A Cruel Twist of Fate [closed]

[wickedchase]

WHO: Twisted Fate, Nerva, Korrin, Zevran, Beleth, Cyril, Ruby, Sera, Katniss, and special sending crystal guest star, Sina!
WHAT: A companion quest and elven relations all wrapped up in one.
WHEN: Post-Illness plot. The band of merry travelers will be gone from Clouch 23 to Clouchreach 28.
WHERE: Traveling to and from the Serpentine River.
NOTES: The plotting post.

Comments

[the_effect_she_has]

We're here looking into the rift in the area - trying to close it. We've heard some rumors about the Dalish clan being responsible ... but mostly because it is bad blood between the village and elves, over some hunting party years ago? Do you know what happened?

[And there she is slowly rolling out a perfect deer hide for the woman to inspect.]

[wickedchase]

[The deer hide gets her attention first, but the merchant would not forget what Katniss seeks to know. She leans against the counter as she inspects the leather with interest, and with approval it seems.]

Aye, I remember what happened. Weren't part of it myself, but my brother told me. He was part of that huntin' party over twenty years ago.

Elves just came into the lands from only Maker knows where. We ain't ever seen a halla before. The horns and hide could have earned us some extra coin.

So they killed what they found. Knife-ears didn't take kindly to it. They argued. Heated words became knives and swords at each other.

That, Inquisition, is where it started. Mayor knows. Mayor remembers. Elves been fuckin' demons in those woods ever since, and we're starvin' while they make nice by the river for each other.

[the_effect_she_has]

[Katniss listened to the entire story, word by word, before her breath caught at word halla. They killed halla - oh for the love of - no wonder the Dalish hunters were furious. It would be like walking into a Fereldan village and casually stabbing a mabari. You don't kill the symbol of a people.

Her gaze narrowed slightly, and she closed her pack up, leaving out the deer hide.]

Thanks. Which way is the mayor's house?

[A pause.]

Just a friendly piece of advice - knife ear isn't a phrase we like with the Inquisition. Kind of like if we called you a 'shem'. I wouldn't use it again while we were here.

[wickedchase]

[There's a pause from the merchant. She doesn't seem much in the arguing mood, not when Katniss has supplied her with leather and a possible way to mend this mess.]

As y'say. Haven't given it much thought before. Elves, then.

Mayor's home is north, just past the dry fountain. You'll see the sign on his home marking him.

[the_effect_she_has]

[She nodded her head once more, and headed north as the woman bade, looking for the house with the sign on it. This could have been the Hinterlands, all over again, but she swallowed that down hard.

This wasn't her parade. This was Fate's.]

[wickedchase]

[Fortunately, it's not far to go. Past the dry, old fountain, and there's a small plaque engraved on it:

In Memory of Enrique
Loving Son

As promised, the mayor's home is there, clearly labeled. Mayor Bowen.]

[the_effect_she_has]

[She looked at the name for a moment, before she respectfully took a moment to ask for peace for Enrique, from the Maker. Then she squared her shoulders, and walked up to the Mayor's door, knocking on the door firmly.]

[wickedchase]

[Eventually, the door is answered by Mayor Bowen, his face full of tired, angry lines, his facial somewhere between a beard and stubble. He peers down at Katniss, and his eye catches the Inquisition badge.]

Heard Inquisition was in the area.

What is it you want?

[the_effect_she_has]

[She dipped her head respectfully - the man's a Mayor after all.]

Scout Katniss Everdeen. We're here to help close the rift. I'm just here gathering more information about some of the rumors we've heard, about the Dalish somehow being involved. I understand there was an incident, years ago, and one of your local merchants let me know you might be the person to talk to.

[wickedchase]

[Mayor Bowen frowns, tapping his fingers against the doorframe.]

Go on, then. What are you lookin' to ask, scout?

[the_effect_she_has]

I need to know what happened on the hunting trip, ser.

[She kept her face, and her eyes, blank of any emotion outside of faint curiosity.]