[open]

[eolasemah]

WHO: Sina Dahlasanor and you!
WHAT: Sina has a shard in her chest and has been told the rifters have similar ones in their hands. She wants to seek out rifters and investigate this further/compare marks/find out if they're demons or not.
WHEN: Frostfall
WHERE: Around and about Skyhold
NOTES: Please feel free to join if not a rifter! People on surveillance duty are also encouraged.



The diminutive elf resembled a deer as she made her way through the scattered crowds of Skyhold: dignified and alert, but ready to bolt at any sign of danger. The shard in her chest glinted conspicuously beneath the light shawl she wore, and her careful grey eyes scanned the area for any glowing that matched it. It was like a homing beacon, and for the first time since she'd acquired it, Sina wasn't trying to hide it.

[The Herald's Rest]

She'd never been in here before, having been warned off over raucous drunken humans and sword-happy Templars. She had a mission, however, and hoped she was right to assume the tavern would be less frightening in the daytime.


[The Healing Tents]

It was a wild guess, but surely some of the newcomers would need healing? She wandered along the rows of tents, seeking out the telltale green glow.


[The Dungeon]

The very act of going into this dismal place of stone walls made her feel ill, but perhaps there were still prisoners here, those accused of being demons. She steeled herself and made her way down.


[Wherever!]

Anyone who wants to be found somewhere else is welcome to post in! She's being very thorough.

Comments

[eolasemah]

It took Sina a moment to realize she was being addressed, and her eyes widened when she saw the qunari-- a qunari!!-- beckoning to her. In a moment of obliviousness, she pointed at herself, as if to say 'me?'

[gatheringstorm]

With more patience than Korrin usually has about anything, she nods at that self-pointing. "Yes, you. I don't bite, I promise." Just because she's relatively tall and horned doesn't mean she intends any harm, and hopefully that small smile indicates as much.

[eolasemah]

After another moment's hesitation, Sina lowered her hand and approached the large woman, her expression guarded but inquisitive.

[gatheringstorm]

"I wanted to ask, about...that." Korrin doesn't hide her interest in the shard, blunt as she is, though doesn't stare at it the entire time. "All of the people that came through the rifts have had the same mark, though not located there. Are you alright? Has it changed at all?"

[eolasemah]

This was what she was here for, after all. Sina cleared her throat and gave a small nod, implying permission for Korrin to ask.

"I... yes, mostly," she answered, her voice soft and unassuming, "though it... well, I.. I hold it in place, and there are..." She motioned with her hands to indicate a sort of barrier. "...I keep it from affecting my heart, or my lungs. It hasn't changed, as far as I know." She folded her hands behind her back, looking around uncertainly. "...I heard those who came through the rift have something similar. I received mine when the sky opened near me."

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin nods, her expression clearly concerned as Sina continues. She can't help but glance to the shard again as the Dalish elf describes what she must do.

"They do, yes. Every one of them as a shard imbedded in their hand. At least I've always seen it there, not anywhere else. They've said it aches some, but the marks seem to be stable...for now."

She frowns softly, not convinced it will always remain so just yet.

"I'll skip the stupid question as to whether it hurts. Placed where it is, it must, doesn't it? That's some horrible luck."

[eolasemah]

Though concerned about complaining overtly, Sina wasn't about to lie. She nodded wearily, one thin hand raising again to rest protectively against the wound.
"It nearly killed me," she said quietly, "but Falon'din was with me that day."

[gatheringstorm]

"Falon'din...that's one of your gods, right? I'm sorry, I don't know which one is that."

Korrin's knowledge about the Dalish is largely superficial, for all that she means to correct it.

"I wish I knew enough about those marks to be of help, but if there's a way to do that, I'll find out. Seeing the Herald suffer was bad enough. It should end there, if it can be helped."

[eolasemah]

Hesitantly, Sina seated herself across from the qunari. "Falon'din is the god of death and fortune," she explained, "I was fortunate he didn't take me."

"I didn't meet the Herald," she said after a moment's pause, "what was she like? ...and how did she suffer?"

[gatheringstorm]

Leaning back in her chair, Korrin stares off in thought. Her expression softens a bit, as that loss still hurts.

"I didn't know here as well as some. I was never one of her traveling companions, always assigned somewhere else on the field. But I was around ever since the Conclave, and I saw her in Haven soemtimes. She was kind, always taking the time to try and help people, beyond what you'd expect. And to me...she seemed a little sad, perhaps because of how much her power set her apart. If there's one thing she did well, it was rally people behind her, unify us. I'll miss that."

[eolasemah]

Sina smiled mildly as she listened. The Herald sounded like a decent person indeed. "A tragedy to have lost her so quickly," she softly observed, "how functional has the Inquisition been without her?"

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin knows the true answer to that lies in the advisors, not herself, but even a common agent has eyes and ears to notice what's around them. She's not blind to the dip in morale, that's evident enough to all.

"It's hard to say, since it was so recent. We pulled ourselves together enough to make it to Skyhold, but that sense of unity we had before has frayed a fair amount. I don't know what will happen if it doesn't return, but we need it to. Our work isn't don't just because she...just because her purpose is fulfilled."

[eolasemah]

Sina nodded her understanding. With all that had happened, at least from her perspective, it seemed there were more questions now than answers.

"Perhaps with all these people, we'll be able to learn more about the holes in the sky," she considered, "...and these." A cursory gesture to her chest.

[gatheringstorm]

She nods, her expression softening as she eyes that shard again.

"That's my hope as well. Even if they don't have answers directly, we can still learn something about all this from what they have, too. I hate making vague promises, but if I can find anything about those which helps lessen their burden, I won't hesitate to pass it on."

[eolasemah]

The elf gave a grateful smile and a nod, unable to resist looking Korrin up and down again. She blushed faintly, curling her fingers over her mouth. "...ir ab-- I'm sorry," she said, "I have to--... are... you a qunari?" If she was going to be impolite, might as well be now.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin doesn't look offended, just shrugging as she always expects this question sooner or later. "You can call me that if you like, but it's not accurate. I'm a Vashoth, a qunari who was never part of the Qun. And as far as I know, the only resident Vashoth mage in the Inquisition."

[eolasemah]

Sina was alarmed by the woman's candor, and she blushed a little harder when corrected. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said softly, and repeated, "Vashoth." She paused, chewing her lip as she considered this. "Is that why you aren't..." She trailed off, but lifted a hand to simulate a muzzle over her mouth, her brow knitting uncertainly. Did she go too far, or was this a misunderstanding as well?

[gatheringstorm]

Poor Sina, but Korrin's perpetually blunt. She doesn't mean anything by it, but it's the way she's always been. Sina's hand motion makes her lips twitch, even as she's repulsed at the concept mentioned.

"Yeah, exactly. Those are saarebas, mages of the Qun. I've never lived under that hell and I thank the Maker every day for that. No Circles or Qun, just a mentor. That's how the Dalish do it too, right?"

[eolasemah]

There was nothing to be offended by-- if anything, Korrin's honesty was what made the conversation work. Sina nodded her understanding, her expression serious and contemplative. "It is, yes," she confirmed. Her gaze went vacant for several seconds once again, and she whispered, "saarebas." Worth filing away.

"Please.. forgive me for my ignorance," she said after a moment, hunching her shoulders self-consciously. "This is my first time away from the clan. ...I appreciate your patience." A tentative smile twitched at the corner of her lips as she met the woman's gaze. All in all, no one had been quite so frightening or aggressive as she had anticipated.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin flashes a reassuring smile, shaking her head. "It's no trouble. I never mentioned my name, did I? Korrin Ataash, of the Valo-Kas mercenary company. I've almost everywhere that isn't Tevinter and Qunari-held territory. I can't say I'll have all the answers, but you can ask whatever you want. I'll do my best to explain, alright?"

[eolasemah]

Sina nodded again, her lips pursing in a grateful smile.
"I'm Siuona," she mildly replied, "First of Clan Dahlasanor. ...you can call me Sina, I like it better."

[gatheringstorm]

"Sina...alright, I'll go with that. The First is the heir to the Keeper, right? Or something like that?" Sina wouldn't be the only Dalish mage Korrin has spoken to, and thanks to Ellana she remembers that much.

[eolasemah]

Sina nodded again with an encouraging smile. "Or... I suppose here they might call them apprentices."

[gatheringstorm]

"That, too. Though you must be capable enough, to be away from clan and Keeper and come here. Shard or not, I don't doubt that's true." Korrin hasn't heard of any magical accidents or possession issues, so Sina must be doing something right.

[eolasemah]

It was a compliment, and Sina took it as such, but with little more than a humble shrug. "It was a matter of necessity," she remarked, but otherwise didn't argue.