[Open] Remembering one of the good guys

[justice_is_blond]

WHO: Anyone who knew/cared about Herc!
WHAT: A wake for Herc
WHEN: Around now, the 10th of Egg
WHERE: Tavern!
NOTES: Drinking, grief, etc.

There aren't any formalities here. The Calling has taken another Grey Warden, but for once he was known to more than Wardens and mourned by more than them too. The music is lively to start with, mostly because Herc probably would have grumped if it had all been sad and there's a tab at the bar open to anyone worthy. Granted, one has to manage to be polite to all the Grey Wardens for the duration of the wake to be deemed worthy, but that's not too hard, is it?

Hit up the bar, share a story, complain about how he owed you money, and remember someone who deserves it.

Comments

[circleprodigy]

Anyone who likes dogs in general and mabari in particular has excellent taste, and when Garahel likes them back -as he shows by licking Bethany's hand- Inessa knows she's in good company. She smiles, watching them interact. It's a solemn occasion, but at least they're making the best of it.

"He imprinted on me not long after my Joining, just a pup then. A year and a half ago? Maker, it seems longer than that." Just before then, she was still a Circle mage, no dog, no expectation of anything other than perhaps making First Enchanter someday. "If he's with you here, Garahel would love to meet him. It's nice to see so many in the area. Weisshaupt felt a little barren, by comparison."

Griffons are wonderful and legendary and all, but they still aren't mabari.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

She laughed softly, before shaking her head, "Not at all - right now he's sitting on my twin Carver, keeping him out of trouble. No, right now I just have a little mixed breed mutt by the name of Gamlen, in honor of my uncle. If you like, they could still play together. Gamlen's small but he's scrappy."

A year and a half ago ... she was so young. She gives her a thoughtful look, before scratching the pup between his ears. "My joining was ten years ago, or so. Time will flash by you, after awhile."

[circleprodigy]

"Gamlen would be welcome, I'm sure. Garahel likes a little spirit in his playmates, it doesn't matter the size."

Inessa may be young, but she doesn't feel it, not after the rebellion and everything that's happened since. She knows that look, though, and wonders what it is that she'll have seen in ten years' time. How will she feel then? "At least life as a Warden isn't dull, even when there are no Blights. I accepted that would be the case, though I hadn't thought there would be internal strife to contend with as well. I'm glad you and others were able to escape entanglement."

There's a small rueful smile as she should have done the same...should have, but didn't. She was so certain that someone would see sense, and by the time she learned differently, it was too late.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"Then they shall get along splendidly."

War aged all of them - it had certainly aged Bethany in the first year she was a Warden. She chided herself, as Inessa spoke. Experience came fast as a Warden. "Well, I will have to admit, the internal strife is a new one. Usually we have a bit of a squabble between Fereldan Wardens and Orlesian Wardens, but nothing like this." She shook her head, "We should have pulled more of you out - I regret deeply how many mages we have lost because of this ... this hideous lack of judgement."

She looked over at Inessa, her brown eyes serious, "We will do better here. We will all do better. It is time for the Wardens to step out of the shadows."

[circleprodigy]

That gets an emphatic nod from Inessa, past tired of falling back on 'we do what we must' as justification for increasingly worse acts. "I agree. I admit, it helps to know that Warden-Constable Blackwall and Warden Alistair are among us. Blackwall's an honorable man, and Alistair...I have learned long ago to trust with my life. I wouldn't be here if I didn't have believe in their ability to avoid the pitfalls the rest of our leadership succumbed to."

Nevermind that Alistair doesn't want to lead or think of himself in that way. He's a Senior Warden and given what Inessa witnessed, she trusts him implicitly.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Bethany's glad to see that nod - she had some worries about the Wardens who had come away with the others and now those worries were put to rest. She dimpled at the mention of those two men: two men she respected for very different reasons. "I think you right. Whatever happens now, we can trust in our leadership to see us through this. Have you met Senior Warden Teren? She is ... gruff, but she is firm, and fair."

Alistair never wanted to lead - Bethany had a feeling he feared how much it would hurt him to lose people under his command.

[circleprodigy]

Inessa shakes her head, unable to say she's had that pleasure yet. "No, I have not, but from that description, I can work with her. 'Firm but fair' isn't anything I'm a stranger to, inside the Circle or out of it. I hope she doesn't mind dogs, at least."

Garahel lets out a hopeful whine at that, tail wagging. He always likes to make new friends. "I thought I heard someone say she was a liaison? What exactly does that entail here?"

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Bethany nodded her head, her smile approving. "You most certainly can. And ... well, I've never heard her minding the dogs as long as they stay out of her things."

A pause, before she laughed softly, "That's something new - basically, she's our voice with the Inquisition. If anyone has a request, or complaint about us, they would go through Teren."

[circleprodigy]

"Hear that, Garahel? You're to respect her privacy." Having been trained beforehand in such matters, Garahel simply huffs and paws for more pettings.

The description makes sense and Inessa nods, filing that away perhaps for later use. If nothing else, she at least owes her an introduction. "Does that happen often? Are there many complaints about us?"

Sure, they're allowed to settle in the valley. Even so, the fact that they were welcome to stay in Skyhold beforehand and aren't now isn't lost on her. And some of the reactions have made her wonder.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

And he receives them, Bethany going so far as to lean over to give him belly rubs. She glanced upwards, and sighed. "Have you heard of Anders?"

If she had heard of Anders, well, this would make this explanation a great deal easier.

[circleprodigy]

Anders. There's a flicker of recognition as Inessa nods slowly, ignoring a very contented Garahel for now. "I have, yes. He was at Weisshaupt, and he escaped my Circle tower numerous times. I was but a child then, however. We didn't really interact then, not in any significant way."

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"Well ... he was responsible, in part, for the situation in Kirkwall, a few years back. He is the one who destroyed the Chantry." She sighed heavily, "Not that he wasn't pushed directly into it by Meredith and other factors, but still. We accepted him back into our ranks, and some of us kept his presence a secret. The Inquisition was not pleased with us. We're earning back their trust, step by step."

[circleprodigy]

Anders' actions aren't news to her, though they bring up mixed feelings. At least Bethany is being direct with her, and she appreciates that, a soft frown forming as she sorts out her own thoughts. "He was a Grey Warden previously, and a judgment was made. Accepting him back into our ranks should have been enough. Why keep it a secret, when he was under our jurisdiction?"

Her tone is careful, not intending to judge, just get the facts straight. Perhaps it seems naive, but after ending the Fifth Blight, she would have thought the Wardens carried more in the way of influence...at least until Clarel trashed it.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

She breathed in deeply, "Because at first, Anders wasn't going to come back to the Wardens. He was hiding from them as much as he was hiding from the Chantry. He left because the Templars had infiltrated our ranks in Adamantine and tried to assassinate him, and according to him the Wardens there allowed it."

She looked over at the other woman, her smile wry. "It took us a great deal of convincing to get him to come back in."

[circleprodigy]

Inessa stares, appalled until Garahel moves to give her a nudge and she remembers her voice. "That is sheer madness. I was always taught that once a Warden was conscripted, that the order claimed responsibility for them. They could not be claimed by others. That this would be outright ignored...." She shakes her head, not having the words for how wrong that is.

"And what do the Templars here say about such matters? Do they seem likely to repeat the past?" There's no real anger in her voice when she mentions the Templars, but that revelation a moment ago is deeply disturbing. As much as she's eluded abuse visited others by Templars, she can't honestly deny that they would do such a thing.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"I cannot say where their minds or hearts were ... but I can tell you that if they were the same sort of Wardens that allowed Clarel to get out of control, then I am not surprised." Bethany stated with a twist of her mouth, before she looked thoughtful.

"They are ... understandably angry, but the Inquisition's Templars - and that is how they style themselves - will follow the will and the word of the Inquisition. The Inquisition has stated Anders is to be left to us, so they are honoring that."

[circleprodigy]

"Perhaps the presence of the false Calling helped as well, brutal as that was. If that was widely known, I doubt many would be willing to undertake joining us." Inessa only reluctantly touches upon that, not really wanting to relive the condition that came far too soon for her. At least it helped her to understand what the older Wardens were going through or about to go through, but that's the only good that came of it.

"You're not wrong, about those Wardens. When I left the tower, I had a very idealized version of them in my head. I thought they were true heroes, that they could do know wrong. Experience has taught me otherwise, about what happens when extremism takes over."

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"It is true ... and it has made things both difficult and yet it has given us something that we have in common with the rest if the world right now. We were all duped by Corypheus." She sighed, before leaning over to rub the puppy's belly once more.

She looked up at Inessa then, her brown eyes filling with sympathy. "It's always hard, to find out our heroes have a human side. I've seen it all too many times, myself. But you know what I find in encouraging? That so many of us real Wardens decided we weren't going to let tradition tell us what the right thing to do was."

[circleprodigy]

Garahel grunts happily, not flopping around a much as he would be were they on grass instead of inside, but still wiggling a little. Inessa nudges him with her foot if he needs a reminder to behave. But sweet young ladies usually bring out the best in him, so she's not concerned.

The sympathy is welcome, even as Inessa hopes not to project an air of needing it too much. Young though she may be, she's passed her Harrowing and is a Warden in full. She didn't come to Skyhold to be a burden. "That is definitely a relief, I won't deny it. There were so few in Weisshaupt who felt that way; if I hadn't met Ciri, poor Garahel might have run himself ragged trying to cheer me up. Learning that Warden Blackwall and Warden Alistair, among others, were free and striving to against against the madness was the best news I had heard. And...I didn't speak with Warden Hansen personally, but that he braved hostile territory to help, it means much."

[sunshinethroughgrey]

She smiles down at the mabari, happiness brought on by the happiness of others. It's her favorite kind, really.

Now she looked more sober, and grieved, but she nodded her head slowly, "I am sorry there were no Warden Mages along to help but - well - you saw what happened. They were worried we were more at risk than anyone else. Now I wish I had taken the chance. We might have been able to do something about the blood magic there. Thank the Maker for all of you surviving, for being strong enough to come here. I applaud your bravery."

[circleprodigy]

A slight blush forms at such kind words, easily contrasting against her pale skin. After months of hearing about how foolish she was for resisting, this is something she's needed to hear. "I didn't do it alone, but thank you. Ciri and Garahel gave me strength. He imprinted on me just after my Joining; maybe he knew I'd need him for the road ahead." Garahel seems to agree with this, giving a soft wuff in response to hearing his name.

"And I completely understand why Warden mages were kept from there. If anything had happened...no, it was better to avoid that considerable risk. You're better for being spared that, and seeing what's become of our order's headquarters." She sighs, wondering if that undertone of bitterness will ever go away. Probably not while Weisshaupt is still a mess. But there are some positive aspects to focus on. "At least the griffons were secured as well. It would have been harder to leave without knowing that their safety was ensured. Have you been to see them?"

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"They're as smart as a whip, mabari are. They know what we are struggling with, and give us the strength to work through them." She looks around, until she spots Ciri across the room. "It's good to have friends - to have people who are going to stand by you when the times are tough."

She smiled softly, her brown eyes warming, "Imagine. Griffons, after all this time. I've been to see them -- I didn't know there was anything so wonderful in all the world."

[circleprodigy]

"Neither did I. Knowing that they're safe here, away from all this madness...it gives me some hope, for them and the order." Same thing, really; the griffons have been intertwined with Grey Warden history for so long, even after they were thought extinct. She smiles wistfully. "Have any been spoken for? Or rather, have the griffons claimed them? They're so young, still, but it's possible, isn't it?"

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"Anything is possible - I think if we can all get behind that, we'll defeat Corypheus in short order, and find a way to bring the Wardens back. New, and changed -- just like the world. But still here, still willing to fight the good fight." She dimpled then, her eyes going soft, "I waited so long to see a griffon - now that I have? I know we can do anything."

She paused, then chuckled, "Only by half of Skyhold ...but I don't wonder if griffons are like mabari, and they choose you."

[circleprodigy]

Inessa nods, casting a fond glance at her currently very happy mabari. Sometimes -when he isn't being a pest- it's still hard to believe he chose her. "I wouldn't be surprised, if that was the case. They're intelligent, discerning creatures. I doubt one can ride a griffon unless they're in complete agreement about the arrangement. They deserve more heroic names, though." Sorry, but 'Potato' is just wrong. Even the original Garahel would agree to that, she'd think.