The Annulment at Dairsmuid

[foxsays]

WHO: Araceli Bonaventura, Korrin Ataash, Malcolm Reynolds, The Outsider, Aleron Darton, Kas, Anders, Malcolm Reed, James Norrington, Ellana Ashara, James Kirk; Rivaini npcs
WHAT: The Annulment at Dairsmuid; arriving at Rivain to meet with Araceli and her mage contacts that requested aid from Templars hunting them down. When Araceli goes to bring the group to her contacts, they're informed that the Templars have abducted the mages forcing the team to return to the Circle at Dairsmuid to rescue them and kill the Templars responsible
WHEN: 15th-20th Solace
WHERE: Rivain; Dairsmuid
NOTES: OOC posts here and here, sending crystal announcement; violence, discussions of annulment, probably going to need warnings for language; I'll edit as I go, if people can bring things to my attention, I would appreciate it
Starters will all be below, subjects in headers

We of the Dairsmuid Circle wait now, behind barricades. I have sent word to our brother and sister mages of this outrage. When they break through, we will not die alone.

—Final journal entry of First Enchanter Rivella, slain in Dairsmuid, 9:40 Dragon

Contents;
Arrival at Dairsmuid
Meeting the Mage Contacts
Team Dungeon Crashers
Team Templar Crushers
Aftermath of the Rescue
Timestamp; Dairsmuid Adventures
Epilogue

Comments

[foxsays]

A shame that the time relaxing in Korrin's grandmother's house has disappeared; she hadn't realised how much she'd needed it until a stern older woman had sat her down at the end of each day of studying to tell her to eat her dinner and relax, not letting her leave until she couldn't actually leave the table anyway, stuffed to the gills with good food.

"Please tell me you brought the healing supplies I asked Adelaide for?" Not that she doubts Korrin but the instant she'd relayed that question? They'd all pounced on her, telling her exactly the situation, how badly they'd been scraping by, how one infection might have become a crisis.

She doesn't let go in a hurry. No one can see how she shrinks, how she curls into Korrin and leans against her. Araceli Bonaventura y Castell, always so sure, always so confident, always knowing what to say and what to do, kind and witty and funny, passionate and emotional but never this. So very few see her when the world has ground her down and worn away at her enough that she doubts her legs can keep her up, but Korrin can do that for them both, until she breathes in and out, and finds her strength again to put on her face for the world.

[gatheringstorm]

Seeing Araceli like this, so overwhelmed and lost, breaks Korrin's heart. Her confidence and witticisms and smile have always kept her going before, and to see it absent now is jarring. Not that she had any doubt, but the direness of the situation is even more apparent to her now. She's content to hold Araceli as long as she needs it, breathing with her and trying to give her some sense of calm.

She gently brushes her lips against the top of Araceli's head before answering. "I brought everything you asked for, Araceli; potions, lyrium, as much as we could carry with us. Adelaide wanted to make sure that the mages here know they're not alone. They'll have our support, whatever it takes."

[foxsays]

Remembering old lessons, she makes herself pull back so she can straighten her spine as she sorts her clothes, taking a deep breath. Everyone is here, they've got the supplies, they're going to go have a drink so they can all recover and talk then they're going to go meet her contacts and plan. They're all simple steps that they can accomplish.

"I'll find her something as a thank you if there's time before we leave." At least no one can doubt that she's willing to work to help the cause of mage freedom now, though she didn't ever expect to have to prove it so soon, but Adelaide's words of the White Spire are fresh in her mind. "How was the journey? Your tama is asking for you, though I haven't had the chance to see her since I came back to Dairsmuid after I left for the camp the first time."

[gatheringstorm]

Giving one last squeeze before likewise pulling back and straightening, Korrin smiles. Whatever years that lengthy journey seemed to have added on have fallen away, at least for now. Doubtless the mission will create tension of its own, but she has plans for the aftermath.

"Well, the Outsider and I saw a pair of whales; a mother and her calf. We're taking it as a sign of good luck for our mission. And poor Kas got terribly seasick, so be gently with him. I'll send a message to Tama as soon as I can manage it; you know she'll want to adopt nearly everyone here and insist on feeding them until they bust a gut."

[foxsays]

All Araceli can think about right now is getting back to the camp as soon as the boats are ready for them to head up the river - the tide will be against them, forcing the wait, but they can plan, they can get them all safely away from here and settle them in Skyhold. Hopefully they can all return to a safer Rivain one day when all mages are free but that's a future that's a long way off.

"Whales are a good sign, he understands them the same way my people do." There's something more than that, something that sits under her ribs and sings when she thinks about The Outsider but it's for another time as she smiles sadly. "I'll make sure to thank him especially for making the journey, after everything he's been through...returning cannot have been easy for him. Everyone else made it here safe and well? You were all at least civil to one another?"

[gatheringstorm]

"I didn't deck Anders, if that's what you're asking. Hell, I haven't been near him the entire time." The fact that Korrin is wary of his presence goes without saying; having him among those representing the Inquisition could hurt their cause rather than help it. But she didn't come all this way to argue, not when Araceli is the light of her life and the matter is settled anyway. She knows when to let go, at least for the sake of a mission.

"Everyone is fine, more or less, just tired and probably in need of different food and drink than what was available on the ship. When we get to Tama's, remind me to ask her about ginger tea. She'll probably give Kas enough that the trip back won't be as rough." And, knowing her, far more than that. Her grandmother isn't know for underestimating what people need, and will always default to ridiculous amounts of generosity just to 'get the job done right'.

"Oh! I have a letter for you." Grinning, Korrin hands her the rolled up paper, sealed with the sign of the Inquisition. Inside is nothing business-related, however. It's just a paper with a set of inked fox tracks across it. An edge or two might have been gnawed on, as well.

[foxsays]

"He has experience with this sort of thing, more than anyone else. If he hadn't volunteered, I would have asked him." That might not be what Korrin wants to hear but Araceli is a practical person when it comes to actually getting a job done, and as much as she's wary of what Anders might represent? She can't argue with experience. Not when she's in over her head, and is very much aware of that.

Nodding – because it's Araceli, she remembered Kas mentioning one meal he liked months ago – she pulls a face since she's too tired to laugh. "I forget that people get seasick. None of the girls got seasick. No one that I know from elsewhere does or, well, they probably wouldn't stick in my mind." What a bizarre notion to her, that the sea can make a person sick; the Sons tell people to sail more, that there are ways to remind the body of where it came from. That won't be helpful now. "Is it from—"

She's expecting something from the Nightingale since the last time they spoke was before she left. Maybe even something from Beleth. Her face twists instead when she bites down on her bottom lip, murmuring Lux's name fondly. She misses him, misses him haunting her steps wherever she goes or having his soft fur and warm body to tuck her face against when she's upset but it's too risky to bring him here. He isn't a trained attack dog, he's a thief's spotter, a charmer, almost half her soul in something else. It hurts to swallow and to close her eyes when the page blurs but if she lets the tears fall now then they won't stop. "Thank you," she manages through a painfully tight throat. "Is he well? Was he missing me? We have never been parted for so long at all before."

[gatheringstorm]

Yeah, Korrin doesn't especially enjoy hearing that, even as she often appreciates Araceli's pragmatism. If it were anyone else, she would have done the same herself. But that's enough dwelling on someone who doesn't deserve any thought given their way.

"I've never gotten seasick, either. I came Tama and my parents for that. Exposure has to help somewhat." And part of it must be Korrin's natural resilience, having adapted to all sorts of situations by now.

Araceli's reaction to the 'letter' is met with a fond drawing her close again just to place a kiss on her forehead. "Last I saw him, he was as well-fed and spoiled as ever, though a bit grumpy and restless for missing you. I'm sure he'll be unhappy if we return without a gift to appease him. Add one more to the shopping list."

[foxsays]

"We swim before we're born, if they all left Par Vollen or even Seheron, they would have had to sail to do it. The amount you must've travelled as a girl no doubt helped too." Honestly, Araceli couldn't love someone that didn't love the sea, it just wouldn't work out at all between them. This is a good reminder too that she needs to go pick up a certain gift from Sam as soon as they get back to Skyhold since it'll definitely be ready by now, and the timing will be just right.

Under her breath she murmurs the words 'little shit' with absolute fondness because that's what he is. "You realise you're going to be shoved to the edge of the bed when we get back because he'll demand his share to sprawl on top of me. If I can get some mages to freeze the fish, Adelaide told me how often to do it to keep it fresh all the way home."

Araceli's reaction to the 'letter' is met with a fond drawing her close again just to place a kiss on her forehead. "Last I saw him, he was as well-fed and spoiled as ever, though a bit grumpy and restless for missing you. I'm sure he'll be unhappy if we return without a gift to appease him. Add one more to the shopping list."

[gatheringstorm]

That murmuring gets a soft chuckle from Korrin, fondly agreeing. Lux is indeed a 'little shit', but that's what she likes about him. Animals with spirit will always rank highly with her. "I'm aware, and I accept these terms, at least for a little while. He deserves to be spoiled again by you, and I wouldn't dare get in the way of that." Though he's still not invited to join them in the hot spring, sorry Lux. "Ice magic isn't my forte, but I know enough of it to be some help there. Consider it my way of making it up to him for 'letting' you disappear on him."

She leans in to slip her shoulders around Araceli's, giving them a gentle squeeze. "Don't worry, kadan. We'll be back and he'll be cold-nosing our chests again in no time." Fox noses and boobs do not go together, but no matter how many times Korrin's said this, it never sinks in. Oh, well.

[foxsays]

"Beleth will have to deal with an extra guest for our time together too but if he gets bored he'll just eat then roll over and sleep while we play." Or she'll spend time with him on the rooftops of Skyhold like she would at home, the wind ruffling her hair and his fur until they're both content, sharing whatever dinner she's carefully carried up there for them. "I said I'd bring Sam some fish home too, and there are other plans. Since we never get good fish. Or shrimp. Or mussels. Or anything that I like." Since you know, all the meat she knows comes out of the sea so it's not really delivered to Skyhold that often compared to things she has to chew for six years that still taste odd no matter how you season them.

"Maybe if I take him to Burly and make him look very sad too, Burly will take pity on both of us," she ponders because Burly might be worth a shot. And look, Lux was there before Araceli had boobs on her chest. He laid claim to that place first, and when he absolutely puts his cold nose and cold paws in the cleavages of noble daughters of foreign lands, as well as Araceli's queen? Well Korrin is welcome to try telling him otherwise as Araceli continues to laugh herself sick.

[gatheringstorm]

It's a good thing Lux is so handsome and personable, Korrin's willing to let a lot slide in favor of that. She smiles at mention of Burly, having quickly become fond of the chef. Anyone who can work miracles with the food of Skyhold has her devotion. "I'm pretty sure that can be arranged, since I saw him sneaking scraps to mabari pups that tried the same thing. My plan is to get him a shit-ton of spices and other things while we're here, and a few of treats he mentioned liking. We can't go wrong with a little bribery. We'll bring back as much as we can carry and make everyone jealous. Well, those who have the taste to be jealous.

And that way, there's plenty to go around without Araceli feeling as though she has to take the lead on such things. Not that Korrin ever minds when she does, since she loves it when they can cook together. She smiles fondly at the thought, then forces herself to focus. She gestures to the large travel bag set aside when first setting her eyes on Araceli. "There's the healing supplies, and it's not the only bag either. If any sudden needs have come up, I can stuff whatever else we need to get into my personal stash, since I didn't bring much. Though before you ask, yes I did bring the antaam-saar with me. It's far too warm here for the usual dragon armor, I know that."

She'll settle for being well-protected and not dying of heat-stroke.