faderift | MOSTLY CLOSED: Weisshaupt Fortress

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MOSTLY CLOSED: Weisshaupt Fortress

WHO: Anders, Herc, Ingrid, Kaisa, Mal Reynolds, Merrick, Merrill, Nathaniel, Samwise, Sera, Teren, Varric
WHAT: A friendly visit to Weisshaupt Fortress that will go very smoothly and involve zero bloodshed.
WHEN: Bloomingtide 29-30 for the closed portion, with travel time on either side.
WHERE: Weisshaupt Fortress, the Anderfels.
NOTES: This plot is 90% closed to the above-named characters, but there are open comments for before and after the main quest that are open to any characters who might travel to the Anderfels to serve as back-up without going to Weisshaupt.

No one has ever claimed that 'the Anderfels' is a particularly pretty name for a place, but it is somehow still too nice for the land itself. Bone-dry and blasted by hot, dusty winds for most of the year, the steppeland of the Anderfels has been harsh and unforgiving country since long before the Blights began. It is barren in every sense of the word: all greys and browns and blood-rust reds, the monotony broken more often by black outcroppings of rock than by greenery, with settlements few and far between. Even where blight has not turned the ground dark and toxic, it feels like a place people are not meant to live. Not anymore.

↠ The Walk There (Open, Mingle)
↠ Arrival at Weisshaupt (Closed, GMed)
↠ R&R&Demons (Closed, Mingle)
↠ Everything Goes To Shit (Closed, GMed)
↠ The Sprint Back (Open)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He'd give 'bout anything to head north, he'd said. He missed the wide open skies and warmth, he'd said. Mal is kicking himself for coming along. But he felt in some small way he owed the Wardens for not pull'n up and runn'n when the Blight came down a decade ago. Sure, he didn't stick 'round for much long after the fact, but that was less on them and more on the king and whatnot. Little baggage as opposed to the big honk'n one they drag with every step north. Jayne takes the walk'n in stride, all in all? Ain't as bad as it could be.

At least he's not mak'n it on foot. Sasha's wicker'n her way through a fresh bag of apples when they get where they're going. And where they're go'n seems like one of them tiny towns where everyone knows everyone else and outsiders get the stink eye if they ain't a warden or flash'n an inquisition badge.

No matter how charm'n they might be. Mal should know. He's mighty charm'n and gett'n that damn stink eye all over the place. Then again he's one to poke and these folk don't much like pok'n. Mal just can't help himself tho. He's a poker. Wants to know the lay of the land, what's go'n about. He listens in, spins a few tales, spends some coin. Tries to make nice. Jayne's better at it than he is, but Jaynes a sneaky shit that way.

Warden uniforms go far when it comes to charming folks. It was that way in Fereldan, saved Kaisa's ass when she was on the run. Here in the Anders, it went even further than usual, and she was loving it. That's what was wrong with the Inquisition, not enough respect where it belonged. When she sees Malcolm trying to sweet talk the people, she decides, in her unending kindness, to give him a hand.

Kaisa sashays over, and gives Malcolm a hearty pat on the back, the kind that made people who were a little more delicate stumble. But Mal looked good and solid to her.

"Heeey, you guys met Mal already? Excellent, he's a real pal, Mal. Maker, it even rhymes." She shot the man a smile that was far too amused with her shitty joke. "Malpal. Palmal?" And she has to take a moment to not start snickering at said shitty joke. "Either way, he's a legit kinda guy, don't you guys worry. And he's got a mabari, and you know what they say about mabari."

She pauses, realizing that they may not, in fact, know what you say about mabari. These poor, poor souls. Her own dog was looking less impressed with Jayne, sniffing at the dog suspiciously.

"...They say that mabari are smart enough not to bother with folks who're jerks. So. It's a good judge of character."

"Jayne also mostly responds to Orlesian commands on accounta my liberat'n him from an Orlesian idjit." Which earns him a few laughs. Strained ones, but. Laughs. the pat to the back gets her a quirked brow and a shrug- he ain't gonna complain when someone is try'n to be all friendly like. Even if he's pretty sure he won't get much more outta these folk than he already have. Coupla coins for things he carved and a bit of gossip.

And some cheese for Jayne. Well.

They didn't know it was for Jayne but Jayne knows it's for Jayne and won't let Mal hear the end of his faint sighing as he noses the bag where he's stuffed it. Least till the sniff'n dog gets his attention and his head swings round, a lazy growl roll'n up. His cheese. His. Cheese.

"Jayne, you settle down, now." None of that.

As both a mage and an elf, Merrill is also getting quite a few Displeased Looks. They're not quite in the town yet, but there are, at times, others on the road -- enough that she finds herself inching closer and closer to those she knows. Eventually she ends up along the side of Mal's horse, one hand on the mare and the other occasionally going to scratch Jayne.

"I suppose I should be used to this," she murmurs after a moment, glancing up at Mal. "But- you aren't, are you?"

Elves, mages -- they're often hated. But Mal is human, not a mage, and she imagines it might be... difficult.

"Me? Yep. They see a man with a dog and think Fereldan, I start talk'n and they think dwarf, they see me ride and think Orlesian. Don't fit an any of their pretty little boxes so they squint. You, now. You really shouldn't." Mal mutters, slipping from his usual smiling charm to a few narrow eye'd glares right on back. Sure she's Dalish. Sure she's magey. But ain't nobody in Thedas sweeter than Merrill. "Folk are just folk. Elf folk, human folk, mage folk. We're all people. Ain't no reason to be squint'n funny."

Jayne buts his head up into her hand in lieu of leaning on her.

"You wanna ride for a li'l bit? You've been walk'n a long while."

She- honestly hasn't thought of it that way before, and after a moment of thought, offers him another smile. It widens a little despite herself when she sees him glaring back at people, and she moves her hand from the mare to pat his leg. "Not everyone agrees, unfortunately. But if you can't change their mind, they're not worth it." No need to glare at people on her account.

Jayne gets another scratch, and her hand goes back to the horse, fingers lightly stroking. "I've never ridden a horse before, actually. I've ridden halla before, but even then, they mostly pulled the aravels."

"Probably shouldn't put you up here on your own, then. Sahsa pretty much knows where we're go'n but balance on uneven terrain is important- and there's a lotta uneven terra'n com'n up." He shifts back in the saddle, offering Merrill a hand and his most charming smile. "C'mon, I'll help you up and walk you through it."

Be cool, Mal. You got this. 100%.

Another pet for Jayne, and then Merrill takes a breath. Riding a horse. She can do this -- it'll be similar to riding a halla, it has to be. Right?

"Jayne's going to miss me terribly," she jokes, even as she takes Mal's hand and goes to climb up. "Ah- if my staff is in the way, you can move it, as long as you keep it close...?"

Do not drop her staff, Mal.

"Use the stirrup and-" He can help by lift'n her most of the way by her hand, his spear strapped to his back and out of the way so he can lever down a bit and help her swing up and over. And- the staff is gonna sit between 'em.

Staffblocked.

"Everything's shiny. Noth'n is gonna fall." Jayne offers a faint, questioning whuff. "Nothing is gonna fall, you quit that doubt'n right now."

She did say you can move it, Mal.

It's been a long time even since she last rode a halla, and Merrill slides her fingers into Sasha's mane instead of going for the reins. Mal can take care of that; Merrill will stay au naturale.

"If Mal can't catch me if my staff or I fall, you can," she promises Jayne, giggling. There's a shift, Merrill stretching out her legs as much as she dares; now that there's no longer snow everywhere, she's gone back to going most places barefoot -- including, as it turns out, the Anderfels. It's nice to get off of them for a while.

"Lean back a li'l?" There's room enough, but they don't wanna get too much on Sasha's shoulders. Well. Mal don't, Merrill's probably light enough that it ain't a bother. One hand on the reigns the other slips about to steady Merrill, resting on her waist.

Gentlemanly. Ain't noth'n untoward go'n on here.

"Now ain't that better than walk'n?" Dalish have their halla and their land ships- Orlesians got their horses. Marchers got whatever they can grab.

"Oh- yes, of course!" It's easy enough to do, especially with Mal holding onto her so that she doesn't fall. Riding halla also only ever happened with other elves, when they rode jointly. Riding with a human at her back is something else entirely.

One hand slides out of the thick mane to stroke along Sasha's neck, a quiet 'thank you' to the horse for tolerating this.

"Well, I'm definitely taller," she laughs again. Well done, Mal -- she's forgotten, for the moment, about the glares. "Depending on how long I ride, I might have to tell you tomorrow if it's better or not."

"That's half the fun, be'n taller." Not like Mall needs much help in that department but be'n out of the mud can be mighty fine. Hey. Even Fereldans got tired of the mud now and then. Besides- this got a laugh outta her and maybe made the day a little less sour. He knows he can't be all grump when she's smil'n. Somth'n 'bout her just lights up the moment.

Maybe it's how cheerful she is. Maybe it's somth'n else. "Like I said we got a ways t'go. You're welcome up here as long as you like."

It's difficult -- and maybe a bit precarious -- to look back at Mal, but Merrill manages it, flashing him a bright smile before looking forward once more. She would rather not lose her balance.

"That's very kind of you- thank you! Do you think, if it flattens out a little, I could try and hold the reins? Or maybe when we're back at Skyhold?"

Yep. Totally her smile that make the world seem a might brighter. Like she can will things t'be less gloomy. Reminds him a little of Kaylee without any of the feel'n that she's a little sister t'him. Not his usual sort but- she's damn effective in a fight, kind, and more clever than she seems.

It's sweet.

"Sure. I figure everyone oughta know how t'ride somth'n- tha way when things go real wrong you can get yourself outta the mess twice as quick."

"And while Twisted Fate did offer us the halla his clan was sending, it's different." And the halla may not necessarily accept her as a rider, where a horse may not be as headstrong in that department. Besides, the Inquisition has a lot more horses.

This particular horse is given another fond pat. "Someday, when all of this is over, I want to travel. I want to see more of Thedas, find the old places and the new ones -- it's part of why I wanted to come to the Anderfels for this in the first place. I think I could see more if I rode, instead of walked."

"I have-" He starts, try'n to sort out the details of this particular story "Had the misfortune of gett'n caught between a buncha hunters that were hungry and a clan o Dalish what had one of their Halla caught in one of their traps. I was try'n to make my way through the woods to move some cargo but I get to this clear'n and there's the Dalish all on one side, the hunters on the other, and this poor damn thing in the middle with it's leg caught in a bear trap. Best I could tell it was some kinda accident- Hunters know better than to take a pot shot at a Halla. I figure the Clan was mov'n along through too. So we got two sides and a poor thing in the middle and here's me, stand'n on the edge. So I try to cut through- I had perishables I was carry'n. Tried to give the Halla wide berth but then one of the Clan, had a staff, figure she was the one in charge had me stop my horse and play flesh wall while she got the Halla out. Hunters don't like not be'n able to see but what can I do? SO...I start tell'n 'em jokes."

Breaks the tension, that does. "Keeper gets their wounded Halla out, Hunters give 'em elfroot and some bottles of brandy to make up for the mixup, both go on their merry and I got a coupla coppers from the hunter and an arrowhead from the Dalish. Just for be'n at the right place at the right time. When you travlel, when you're rid'n to travel? You happen upon all kindsa whimsical situations. Some dangerous, some not so much but- I think you'd have a fine time of it."

They could have killed each other. Would have, maybe, if not for Mal accidentally coming across them. Her smile is softer now, certainly grateful. "Where was this?" Maybe it was her clan, or a clan she knew.

And- well, there were apologies. The halla was helped. Mal was thanked. It's a happy ending, and those seem so rare, sometimes.

She leans back against him without realizing it, sighing happily. "We should ride together, at least for a while. I don't know where I'll go yet, but I know I don't want to be alone the whole time."

"Up north, round the Marches. Elves sounded a little Starkhavenish but I never know what that means for 'em." Might be local, might not. Dalish don't really do 'local' anyhow. He don't think.

"Well, till I get this bit o'shine outta my hand I'm rid'n with the Inquisition. After that? I'm head'n back up north to my Crew, get some good sail'n in. Ain't a better way to get around than on a good ship. If you want we can ride up to Serenity and show you all manner of fanciful things." Riding with her- that'd be mighty nice.

They have a different definition of 'local'. There are the places they roam, the known roads and safe campsites. But it depends on the clan, as is true of most things.

"I didn't know you had a ship! I've only ever been on one- well, twice, I suppose. Leaving Ferelden to go to Kirkwall and then coming to the Inquisition. I had to be in the hold both times; I got horribly sick. But Isabela says it's because I was in the hold and not out on the deck, and I imagine she would know- do you think that's why?"

"Well I call myself 'Captain' Malcolm Reynolds for a reason, and it ain't just cuz I have a nice hat sometimes." Now is not one of the times he has a hat. Bareheaded all the way, let his purdy hair out and stuff. "Some folk have a harder time in the hold, some have it hard on deck. There's some herbs and stuff you can chew to make it easier on your stomach- gett'n your sea legs don't take all that long once you know the trick to it."

"You'll have to show me your hat, someday!" Though she does rather like all the hair. A lot. "And teach me the herbs and..." And- Creators, she kind of rather wants a lot of things, doesn't she?

"Well. It's a lot of things to look forward to." Goals to have, reasons to survive when it doesn't look like it's possible.

"Left it back at Skyhold. I'll show you when we get back, same time I show you how t'ride." Sasha's good for learning how, patient and steady, all the things a good courier horse needs to be. "You, now, would get along mighty well with Kaylee. She's a member of my crew, keeps Serenity in good work'n order, keeps her sail'n. She's a curious li'l bug too."

"Will you tell me about them?" Merrill keeps trying to shift in the saddle to look back at Mal before catching herself; this time, she simply tilts her head back, avoiding her staff, and looks at him upside-down. "I'd like to meet them, someday."

"My Crew?" A beat, startled by her upturned face before he smiles. "Sure. I got Kaylee, she keeps Serenity go'n, I got Wash my Navitator. He told me he could sail us through a hurricane without los'n one drop of cargo. What he didn't tell me is that he's a Storm Mage so he just waved his hands about and the whole thing calmed right on down!"

Now that's cheat'n if you ask him.

Malcolm & Jayne

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