Open Log

[circleprodigy]

WHO: Inessa, Garahel (her mabari) and OPEN to anyone.
WHAT: A new Warden arrives.
WHEN: Beginning to mid-Solace.
WHERE: Camp Shady, Skyhold. Specifics in prompts.
NOTES: I'll match formats!

Mabari nonsense included at all stages. Weisshaupt and what went on there will likely be referenced, so blood magic/demon-summoning/coup warnings in effect.

I. Camp Shady

There's a new arrival at the Grey Warden camp below Skyhold...well, actually two. Inessa arrives mid-morning, a pale, petite elven woman with a staff on her back and clad in what is unmistakably Grey Warden battlemage attire. Sometimes at her side is an adult mabari who in all honesty isn't that much shorter and considerably more muscled, adorned with kaddis markings. Faced with new surroundings and new people, he's regularly running off to have a look around but always returns to his mistress, perhaps with a new friend?

After setting up her tent wherever there's space (and perhaps double-checking to ensure that particular space won't be needed), Inessa could rest...but she's not going to. Instead, the young woman can be found looking for the nearest campfire to join or starting her own, just wanting to sit down and relax with Garahel and perhaps catch up on recent events. Or she can be found wherever the griffons are kept, observing them with quiet awe. Having seen them at Weisshaupt, they're not exactly a new sight and yet she can still scarcely believe they're real. A small smile forms on her lips as she looks them over, mindful not to get too close or make sudden movements. "Hello again. My, you've grown...."

II. Rotunda library and frescoes

The Grey Warden camp is nice, but there's one thing it doesn't have; stacks upon stacks of books. Inessa's a devoted Warden, but she was also raised in the Circle and if there's one thing she misses, it's the library at her tower. For the first time in over a year and a half, she actually has the time and opportunity to indulge, so she does...with Garahel in tow, of course. Having been instructed previously, the mabari actually behaves himself in this area, no running or barking or running over to harass the ravens in the rookery. Instead, he plops down somewhere reasonably out of the way to nap while Inessa inspects the stacks. No one topic is off limits to her, and soon she accumulates a sizable crooked tower at her table. Much of it involves magical theory or history, but lighter subjects are definitely possible. Varric's books were known even in the Circle.

At some point, because of her petite stature and a dearth of ladders, she'll swallow her pride and look over to the nearest (undoubtedly taller, unless they're a dwarf) person, and smile apologetically. "Excuse me, but could I borrow you for a moment? I need a longer pair of arms to reach a book for me."

Some time later, Inessa descends with a sated mind and a lighter heart. Upon reaching the rotunda below the library, she pauses to inspect the frescoes painted there. They had been noted before, but now that her greatest priority has been tended to, she can spare a little time for such things. The Siege of Adamant Fortress particularly captures her attention, unsurprisingly, and she lingers there, gazing solemnly upward.

III. Battlements

In what will become part of her routine, Inessa takes to strolling the battlements with Garahel before heading back to the Grey Warden encampment. It's a chance to savor the mountain view and stretch her legs, and let her attention-needy mabari get some petting from friendly soldiers and scouts. The direction isn't important, just the chance to clear her head and enjoy the brisk winds, a sharp contrast from the oppressive heat of the Western Approach.

IV. Wildcard

Catch her nearly anywhere. Perhaps she's discovered the vault library (and Garahel abandons her for the kitchen, since he can't fit) or is getting treats for Garahel at the kitchen. Curious Warden is curious and will want to see everything Skyhold has to offer that's not off-limits.

Comments

[arcaneadvisor]

"Halamshiral might briefly have rivalled the Imperium. I was in Orlais at the time," her voice is lower, softer. It was a terrible thing and the disgust chokes her the way the smoke and the ash did. "Twas a terrible thing. Slavery and blood magic will always be there in Tevinter but I believe all of them thought such violence from the nobles in Orlais belonged to the days when your ancestors still claimed the Dales." A master might overlook a slave after all, and chevaliers can be hidden from.

But when the fires began? Well it doesn't take a mage to know how impossible it is to hide from flames or reason with them, and she gladly moves to another topic.

"There was a liason in the past, as I understand it. Likely to appear as inclusive as possible given they have a Dalish and a Vashoth in their number though I will note no rifters, not yet." Rifters are far less likely to care for such trappings, but she's just as interested in their magic and what it might do.

Indicating her own table, she pushes her books aside and sits down, pushing out a chair for Inessa since between working and running around after Kieran, you don't want to be on your feet all day if you can help it at times, not that she admits it. "I will admit I was curious at first and I was only in Orlais at the time the rumours reached us, blown out of all proportion." Orlais is Orlais, she hardly needs to say that. "But I have been to a rift opening now, to aid whomever might fall from the sky since they had the misfortune to land near a battlefield. The Anderfels breeds a hard people, is that not how the tales go?"

[circleprodigy]

Mention of Halamshiral causes a shadow to pass over Inessa's mood. She's never been there, never really kept in touch with her elven roots since leaving for the Circle. Even so, descriptions of what she's heard horrified her, reminding her strongly of a dismal beginning at life in a place no one should find suitable. The specifics of that life elude her now, long lost to time, but that feeling of hopelessness made a strong impression. She doesn't need much of an imagination to know what those elves must have endured.

The change in subject is welcome and Inessa takes a deep, cleansing breath, refocusing her thoughts. "Dalish and Vashoth? That's an interesting amount of diversity, at least. I wouldn't have thought either likely to join such a council, but it's interesting to be proven wrong. I'll be curious as to where this leads." The implications that the Mage Council could have for mages beyond this immediate crisis isn't lost on Inessa, much as her fate is already sealed in another direction.

Not needing to look over to Garahel to be certain that he still sleeps -the soft snoring ensures that- Inessa sits down, her postures a proper as her speech and manners. She nods at the accurate description of the Anders, frowning in thought. "It is, though that hardness doesn't always work in their favor. It sometimes means they stubbornly remain apart even when cooperation would be to their benefit. It has me concerned for what's to come. I hope the Inquisition will give the Anderfels more attention in due time, though rumors seem to be that they're focused on Orlais first." Understandably so. The civil war raging can't be ignored.

"You've personally seen them emerge from a rift? Do they have any commonalities aside from their origin? What does the Inquisition make of them?" What does Morrigan?

[arcaneadvisor]

"I came here after the Council had formed and have little interest in joining, I believe there were two Dalish on it originally though given the amount of research into elven lore and history there is to be done, I am unsurprised that one remains and one does not. I believe many will be watching this Council to see what comes to pass." If it were someone she knew better (if it were Gwenaelle, really, since they had a conversation almost like this in a way) she would say something about Vivienne likely being on it to watch it. "Watching the Templars having to deal with free mages is rather more amusing."

Morrigan is still Morrigan, Templars are still Templars, she will never care for them.

"Orlais is far closer to Skyhold," Morrigan points out. "The largest empire in Thedas, the seat of culture under Celene's rule. We cannot forget that the Conclave was called by Divine Justinia and that both her Right and Left Hand make up half the advisors guiding the Inquisition without an Inquisitor." For all that Morrigan cannot stand the Game or a great many things about Orlais? They cannot ignore it, and the sooner they have Orlais at their side, the better in her opinion. So long as it's Celene and not Gaspard since for all her flaws and faults, she isn't a brute like the duke.

But when the topic turns to rifters, she's silent for a few minutes to gather her thoughts, replaying the moment in her mind before she speaks. She's enjoyed her time meeting them, as well as the research topic she's undertaking with Leliana that involves them. "Only one thus far, and I am not an expert on it. Rather I went as I know Orlais well. All of them so far appear human, though I can speak only for those I have met. The worlds I have heard described to me - some with magic, some without. Tis very rare that any come from the same world. It makes one wonder about where the Fade might truly lead after all, does it not?" Or it makes Morrigan wonder but she has lived a part of her life in the Crossroads where all eluvians connect, so she has a different opinion to some others about that sort of thing. It isn't quite a shadow that flits over her face but a pointed and sharp little sigh of irritation escapes her, not directed at Inessa but in general. "Of course there was talk of unpleasantness and hostility, I know many of them were subject to questioning several months prior by Seeker Pentaghast though little came of it, and I am sure there are still many who fear them at best or hate them at worst; if a mage is considered dangerous, what is a person that has come through a rift?"

[circleprodigy]

'Amusing' isn't quite the word Inessa has in mind when it comes to Templars and free mages, but she's more interested in news than imposing her own views. After all, anything she'd have to say would be pure speculation given that she's new and therefore there's much she hasn't seen. "Have the Templar's actions or reactions given any cause for concern? If there is more tension than one should expect given circumstances, I would prefer to be aware of it."

Her mood lightens a little at the fascinating topic of rifters, something which she's heard very little about until now. Her brow furrows as she tries to take as many mental notes as possible, likely to scribble away somewhere when the conversation is over. "It certainly has me wondering about the possibilities, and places beyond. If we could see them for ourselves, what knowledge could be gained? It's exciting to ponder.

What do they think of the Fade, and how it connects to their worlds? Do they know how they were drawn into it and thus into Thedas?" The Fade seems to be what binds them all, given the tears in the Veil that have drawn them here, surely they must have their own perspectives on it. But Morrigan's last words are sobering and taper that excitement. "...I'm not surprised, that rifters would be treated with suspicion and fear. Thedas has never been kind to those it doesn't understand. In a time of great turmoil, it will be even worse. I've heard that many consider them to be demons based on their origins alone."

[arcaneadvisor]

Sometimes it rankled that there were so many in Thedas who spoke with her and thought of her as naïve when war horrified her. Her home had suffered one war that had spread through three nations before reaching her home where it had been ended, a fleet that had pushed them back, delivering aid to each land, blockading the instigators until they'd had no choice but to surrender. Not a soul alive remembered it but the treaties had lasted, the songs and tales of how terrible it had been still sung and told in the taverns, on the ships.
It was worth the political games and the headaches to keep the peace. Ink and sweat washed out far easier than blood.

"My people are the sailors, we were the first to explore our home, we accept anyone into our crews so long as they're willing to work hard. Same goes for our country. And yet when I was in Val Royeaux shopping with a friend, the seamstress glared at her for daring to even handle the same garments as me. Another? She had to experience what it was to be limited for the first time, because both of them are elven. The reason the mages here suffer so is because they are Rivaini mages, practicing their ways as they see fit." It disgusts her, but this is as much as she can do; help them, offer them a chance to make their voices heard. "When you deal with these other races and there are tensions, say in a situation that might be at all similar to this, have you ever offered aggressive parties terms if they have laid down their weapons?"

It was something Leliana had brought up to her, but Jim seems the safer prospect to bring it up with first. A less biased and more objective opinion compared to nearly everyone else, even if she's hoping the Templars won't know of their combined presence until the wind fills their sails and they're all leaving Dairsmuid.