002 🌿

[ancarrow]

WHO: Eirlys and OPEN
WHAT: Bloomingtide catch-all
WHEN: Throughout Bloomingtide
WHERE: Around Skyhold
NOTES: No warnings inherent. Prose and brackets are both fine.

a) Healers' tents
It didn't take Eirlys long to settle herself in at the tents, and at the end of her first month back with the Inquisition she looks as though she's been there all her life. She tends patients with equal parts pragmatism and compassion, throwing herself into the care of illnesses and injuries she knows about and hanging back to observe when magic is required rather than simply potions and poultices. When it's quieter, she can be found sat cross-legged outside the tents with her mortar and pestle perched on top of a rock, chopping and crushing herbs, or inside scrubbing the beds and equipment clean.


b) Courtyard
Eirlys thinks back often to the day in the Hinterlands when a simple supply run had turned into a demon attack. It had been the second time a rift had opened right in front of her and both times she'd been powerless to do anything against them. Even though she knows she'll never be a powerful fighter in the front lines, she's very aware that a rift could open up any time, any place, and she needs to be prepared for that. She hovers around training and sparring sessions in the courtyard, watching intently from a distance and hoping she can pick up anything that might save her life.


c) Various quiet spots around Skyhold
She's stolen some paper, ink and a quill from one of the desks, hoping they won't be missed. Seating herself in a nook where she hopes she'll be ignored, she places a vial of elfroot in front of the paper, the name of the herb written on the label in Wellow's spidery handwriting. It's the only word she recognises, so it seems as good a place to start as any. Gripping the quill rather ungracefully in her fingers she tries to copy the word, but only succeeds in scrawling an inky line across the page. On her second attempt she gets to "elfr" before the nib of the quill snaps and her hand drops to the page, smearing ink across the paper and her skin. Her face burns red with her embarrassment and disgust at how she can't even do something that must be so simple and she screws the paper into a ball, hurling it across the room.


d) Wildcard!
Eirlys can most often be found at the healers' tents, the kitchen, and the Andrastian chapel. If you'd like a specific prompt for your character, please hit me up at viridianwings and I'll be happy to set something up!

Comments

[ancarrow]

"I didn't, really," she admits quietly. "I mean, the second time was all right because there were plenty of experienced fighters and rifters to get the job done, but the first time..." She shudders as she remembers the rage demon that had oozed out of the rift and headed straight for Wellow, which she's still terrified she somehow summoned from the Fade. "I just hid until the Templars came."

[dragoon_pride]

"Well... in the end, that's for the best. Better than putting yourself in more danger by trying something foolish." After all, that can make for an even more challenging battle, having to protect someone who won't do their part to help protect themselves. He thinks back to traveling with Edward, the bard who'd turned hiding into something of a battle technique. "But, of course, if you ever find yourself in a situation without anyone around... then you could be in trouble. I would say... even some basics, even carrying a simple weapon, could help."

[ancarrow]

"We weren't allowed to carry weapons in the alienage. Apart from the general principle of sticking the sharp end into an assailant or demon, I'm not at all sure how to use one." She knows that practically it's a skill she should learn, but she regards herself as a healer first and foremost, and the idea of causing someone's pain instead of helping to fix it doesn't sit well with her.

[dragoon_pride]

That explains it, of course. Growing up in such a place would limit your abilities to train in weaponry. He doesn’t know a whole lot about how those alienages work, but the sound of them is highly restrictive. Not at all ideal for learning self defense properly.

“It’s both easier and harder than it looks, I would say. Harder because it takes a great deal of practice to hone skills with weapons. But easier when you’re in the midst of battle… there’s no time to think about much else then. You find yourself simply acting.” He considers. “If you ever wanted to practice, let me know. I’d think the practice dummies would be a good starting point for that…” Just stabbing them over and over to get the feel of it, really.

[ancarrow]

"If you really wouldn't mind, I'd certainly appreciate the help." She smiles gratefully. "It's not something I relish having to do, though I think it necessary, given the chaos we live in."

[dragoon_pride]

"I wouldn't mind." It's been a while, but he's trained new recruits back home, those not yet ready to face battle. He thinks he could help out here too. Kain nods. "There are some practice weapons around for training, if you wanted to take something that you're comfortable holding."

[ancarrow]

Eirlys glances over the weapons, frowning a little. "Which would you say is the easiest for a beginner to use?"

[dragoon_pride]

He glances at her, knowing that it likely can’t be anything too heavy. Double-handed swords are definitely not a good place to start. “You need to be able to swing it without getting fatigued, and of course so that you can defend yourself properly in the midst of battle… Probably a lighter weighted dagger, like the rogues use… like some of these” he points toward a row of them.

[ancarrow]

She picks up the nearest dagger, then replaces it and chooses one further down the row, lightweight with a brown leather hilt. "The difficulty, I suppose, would be getting in close enough to use it without being cut down." But it was definitely a better idea than the hulking, heavier alternatives.

[dragoon_pride]

"That can be a challenge." Kain is glad to see that she's considering this seriously, after all new fighters very often make the mistake of overestimating themselves. "The trick is to work on your speed, to watch and anticipate enemies' moves. It takes practice to get used to... but battle has a certain rhythm to it."

He considers, since there are other possibilities. "You might also do well trying out a bow... though I'm afraid archery is outside of my expertise, ranged weapons keep you well out of reach. Of course, it's still worth having something for when the enemies do close in..."

[ancarrow]

"I've never had fantastic aim, but I could give a bow a try," she says a little uncertainly. "At least then I wouldn't have to rely on my own strength to get a hit in."

[dragoon_pride]

“Exactly. Even though you’ve started out as a noncombatant, you still have options, when it comes to defending yourself. The more you attempt, the better, until you determine what works best for you.” He knows not everyone is cut out for the front lines of a battle, but even some form of defense is better than nothing.

[ancarrow]

"I wish I shared your optimism." Eirlys frowns down at the dagger as she tries to get used to the weight and balance of it, then replaces it with the other weapons. "I feel I'm probably just more likely to get myself killed."

[dragoon_pride]

“It’s not optimism necessarily… but realistically, anyone can be taught to defend themselves when the need arises.” Sure, some might be better at it than others, but still. “And it’s best to at least be prepared for anything that could happen.” That way if and when she ends up in a dangerous situation, she can deal with it.