faderift | { OPEN } The mood it changes like the wind

WHO: Ellana and open
WHAT: Getting acclimated to Kirkwall
WHEN: Bloomingtide 4-11
WHERE: Gallows, dock, the city
NOTES: Nope.

{ the gallows }
It doesn't take much convincing for Ellana to take one of the free rooms available for the Inquisition's use. She's grown used to having her privacy and especially a nice bed, so when she comes with the second group in late Cloudreach, she's quick to claim a space. That said, there are times when she's amenable to company, even when not seeking it out, and she leaves the door to her room open so anyone passing can stop in. Sometimes she's reading cross-legged on her bed, other times she's playing her lute, the sounds of a bad note occasionally slipping through followed by a frustrated sigh.

{ the docks }
Ellana sometimes stops by to see friends who don't want to live in the Gallows, or to meander around the stables. Other times, she sits on the edge of the docks with her legs swinging, eating an apple or bit of bread as she watches the boats in the harbor. There's often a thoughtful look on her face and from time to time she'll look up at a passerby to ask: "How far do you think it is to Antiva by sea?" or "Have you ever been to Rivain?"

{ lowtown }
She doesn't expect a warm welcome at the alienage, but she mentions she's a friend of Merrill's and some elves are willing to talk to her. The fact that Ellana doesn't lecture them about how wonderful life would be for them in a clan helps, and when she mentions she's voluntarily left hers, there's a smug satisfaction on the faces of the others. But Ellana just shrugs and moves on, asking them about the city and knowing better than to show any pity for their lot. They make do, and she respects that.

When she leaves, it's still light out, but she has heard of the dangers of Lowtown even during the day. So with a wave of her hand, she sets the stealth spell she created on herself and slips back towards the gates at the docks. Maybe you're making your way back as well, and suddenly the space beside you that you swore was empty a moment ago is occupied by an elf with a smile.

"Hello. Heading back? Mind some company?"

{ for felix }
The Gallows is a big place, but there are some areas that Ellana frequents and it's not too difficult for Felix to find her when he needs her. Like now. She's just left the walled in herb garden and is walking across the expansive courtyard when she sees him after he's already spotted her. Her face brightens and she lifts her hand in a wave, moving to meet him.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"That's all right by me. I need to go that way to take a boat back to the Gallows anyway." She smiles back with a friendly expression she bestows upon any fellow elf she sees. "I saw you at the alienage, but you're Inquisition, right?" Saoirse may recognize Ellana from the prison cells of future Kirkwall -- albeit with more intact body parts here -- but Ellana isn't sure if she's seen her around Skyhold or not.

There is a moment of pause at the mention of the Gallows but she ultimately smiles, her memories of that terrible dark future coming ahead of the darker thoughts that had been born in this city years earlier. Saoirse bows her head though in greeting, nodding.

"I am though the Free Marches are my home. I am originally from Starkhaven but Kirkwall was my home for some time too." It is said lightly, a sigh almost. "They are almost a second family to me in the alienage."

"The Free Marches are my original home too!" Ellana smiles, excited to meet someone from Starkhaven. So that's what their accent sounds like. "The clan moved all over, but never close to Kirkwall. Now I consider the whole world my home. I can travel all over and see what feels the most cozy." She juts a thumb over her shoulder in the direction from which they both came. "I've just met the elves there for the first time, but they know Merrill, so I really wanted to meet them too. I'm really looking for a community of elves who, well--" Here she lowers her voice a little and gives a little wince. "Aren't judgmental about who is an elf and who isn't."

"After father moved us to Starkhaven, his home, when I was still a child we never left. I only left because our Circle burned down and most its mages were sent here to Kirkwall."

She smiles a sad sort of smile. Saoirse is more than aware that more than the fair share of people in this world knew what it meant to be a mage locked in the Gallows but even now it sometimes felt like a dream. It was the little pieces, like now when she looks out over the harbor that reminds her that it was anything but a dream.

There is a small curious look on her features as Ellana speaks of a community of elves that are not judgmental and hums. "Something like that, as a whole, might perhaps be hard to find. Everyone has their opinions on the matter as I'm sure you know..."

"Oh, I've heard about that," she says with a nod. Perhaps it was at a mage council meeting, back when she was still a councilor. But mage politics, it turns out, just aren't her thing.

"Yes, I know. There are a lot of preconceived notions on both sides. I've always disliked those. How would anyone ever get to know anyone else if they think they know what they're like from the start, without ever even talking to them?"

"Those preconceived notions bury deep. Everyone assumes they are better than the next even though there is much we could learn from one another," she murmurs thoughtfully. "At least the Inquisition seems to be helping nurture a better environment for elves that are more... open to the unfamiliar instead of hostile."

"For the most part," she agrees mildly, thinking of one Dalish elf in particular that only seems open to the unfamiliar so she can use it as proof that the clan is better in every respect. But Ellana supposes that's what happens when your mommy is the Keeper and brainwashes you into believing there is nothing better than the clan system.

"I was speaking about this with another elf earlier today," she goes on to say. "We think we have to keep reminding people in the here and now about the other races besides humans that are coming together to fight Corypheus. We can't let them forget, or when this is over, they'll rewrite history to say we were never a part of it."

"And there's always help for the future," she says with a bright smile. "If you find yourself unable to find it then sometimes you must create it. My father, he is a scholar, would likely love the chance to learn more about Dalish traditions and your oral histories."

But most of all, Saoirse would love a chance to live someone as bright and beautiful as the places she imagined in her dreams as a child. And to also live with their Dalish relatives? It would be a dream come true. As Ellana continues, Saoirse watches with a warm look before nodding eagerly in agreement.

"I very much agree. We cannot allow this tradition of allowing them to erase from history. I want so very much for those that will come after us and I wish for them to have the stories and histories we have been denied."

"Oh, really?" Ellana asks, clasping her hands together in excitement. "Would he be interested in my notes on elven ruins? I've been collecting them for a future book, far, far down the line." She even waves a hand to demonstrate this future date. Her journals will need more material than the few ruins she's visited so far, and of course there will be the problem of an elf publishing something, but at least Varric promised her help there. "But I would be happy to send along what I have. I've done several drafts, so he could have one of my previous ones. I know it's not exactly Dalish history, but it's older than that, so would he be interested?" She probably won't send him everything, just on the off chance he can't be trusted and tries publishing her work under his name. Look, she may be naive, but she's grown a lot since leaving the clan and seeing the world. A little suspicion every now and then is healthy.

Ellana has really hoped that she'll have an audience for her work. It's why she's doing all this. Exploring ruins means filling in some of the missing pieces about the elves.

"Then you can be a part of it to, this reminding people," she says with a nod. "Not to an obnoxious degree or anything, but just making sure to be a part of everything and that showing we're all on the same side."

"Would he be interested? He would likely cry out of happiness, I'm sure." Saoirse responds, chuckling happily with a nod. "He would adore the chance to read it but it could also provide new information to tell the children in the alienage. It would, I think, be something that they would also love to know."

After all, even with her father as her teacher there was only so much

"Of course, I would hope it comes across in all of my actions. There is a lot to do, and there will be even more challenges in the future but we must be strong." Strong like those here in Kirkwall, who suffered so much but have still pushed on and kept creating. "We'll make it all real, our two groups as one."

"Good! I'll give them to you to give to him, then." It will be great to have that kind of information spread through the alienage too.

Up ahead are the gates leading to the Inquisition's part of the docks, and Ellana slows her steps to say one more thing before they enter and most likely part ways.

"We elves know all about being strong. It makes me proud to be a part of all this and know that we've had a hand in changing this world for the better."

"Wonderful! Thank you so very much." She can already imagine her father, perhaps she'll have to make another trip to Starkhaven soon and pass on the notes herself. It would be a good excuse to see her father once more.

As the gates come into view, and thus the Gallows too. Saoirse also slows her steps and hangs back, eyes focusing on the fortress across the harbor for a brief moment before turning back to Ellana and offering her a smile.

"Mm, I agree. The road ahead will be hard but we'll all see it through. In the end, we'll leave something for those that come after us will look back on and also be proud."

{ OPEN } The mood it changes like the wind

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