faderift | [Open] Blade to shackle-bearer, valiant of spirit

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[Open] Blade to shackle-bearer, valiant of spirit

WHO: Character(s: James Norrington, Alayre Sauveterre, Pel Ashara, NPC soldiers and templars and YOU.
WHAT: First Templar Training Session for Inquisition Soldiers
WHEN: 14th of Wintersbreath
WHERE: Skyhold Training Ring
NOTES: Warnings for Violence, Racism against Elves, Templars being badass.

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Norrington had told all of the other Templars that he would begin training the soldiers in direct Templar training on how to handle abominations, and he was as good as his word. He put up a list for sign-up for the soldiers, and it was filled within minutes. His own Templars came to help train the fifty-plus soldiers, and James took on lecturing duties. Explaining the differences between demons and abominations, and beyond that, spirits as best as he understood them. Informed them that no, not all mages were simply 'abominations waiting to happen'. It was a conscious choice of the mage within the Fade to make that deal with a demon, and typically? It was because the mage had lost control of their abilities through either fear or ... coercion.

Then he had each soldier run through practice drills on the best way to defend against demons, using his Templars (and any who volunteered) to walk them through step by step. Then, to demonstrate how it all worked together -- James called Templars into the ring, and took them on, sword and shield. The effect was just what he was hoping for, the men were completely rapt with attention. Which was good - he wanted for them to soak it in.

And if any of the passer-bys wanted to stay and watch? Learn something or just know how much training went into actually hunting and killing demons? Well. Visual demonstrations were always ... effective.

And afterwards ...

Afterwards, James would be hanging milling on the side of the ring - talking to the soldiers or his fellow Templars. If you wanted to speak to him, challenge him to some sort of sparring match, or just taunt from the sidelines? Now was the time.

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Ellana has a habit of watching the soldiers train everyday. In fact, the term could be "ogling." But she doesn't want to do that with the Templars. She doesn't want to be questioned about what she's doing. So throughout the training, she walks idly by, listening in to any instructions they're receiving from their leader to see what the atmosphere is like. The fact that he has to explain that mages are not abominations waiting to happen means that so many still believe it. She doesn't carry her staff on her back most days, but some obviously know what she is by now.

After the training, she mills about, much as James is doing. She waits until he's completely alone before approaching.

"Do you think any of them absorbed anything you were saying about mages not being the same as demons?"

James was stripping off his armor, piece by piece, so he could clean it. He glanced over at Ellana. He gave her a weary smile, as he unstrapped his breast plate, and carefully put it down with his grieves.

"I can certainly hope so, my Lady." He stated solemnly, looking over at her with serious green eyes, "Else we shall have more problems than solutions. I am hoping this will be a good way to build trust for all of us."

He paused, thoughtful, "... Are you, one of Pel's cousins?"

Edited 2016-01-13 22:18 (UTC)

Trust isn't a thing easily won, so she can understand if it takes time. Hopefully he's managed to get his Templars to think, and not just brush off his words to believe what they want to believe about mages.

His question has her making a face. Oh, he was one of those humans. The ones who assumed every Dalish elf was related to every other Dalish elf. And here is another person that Pel's met first. She's getting pretty tired of people asking if she knows her.

Ellana crosses his arms and regards him coolly.

"And just why would you assume that?"

His own men he had no concerns over - they too had been trained at Ostwick. The other ones - well - time would tell.

Oh, Maker, he had insulted her. He should have listened to Pel, clearly he needed more exposure to more Dalish before making these sort of assumptions.

He cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck. "My apologies, my Lady. I thought -- well, you have the vallasin of Mythal on your face. Pel had told me that was her Clan's particular Goddess. I meant no offense."

Keeping her arms crossed, Ellana's eyes dart across his face, sensing his embarrassment. And since he's apologized, he's clearly a step above some other humans. She always hopes to see the best in them.

"I don't know why she should tell you that. There are plenty in Clan Ashara that choose vallaslin of other Creators." She lowers her arms. "I'm Ellana Ashara. I'm not related to any of the other Asharas here. I have no family." Oh, sure, she considers Gavin an older brother of sorts, but she makes no official claims on anyone.

Maker's Breath, she's angry with him. He clears his throat again, rubbing his neck again.

"I, ah, I am sorry. I'm sure she didn't mean to imply that you all do." Oh good, she lowered her arms. He breathed deep, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Ellana." He paused, and added quietly, "I am sorry for your loss. I also have no family."

Ellana gives her head a faint shake. "It was long ago, but thank you. I'm sorry for your loss as well." She wonders what happens to children outside of a clan when they lose their parents. For a Dalish elf, the answer is simply that the clan raises them, and in Ellana's case, it was their Keeper. But where do human children go? She isn't sure how long ago he lost his parents, but in any case, it seems rude to ask. She does know that Templars are raised by the Chantry, so maybe all human orphans become Templars.

"And what is your name, ser?"

"It was also long ago ... but thank you in turn." He turns back to remove the rest of his armor, and then goes to his satchel, so he can start cleaning it appropriately.

He glances over at her, but clearly Pel had not shared with this particular clan-mate yet. So he bowed, "Knight Commander James Norrington. At your service."

"I see. That is why you lead the others, is it? Because you're a Knight-Commander?" There's a pause, and then Ellana adds, "I am a Councilor on the mage council here." She keeps forgetting to tell people that. "I hope your Templars will be willing to work with us in the future."

"That is correct. I command my own group of seven -- but that is about it." His mouth twisted, before he nodded towards the circle, "Right now, my skills in teaching others are more useful than my ones of leadership." His eyebrows raise, before he nods, "Greetings, then, Councilor. I hope that the Mages will be willing to work with us in kind."

A thoughtful pause, "In fact ... there was something I wanted to have our representative Alayre speak with you all about. Do you know when the next session is scheduled, and might I ask for an invitation for him?"

"We've been discussing things," she admits. As their meetings are open, there's no reason to hide it. "Some mages will want the protection a Templar provides them from themselves, and so we've been waiting for you to organize yourselves before we discuss meeting in the middle, and if you would wish to provide your services."

It has to be an equal partnership. Templars must know that mages are allowing them to help, and mages must know that Templars should be asked to contribute, and not assume they will.

"Yes," she replies to his question, telling him when the next meeting will be. "But they are open to the public, so he needs no invitation; he can simply attend like everyone else." But being that she's a Councilor, she has to be open to all possibilities. "If he'd prefer not to speak at that time, perhaps he could submit what he wants to tell us in writing, in advance? I'm afraid I don't know him, so I can't know what he'd choose."

"Well, we are currently organized ... " More or less, with a few glowers between those here and there. "We would also be happy to provide protection for those who desire it." That was after all, part of their duties, "There would have to be a few discussions on finer points."

Such as, and just what will you let us do if one of you turns into a blood mage or an abomination? But that he will leave in the capable hands of Alayre.

"I shall speak to him - see what he feels most comfortable with. I am hoping he will be willing to speak to you on a number of different matters that we have discussed, and can agree upon."

"Yes, of course. There is much that needs discussed." Like keeping Templars like Cade and Nerva as far away from mages as possible.

"Thank you, ser. I appreciate that." She's doing her best to sound like a capable, confident member of the Council. Confidence doesn't always come easily to her. "Until then, is there anything else you need from me as a Councilor?"

"We'll get together soon, and when next you meet, Alayre will be there to address concerns and of course, speak to you of our own." He stood up a little straighter, trying to sound like they too, knew exactly what he was doing.

He paused, thinking, "I know the mages are training with Maria Hill, and Dorian. I was wondering if any of the mages would care to learn with the soldiers, as well."

Templar concerns. Oh, that will be fun. But Ellana merely nods politely.

"I'm sure some will, if they aren't already. Opinions on each other vary wildly here. Some would be fine with it, while others would be afraid."

Well, it was going to be an interesting meeting that was for sure.

"I understand. I shall come and make the offer after Alayre comes to speak with you all, personally."

"All right. It was good of you to let me know." Then she falls silent, really not sure what she could speak about with him. Surely Templars had other interests besides hunting mages.

"I suppose I should let you rest after all your sparring."

"Naturally." He is also at something of a loss - what could he possibly say that will not insult her about her culture and her background.

"Oh, well, thank you." He paused, and then struck on something else, "May I ask you something? It's something I have been wondering, and perhaps you could give me a little more insight."

"Oh?" she asks, sounding curious. But then again, she often sounds that way. "You may. I'm not sure I can give you any answer, but go ahead."

"So ... could you ... possibly give me insight on how to impress you, and your clan?" He pressed his lips together, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I want to make a good impression but I have a feeling I am going to fall on my shem face more than I want to. Or intend to."

Ellana blinks a few times before her brow creases in confusion.

"You... want to make a good impression? Forgive me, but I don't understand. Why do you care what a Dalish clan thinks of you?"

"Because Pel loves all of you."

He pressed his lips together, clearing his throat again. "Because - if I am successful, in my courting, there will be the next step."

The words Pel and courting enter her ears, but she can't put them together in a way that makes sense. Instead she lets out a closed-mouth hum of amusement, because of course he's making a joke, yes?

But his face and voice are very serious, and suddenly her face goes very white.

"I'm sorry?" she says, a bit breathless. One hand starts reaching out behind her, looking for something to lean against. Is he honestly courting Pel? Pel, of all people, is courting a human Templar?

"Excuse me, I-- I think I need to sit a moment."

For years now, she's worried that her interest in human culture was causing the rest of her clan to talk behind her back, labeling her a race traitor. Gavin was the only one who understood, and the two spoke together on whether or not that's what they were to everyone else. But once she arrived here, she didn't hold back. Ellana has made friends with humans, and wouldn't hesitate in doing whatever she could for them. And now she knows very well that she cares about Felix a great deal, but she's had no one she could tell. Having feelings for a Tevinter magister's son would make the rest of the clan hate her; she knows it. Tevinter magisters enslave elves. It's because of Tevinter that Elvhenan fell. The dirty looks she'd get from Beleth alone...

And yet Pel can just waltz in and-- no. She needs to take deep breaths. She needs to find a place to sit. Turning away, she looks around for any free spot she can go.

Oh ... oh that isn't good. James had been under the impression that Pel had told the members of her clan but perhaps she had only told her direct family. He followed her, concern filling his green eyes.

"I am ... so sorry. You don't look well, should I get you some water?" He looks around, then to his belt. "I have some healing potions, if you require one?"

Ellana moves to sit in the grass, drawing her knees up towards her chest. She exhales a slight laugh of disbelief, because his offer is so similar to one of the first things Felix ever said to her. She had dropped a book on her head in the library and he had asked if she was all right, and if she would like a potion for the pain. He'd shown her -- an elf -- kindness right from the start.

"No, I will be fine," she says, briefly resting her forehead against her knees. She just needs to come to terms with this revelation; that a Dalish apostate and a human Templar are a couple. And she thought having a crush on a Tevinter was the strangest thing that could happen. After several deep breaths, she turns her head, resting her cheek on her knees. She regards him quietly for a moment, wondering how he managed to capture Pel's attention. And wondering who else in the clan knows. Probably everyone. She's the last to be told anything. Everyone either forgets her, or doesn't think she needs to know things.

"Ir abelas-- I mean, I'm sorry. I knew nothing of this, and it's made me realize some things-- Well, that isn't important." She gives her head a faint shake as she lifts it from her legs. What this means is that the clan surely can't say anything bad about her and who she chooses to be with in the future if Pel's already in a relationship with a Templar, right? Not that anything like that is happening right now in Ellana's life, but she feels relief nonetheless.

"You asked how to impress the clan? We're all very different people, and so I can't give you a definite answer, but you seem willing to apologize and learn from your mistakes when it comes to my people, so you shouldn't worry overmuch. The most important thing would be to show Pel respect, and the rest of us will respect you in turn."

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