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

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.

Laughing, Merrill looks forward again; it's a bit uncomfortable to laugh with her head upside-down like that. "Still, that's an impressive amount of power, to be able to calm an entire storm. He must be very good."

"He's got a way about him. Self taught, too. Dunno how he figured it out but it's a good way to lose smugglers what want our cargo- or the odd bit of navy that wants us to quit smuggl'n." It happens, not a lot but, it happens. "A good fog and some wind really clears 'em out and keeps us sail'n. Jayne- the man, there's a man what I named the mabari after- is a big guy, kinda crude, but decent 'nuf when the money's good."

"Sometimes you just- know. You can just feel it." It's hard to explain, but... she tried. Gold star. "You named your dog after someone? You must really like him!"

Or... not...

"When he really gets go'n he says somth'n like 'I am a leaf on the wind, watch how I soar'. Usually when the wind and rain are fit t'kill us and then somehow we come out the other side fine and dandy." Some kinda magic, is Wash. "...Not really. Jayne is lazy, greedy, and motivated by food. Swap out food for money and you got the man."

"But he's such a nice dog!" Dogs get to be lazy, don't they? And besides, he helped kill a dragon. "At least, he's always been nice to me..."

Granted, being mean to Merrill is a lot like kicking a basket full of kittens into a fire.

"That's why I have Jayne follow'n me around the country insteada the jackass he's named for. I like Jayne." Knowing he's be'n talked about has the mabari whuffing happily, beaming up to Merrill.

"He's very likable!" Merrill beams right back down at the mabari, making a mental note to slip him treats when they make camp. "Of course, so are you. Perhaps you're a good influence?"

"Damn sight better than the man what had him till I set him free. Some Orlesian fluffed up noble bought him as a pup, s'why he responds to commands in the language. Tried to make him a hunt'n dog. Got mighty bored be'n kenneled up all the time. So when that noble thought he'd take a hand at hunt'n me and I talked t'him like you're supposed to, fed him some real meat like you're supposed to- and he came right on over. Been follow'n me ever since." Mal smiles down at Jayne- as much trouble as he makes he's a fair hand in a fight.

"That's awful! Poor Jayne..." She'd give the dog a hug if she weren't currently on horseback. More things to do when they make camp, then. "He wasn't even being fed real meat before? What a horrid person!"

"Some sorta cornmeal mush with scraps and such. I figure that's why he eats most everything and anything he gets his teeth on, whether he should or not. He wasn't underweight when I got him- a little on the lean side for a Mabari, sure, but not starved. But they need meat t'bulk up good and proper. They're war hounds, meant for travel'n, scrapp'n. Herd'n dragonlings." Jayne does best when there's a brawl. "Figured the Orlesians don't much know what t'do with 'em, treat 'em like they do their own fanciful dogs- which an't bad but- they ain't Mabari."

"That sounds like what we'd eat in the alienage, not like what people feed their prized hounds." One mabari has usually been worth multiple elves, to those sorts of people -- she doesn't agree, of course, doesn't like it, but she knows it's true. "I wouldn't feed even a fancy dog cornmeal. That sounds like a good way for even those little fancy dogs to start biting at your ankles to try and take out a piece!"

That is why Barkley never bites any ankles, clearly. He's well fed.

"More I hear 'bout them Alienages the more I like 'em less." Keep'n people fed's hard when you got no coin, Mal knows that much. He's been through Alienages a time or two- been through Kirkwall's not all that long ago, even. He ain't seen a damn thing in there he much cared for neither. "Nah. Jayne gets bits a jerky or mushrooms or cheese or whatever he can beg from most folk and a li'l bit of Reynolds chow for the rest. S'kinda like a slow cooked chili made with whatever meat you got from hunt'n that day- so squirrel, quail, deer, what have you. Throw it in a pot with some spices and root vegetables and cook it down. Protein heavy. Feeds us both plenty."

If it's good enough for him, it's good enough for Jayne.

"Lots of people get mugged in them," Merrill says matter-of-factly, as if this is somehow going to alter Mal's perception. Well- it might, but not for the better. "But they do look after their own, and- their new own, I suppose? They didn't mind me, at any rate."

Elf or not, she's Dalish, or considered as much by the city elves. Granted, Merrill never called them a flat-ear and got lost quite a bit, which may have endeared her to them somewhat even before everything happened.

"Oh! Does he have a favorite? Do you have a favorite? It sounds like what we'd have in the clan, sometimes."

MOSTLY CLOSED: Weisshaupt Fortress

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