(open) one foot on the ledge

[ichaer]

WHO: Ciri and YOU!
WHAT: Arrival, settling and other general shenanigans catchall log for the month.
WHEN: Pre-Orlais, Solace.
WHERE: Skyhold, various
NOTES: None, currently but will update if needed.

✖ a. camp

Ciri's arrival comes not long after the arrival of the first new Warden from the Western Approach and she is dressed in equally unmistakable armor. After the long ride across Orlais and the trip through the Frostbacks, she arrives thoroughly exhausted in every sense of the word. With some direction from staff within Skyhold proper, she finds the camp and gives it a once over with a tired sigh. She ultimately finds a quiet place, open and hopefully not in use. It is nice to have solid ground under her feet once again, hardly missing the sand of the Approach and the black mare clearly seems to share the feeling as she trots around the small area.

She finally has to call Kelpie back over to pull the saddle, saddlebags and reigns from her. Everything is left on the ground is a messy heap as she pulls her hood down, running a calloused hand through messy white-grey hair and pondering on where to start with it all. Where to start besides passing out horse treats but that was a given and Kelpie seems delighted by it nonetheless. She's glad at least one of them has energy because eyeing her mess of supplies, equipment and other such leaves her feeling even more exhausted. Carefully, she unlatches her sword belt and slips the weapon onto the ground which she soon follows.

Despite her exhaustion, she cannot sleep and instead takes to caring for her sword. The whetstone, a gift and one of the few things she took from Weisshaupt, is slowly run along the blade in rhythmic motions. It would almost be relaxing if not for a certain horse and her determination for attention. It's adorable, honestly and she'll happily trot over to anyone within range for some extra attention as well.

✖ b. skyhold

It's been a few days since her arrival but it has been hard to settle into a routine. At Weisshaupt, she had kept a routine. At Griffon Wing Keep, she had kept a routine. Rountine kept her hands busy, her mind busier and kept her from wandering into memories that were not wise to dwell on for long periods of time. So, although it might not be routine, she is glad to wander and take it the groups milling about that were not wearing armor like herself. After all, she has nothing bad to say about the other Wardens gathered here but she has spent far too much time in the company of just Wardens to be healthy.

She does not stay in Skyhold proper but that does not stop her from exploring the grounds. The library does not hold her interest for long but she follows the rotunda, curiously gazing at the books present before slipping down a nearby stairwell. The kitchens are found by mistake, wandering down the wrong stairwell and likely following her nose without thought. Still, Ciri does not miss the opportunity to ask for apples or carrots that would not be used for a treat for her horse.

Time is spent in the tavern, enjoying music that is not like the one she had been hearing in her head before it thankfully stopped and a needed drink. Although usually not the most talkative Wardens, she takes interest in her neighbors and asks of their origins or reasons for traveling to some keep in the mountains. Again, it is simply nice to have the noise around her. She wanders near the courtyard later, watching anyone that might be practicing with a careful eye and sometimes with noted interest. After all, t was always good to keep an eye out for things she could incorperate into her own work outs.

✖ c. battlements

It has been close to a week now. After close to a week of mostly sleeping, eating and more sleeping, she is already to get back to work. She disapproves of the soft ground underfoot at camp so she makes her way up into Skyhold. Here, there is more space but although they have all of this space it is terribly overcrowded. It is tough to find a place train with the entire event almost becoming a game as she searches. Almost every space is taken up and taken up for hours afterwards with some eager recruits waiting on the sidelines, waiting patiently for space to free-up.

It is what ultimately drives Ciri upwards, up onto the battlements and to where she only has to worry about guards passing by on their rounds. It is exactly what she is used to but she makes use of the flatter areas of the battlements' wall and falls into a familiar work-out. There is no pendulum to strike but she imagines one, slicing her blade through the air as she moves along the length of the wall in an almost dance-like and graceful manner she certainly does not give off in her everyday interactions.

If anything this is easier than the logs, blindfold and giant log threatening to throw her several stories to the ground at any moment. Yet she still twists, flips, cartwheels and jumps as if it was no different from her old training days in the woods with the Rats.

✖ d. wildcard

For literally anything else around Skyhold and nearby locations. Feel free to hit me up at kaldwin or through PM if you'd like for me to set something up.

Comments

[aceso]

"I know I depend quite a bit on Fade Step to move me out of the way. We mages have armor that cannot take hits well. We are the ranged fighters, and I have never needed good balance in combat. Only enough mana to get out of the way or hold my foe in place so I can move back." And she really doesn't enjoy combat anyway. She prefers to heal wounds, not inflict them.

[ichaer]

"Mm, right. We've got to remember our own weaknesses and make up for it our own ways but that's fighting for you. It's a damn good feeling when everyone gets on the same page though, everyone able to back one another up."

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Ciri probably likes combat too much but that's a given when her life is dedicated to fighting darkspawn and ending future Blights.

"I've always been ridiculously jealous of that Fade Step spell." She says, chuckling. "Fighting shrieks would be a walk in the park."

[aceso]

Christine is usually so focused in combat that she doesn't have the time to feel good about how they all work together and compliment each other. She finds the time once the battle is over and she knows everyone is all right.

"You can also make it an ice spell and freeze the enemy as you step through them," she adds with a bit of a smile.

[ichaer]

She sighs dramatically, "Now I'm definitely super jealous."

Though a thought strikes her, now that she thinks about it and with a healer hear means she doesn't have to track one down. "Hey, I got a question. Do you guys have anything to help with something like really bad dreams?"

They probably can't help with the run-of-the-mill Warden shit dreams but she's got to find something to help her with dreams plaguing her from Weisshaupt.

[aceso]

"Well, that depends. Do you drink tea?" she asks, ready to help if she can. "Elfroot tea has many helpful properties, including being calming. A cup before bed may soothe your mind enough to hold off bad dreams."

[ichaer]

"I'd drink warm druffalo milk mixed with rashvine if it helped." She says, cringing because really, she would even if against all better judgement.

"Elfroot tea, alright. I'll give it a shot then."