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

[gatheringstorm]

[Mention of Sina has her lighting up for a moment.] Well, hell, we still have the sending crystals. If we contact her, she could always speak to their Keeper one-on-one, if she wants to. It's worth mentioning, right? [Sina, who so rarely gets to go anywhere, ought to be allowed the chance to meet more of her people.]

And yeah, that's another reason to prefer Rivain. At least people here aren't invested in being racist assholes. It's refreshing, being able to walk down a street and not be side-eyed or glared at for existing.

[And when they return, she's sure they'll be sent right back to Orlais because the Inquisition's work in the Empire is never done, apparently. But that's for later, and she tries to keep that from the forefront of her thoughts now. This is a beautiful moment and she won't ruin it.]

Have you two ever done a duet? I'd love to hear you both sing sometime.

cw boobs

[foxsays]

I'll try to get hold of her when we head out there, I know she enjoyed the gifts I brought back from the Western Approach. [It had been a rare moment when Sina had been gone by the time Araceli had gotten around to handing them over, what with everything that had happened to people out there.]

Antiva is the same in a lot of places, but the Chantry remains so we have to dance to the tune of Orlais. [She shrugs, beginning to swim back to shore, stopping to see if she can entice an octopus to play with her along the way because there are so many creatures in the sea that she misses, and The Outsider would adore this. Maybe not the nudity, but all the rest certainly.]

Actually only you, Zevran, and Church have heard me play. At least knowing it was me playing and singing. [Zevran because he came up on the roof where she was already playing, Church stumbled across her but then he asked if she'd play again, and Korrin has had the full progression from her tentative beginnings to someone much more confident now.] We'd need to find something we could agree on first.

[gatheringstorm]

I'm sure she'll love that. [Korrin smiles at the tought, following Araceli back to shore. She'll leave the octopus for Araceli, not feeling strongly about them either way and knowing that her love needs as much quality time with the sea and its creatures as she can get. So she probably reaches shore first, not bothering to clothe herself yet as the sun will dry her off first.]

...Zevran I get, he knows how to play, but Church? [That's just so random, to her. Not that she dislikes the guy at all, or at least won't as long as he behaves himself around those dear to her.]

Hm, maybe we'll find something at that Rivaini camp. They might have all sorts of songs, and a nice blending of Dalish and Rivaini music. [Korrin shrugs, not able to say for certain, nor is she musically inclined herself so she has very little to suggest. But Beleth herself might have ideas.]

[foxsays]

[Things home has that Thedas doesn't: large (ranging to giant) squid in the waterways that live there to provide ink and help stop a person from falling in, all in exchange for food. Also they have octopus wigs as the height of fashion but she can imagine the noise that would escape Korrin if she tried to explain that one after their discussions about Orlesian fashion. (It's different when it's home and it actually does mean something to you.) Araceli remains sitting in the water, so the waves can wash over her legs, tentacles investigating her toes when she wiggles them.]

We're friends, underneath everything he has a good heart. [He's seen a lot of pain too, more than anyone might expect for the way he carries himself and Araceli still wants to help him however she can.]

If the Rivaini Dalish live here, they must have to sail. All the best music comes from the sea. [Whatever, she's biased, like anyone could fight her on that and win.]

[gatheringstorm]

[To be fair, Araceli is wonderful and can never really do wrong in Korrin's eyes. If she really wanted an octopus wig, as strange that would be to Korrin, the Vashoth woman would defend her against all of Orlais and then some. At least it's not caged birds pooping in her hair.

Korrin's feet linger in the water, enjoying the delicious coolness. She crouches back down, not really wanting to just loom over Araceli while they speak. She nods at mention of Church, shrugging.]

I barely know him, but as always, your word is good enough for me. I'll nudge him again, sometime.

[Biased or not, Korrin doesn't care. She smiles, not about to contest the music comment when as far as she can tell, Araceli isn't wrong.]

I swear I've heard Tama say the exact same thing, and her taste has yet to steer me wrong. Or yours. It doesn't hurt to be in an area where every bar has a band and a beach, either. We can dance the night away by the waves.

[foxsays]

When you get through his unique manner of speaking? He cares. I think he's seen a lot of hurt. [She knows he has, that he's seen war, but that isn't hers to say; everyone has seen something painful, even she's seen things from home that have made her heartsick. Then she smiles, since no one is around to hear her.] He knows guns too.

[That means something. Or it means something to Araceli when it's just a shared experience that she has that isn't weird to him.]

We have this place...I've never told you about it before because we weren't by the sea, but there are great stone stairs carved, it's a royal dock on the main island, where Leandra greets everyone coming to our country but anyone can go there. In the stairs are all these pipes, all different sizes, I don't know how they work but when the waves go in and out, they sing. There aren't taverns by that part of the island, only the sea. There was a song my father used to sing to my mother when she was on his ship, pregnant with me. The sea and the rhythm. [Sloshing her way up the way, she flops back next to Korrin, a hand on her thigh.]

[gatheringstorm]

[Korrin smiles at mention of Araceli finding a common bond with another rifter. Guns aren't exactly a thing in Thedas but if Araceli's happy, that's what matters. The Outsider and Araceli's bond about the sea is another thing she's grateful for, and she'll have to let him know sometime. For now, she listens with fascination to Araceli's talk of singing stairs.]

Those pipe stairs sound like just the sort of thing Rivain might come up with. If it does, I'll make sure you hear them, kadan. I'd love to hear the sea as you have. [And her smile widens as Araceli joins her, leaning into that touch as her own hand traces that jawline to rest upon her shoulder.] Oh? You know I'd love to hear any song you want to share with me. Tell me how it goes.

[foxsays]

Before I start, you must remember that my mother was pregnant when my father sang this to her. And everything I've ever said about what they are at home; Sons and Brides are the sea made flesh. [Clearing her throat, she settles herself, hoping Korrin can't see that she's nervous; she's never usually nervous singing for Korrin but this song is a lot of things. But she could tell Korrin how it goes or she could sing at least a part of it.]

Tonight we're the sea and the salty breeze. The milk from your breast is on my lips. And lovelier words from your moth to me. When salty my sweat and your fingertips.

[When she'd been bigger she would move when her father sang. So her mother said. Pressing a hand or a foot out against the shell of her world; always in a hurry, her mother said, always in a rush to see the world, experience it all even before I held you.]

[gatheringstorm]

Believe me, I haven't forgotten. [If Korrin notices the nervousness, she doesn't mention it. What good would come of making Araceli even more self-conscious? She just nods at the disclaimer, remembering well everything that Araceli's told her up to this point. So for once she's quiet, an encouraging smile on her lips as Araceli begins. Between her lovely voice and the glimpse of her home, what she hears is a treasure already.]