Is the number of significance?" Inessa's brow furrows a little, somewhat surprised that there isn't more uniformity but then meeting only every decade would make that possible. She tilts her head, a little curious though it's more a detached, academic sort. The Dalish have never had anything to do with her own life, which she considers full enough.

"I've only ever seen halla as statues, not in the flesh. But...I can understand such a close bond, I think. Garahel isn't transport, but he's more than a mere pet." She smiles as the mabari responds with a pleased huff and flops down to wiggle on the cool grass.

"I'm not a Keeper, so I can't say for sure," she says with a slightly crooked smile. It's more of a private joke to herself and how she was never destined to be one. "Rumors say that the Keepers argue terribly, so they can only stand to see each other once every ten years."

Now she laughs at Garahel, reaching out to rub his belly. "You're so sweet!" She knows the dog will like that. "How long have you been a Warden?"

Yessss, Garahel absolutely love belly-rubs. Inessa smirks a little, just watching her spoiled mabari and knowing how shameless he can be. "Now he'll expect belly rubs whenever he sees you, you've warned.

I've been a Warden for about a year and a half. When the Circle tower fell, I left to seek them. Grey Wardens saved my tower from destruction, during the Blight. I suppose I wanted to repay them ever since, but it's also more than that. They have a purpose, and even outside a blight it matters." And then the sheen of that idealism wore away somewhat at Weisshaupt, but that's not a subject she's ready to dwell on longer than to say that it happened.

"Oh, yours was the Circle from the tale of the Hero of Ferelden?" Ellana knows the main story, but not a lot of the details. It even took her awhile to realize that several of the people here were those characters from it, in the flesh.

"I've always admired Wardens and what they do. There has been a lot of tension here, though, ever since Anders came to light."

"Indeed, it was. I doubt the Hero of Fereldan remembers me, though, or any of the others. I was just a child." A frightened child who relied on the power of the older mages to see her through the horror. But though they likely wouldn't even have noticed her that first time, she'd never forget her first sight of them. They were strong and capable and she wanted to be just like that one day.

There's an understanding nod at mention of Anders and she sighs, not knowing what to say on that. There are a lot of feelings on the subject, feelings she's tried to dismiss by telling herself that it's the present which needs focus, not dwelling on what was. "He was part of my Circle, though I barely remember him. Mostly, I just heard about all his escape attempts. Escaping is one matter, but I never thought such action would be taken. I can't blame others for the tension, even as I hope they can abide by the Wardens' decision on the matter."

Ellana doesn't blame the Wardens at all. She does sort of blame Hawke, however. While she may have no ties to Kirkwall and the Chantry means nothing to her, Anders still killed innocents and felt justified in doing so. She doesn't consider him blameless, and she considers him a pain to the Mage Council. But beyond that, she knows nothing about him personally.

"They have so far. I think if mass action was going to be taken, it would have been already."

She visibly relaxes at that, and stretches her fingertips out to the fire. "Good. I don't particularly care for leaving one mess behind only to find myself in another. It's not as though there aren't more pressing concerns, and a united Inquisition would be far better suited to facing them. If I could ask a favor...is there any news that Ciri and I ought to be aware of, Warden-related or otherwise? I'd like to know where to begin contributing."

Idleness not only isn't in her nature, it makes for a very hyper animal companion. He needs his exercise, after all. Though right now he's still content to pose as relaxed puddle of mabari.

"I'm not sure..." She thinks a moment, fingers still rubbing at Garahel's fur. "Well, has anyone told you yet what the Inquisition did to get all of you Wardens to stop hearing the Calling?" Because that might be something to make her feel indebted to the Inquisition more than just the rescue at Weisshaupt. Many people suffered in the Fade to destroy the Nightmare demon for the Wardens.

Inessa's brow furrows. "Some of the recruits at the keep spoke of a large battle, and Inquisition forces were drawn the Fade, but...." Her tone is extremely skeptical, because that disastrous attempt from long ago aside, entering the Fade physically is -or should be- impossible. Everyone knows that. And yet, those soldiers sounded so certain.

"Yes, we were. We meant to bring the Nightmare demon into this world, but the tear in the Fade was huge, and it drew us all in." Not a happy topic by any means, and not one she wants to get too deeply into, but Inessa should know.

She stares in silence for a moment, her expression somewhere between awed and horrified. It's one thing to hear it from random people who were never there, another thing entirely to hear it from an eye-witness. "You...you were there. Physically in the Fade. I...what was it like?"

"Not like in dreams," she says. "Awful. Dark rock and sickly looking water, and... everything was backwards and wrong. The sky was green... demons were everywhere." She shakes her head. "Sorry. I can't speak of it anymore. It was a horrible experience."

Inessa's brow furrows as she takes note of the bleak-sounding description, definitely different from the many times she's visited the Fade in dreams. "But the Black City was there. It's always there." Of that, she doesn't even have to ask; it's a fixture of the Fade, how can it not be?

Her expression grows sympathetic as she refocuses on Ellana and nods. "I'm glad you were able to escape such an experience. That anyone could is incredible, but that so many were able to do so...." She shakes her head incredulously, wondering what that might mean for the future. If anyone can gain access to the Fade, then what?

"Yes, I know. We were fortunate." But that's enough of that. She shivers a little and brushes her fingers against her side for a moment before reaching out to pet the dog again. Touching the place she was wounded has become a new tic she can't control when she thinks of the Fade.

"So as you can imagine, anything you could do to help the Inquisition will be seen as a way of saying thank you for releasing you all from the Calling."

As curious as Inessa was about the Fade experience, she can see that pressure further for details would be unwise. Perhaps there's someone else more willing to talk about it, but for now she'll just relax and enjoy the presence. The fire is nice and Garahel is contented. It's not a bad first day in Skyhold.

"Well, we're capable when it comes to hunting darkspawn, as you might have guessed. My strengths are in ice and spirit magic, though I know a bit of hexes and minor healing. I'm no Spirit Healer, however, and would hesitate to recommend myself beyond fixing the usual battle scrapes."

Edited 2016-07-21 00:09 (UTC)

"I'm sure there's plenty you could do to help," Ellana says. "I know mages are always useful in construction, to move large stone blocks or planks of wood. And it seems that Skyhold will forever be in a state of repair."

How long have they been here now, and they're still fixing holes and floors?

Inessa smiles a bit at that, just glad to have some way to contribute. "Then I'll see what I can do to make myself useful there. Do you know who I must speak with regarding repairs?"

Garahel perks up and barks, but she pats him to calm him down. "Hush, that squirrel didn't do anything to you. Let it be." The mabari still watches it for a moment, but his mistress takes out a toy ball from her pouch and throws it in the other direction, prompting him to run and retrieve it.

"I think Gatsi the stonemason would be the one in charge," she says, tapping her lip in thought once she's spoken. "When he's not around the fortress, he tends to stick to the main hall, right in the front when you walk in. He's a dwarf formerly of Orzammar, and he has a beard and facial tattoos. You can't miss him."

She watches the dog run and smiles, before smiling back at Inessa. "He'll work up an appetite. Luckily there's plenty to eat here."

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