[open] we ask that life be kind

[eolasemah]

WHO: Sina, the greater Kirkwall populace (including you)
WHAT: dealing with the magic forest backlash
WHEN: early August
WHERE: the steps of the former Chantry
NOTES: with regard to this fiasco

It's early morning, but past sunrise, so many people are still on their way to their daily occupations when a small Dalish elf takes up residence on the steps of what used to be the Chantry and is now a very condensed forest. She's brought with her supplies to see her through the day: a few snacks and plenty to work on, mainly grinding herbs and creating poultices and tea blends, unremarkable and nonmagical activities to put people at ease.
Sina has paid little mind to the guards around the garden's perimeter, apart from offering each of them a bit of dried fruit for their trouble, and she has more of the same for anyone who comes to talk to her. To each, the message is the same: it was me, I did this for you, and there is no reason to be afraid.

Of course, there is a reasonable contingent of those who prefer to shout and carry on, some simply grieving over their chantry and their lack of control in repurposing it, some insisting this is Dalish trickery that should be punished. To both, she listens and says little, with apologies to the former group and polite deflections to the latter.

Over the course of the day she finds herself joined by an assortment of people from the street, who come and go in their efforts to make coin or simply occupy themselves: the occasional musician, bored children, beggars. Sometimes they interact with Sina and sometimes they don't, but regardless, she hold her vigil and, to a degree, actually enjoys it.

Perhaps it doesn't help at all. But whatever the case, the people of Kirkwall who care to look will find a face and a voice connected to the sudden forest, as well as a pointed listening ear and a giving hand.

[Feel free to approach sometime during the day, or we can arrange an interaction after!]

Comments

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin normally doesn't go anywhere near the site of the former Chantry, but she makes an exception as the news spreads about the Dalish woman on the steps. Going against her better judgment, she refrains from donning her armor or bringing her staff. If there's going to be trouble, a 'scary qunari' is not going to be the one sparking it.

On the other hand, she's not about to see Sina come to harm. As she approaches, the beggars receive some coin and the shouters receive a quiet glare. The tall Vashoth woman doesn't stop until she's by the Dalish woman's side, her tone calm and non-judgmental, at least toward Sina herself. She has all the judgment in the world for people who might use this sudden forest as an excuse for violence.

"Good morning, Sina." She reaches out to slip a brawny arm around the elf woman's thin shoulders, a sign of affection and a declaration of where she stands in one. "How are you doing?" It's not an empty question with her, never is. She really wants to know.

[eolasemah]

Sina has not come to any harm, and in fact looks quite relaxed as she goes about her work on the steps, singing a counting song to a curious toddler while she grinds away at some herbs. Concluding the song, she looks up to see Korrin and smiles.

"Aneth ara," she greets easily, and leans into her embrace. "My best," she decides.

[gatheringstorm]

Sina's relaxed demeanor is infectious, at least to a point, and helps some of Korrin's tension subside. If her friend, the focus of all this, isn't hurt or sporting signs that the day is taking its toll then that's all that really matters to her. She gives Sina's shoulders a gentle squeeze. The toddler gets a smile, too.

"That's all anyone can ask, you know. For what it's worth, I think it's an improvement. Sometimes it's better to ask forgiveness than permission, you know. Otherwise, nothing gets done." That isn't to say she's not a little worried about a backlash, but Sina's doubtless heard that from everyone else with an opinion. She doesn't need to be one more voice that piles on.

[eolasemah]

The toddler is quite unnerved by the appearance of an enormous horned woman, and although Korrin smiles at him, he quickly makes his departure to go hide behind his mother's skirts. Little children aren't used to facing what they've never seen before.
Sina looks disappointed as he goes, but doesn't say anything to Korrin, just closing her eyes for a moment and sighing, silently grateful for the respite. "Maybe," she admits, "it wasn't meant to get this.... big. But here it is." She got carried away, who wouldn't?

[gatheringstorm]

The toddler's departure doesn't faze Korrin, who's seen that reaction before. She can't help what she is, of course. As long as she remains calm, then perhaps curiosity will bring him back. That's happened before, too.

"Hey, we'll deal with it. People need to see magic used for a good cause, right? I'd say creating such a bounty definitely counts as that. When nothing comes of it but fruit, herbs and vegetables, they'll learn to calm the fuck down." Well, they had better. Korrin knows it's more complicated than that, but that's what the entire Diplomacy division is for, right? It's time to earn their keep here.

[eolasemah]

Sina giggles, unable to resist when Korrin gets so frank. A part of her is glad Korrin isn't part of the diplomacy division, but a part of her kind of wishes she were lead diplomat. Things would get done much faster. "I hope so," Sina agrees, "but we can't assume they will. People are just animals like a halla or a hare, and need to be shown kindness and trust in order to extend it back."

[gatheringstorm]

It would almost be worth it, to be a lightning rod for everyone's ire if her heavy-handed form of Diplomacy bore results. Don't give her ideas, Sina. "That's not going to happen if they aren't allowed inside. The guards need to back off, and let people see the place for themselves. Upon close, where they can realize it's just a forest garden and that's it. People only become less skittish with exposure, right?

Who knows, maybe a harvest feast or something would help. They see us eating the food and not dying horribly, and they can begin realizing they have a good deal."

[eolasemah]

"I'm sure they'll be allowed sooner or later," Sina assures her, glancing over her shoulder to look at the forest once more. "A feast might be a good idea. Or just... a picnic. Nobody has to eat or touch anything they don't want to." She folds her hands in her lap. "I could just eat something in front of them, to show it's harmless, but I suppose they might think I'd change it somehow. Magically."

[gatheringstorm]

"...yeah, I could see that." Korrin sighs and shakes her head. "It'd be the same if I tried, I'm sure. I think they'll only be appeased when it's someone completely non-magical, someone native...if it's someone they know and trust, all the better. It makes me wish the Champion was here, you know? They fought a qunari horde and killed Meredith, but now comes their biggest challenge...eating a damn fruit." Low and overly dramatic for that last part, to underline the pure ridiculousness of it.

[eolasemah]

"Probably," Sina agrees with a small laugh-- which would be more specific, a kossith eating it, or a Dalish elf? "At the very least I wish Merrill were here. She spent six years in Kirkwall, she knows it far better."

[gatheringstorm]

"Yeah, same." Korrin looks a bit wistful. She can only hope that Merrill caught up with Mal, but not having heard from either one, who knows. "Hopefully she'll make her way back, but we'll manage this. The more time that passes with absolutely nothing happening but the garden being a fucking garden, people will stop flailing and save their energy for the shit that really matters."

[eolasemah]

Sina smiles again and hunches her shoulders, leaning back into Korrin. "I hope you're right, lethallan. I'm so glad you're always here right when I need you."