[Closed] The Order's Obligations

[lifeofendurance]

WHO: Aleron Darton, Malcolm Reed, Inessa, Bruce Not-Banner, Cade Harimann, Ingrid Kief, Jeannot Mercier, Sadira, Bethany Hawke, npc templars.
WHAT: Templars have been asked to clear out suspicious mages squatting in the old Circle Tower. The group is sniffing out the truth.
WHEN: August 15-20 (Backdated a smidge)
WHERE: Perendale, Nevarra
NOTES: More information about the plot may be found here. A link is available on that page for the original war table wiki page. Feel free to inject any local npcs you like. IC signups are over here.

The road to Perendale proves less than interesting. Dusty and bare rock, with the odd silver mine to break up the monotony of the road. A peculiar strain of goats are native to the area and they do not seem to care for strangers on the road. They express their displeasure by rushing the Inquisition's horses and butting them in the legs. Annoying, but thank the Maker, not so aggressive and violent to put an end to the travel days.

The road itself begins moving north through Orlais then turns west. There is something small of interest, however. Perhaps. If one is knowledgeable enough and paying attention. The houses en route have a markedly Orlesian style to them. The odd lion battles a dragon in statuary along the way. Clearly the territory used to belong to Nevarra's southern neighbor, lost in an ongoing squabble between the two.

Perendale itself manifests its Orlesian heritage all over the city. The main gates boast lions rampant, entrenched in battle against dragons. Residences and shops are painted in the same lively colors that one would expect to see in any number of Orlais' towns. Thus ends the similarity. There are no gilded masks anywhere to be seen on the occupants, however, the mode of dress is not outlandish. The accents rippling through the air are not of the lilting elision one hears in Val Royeaux, but far closer to matching that of Seeker Pentaghast. Even the smells wafting out of the local taverns are different, rich and spicy; not a whiff of some overblown perfume to be had. The streets are cobbled and moderately clean, at least in the better quarters of the city.

And off in the distance, just outside the city walls, stands the abandoned Circle Tower, with faint infrequent lights flickering in the windows.

Comments

[amygdalae]

"It doesn't matter if you're new, being a Warden alone warrants something at least." He can't declare that to be entirely true, of course, but just the title of Warden tended to command enough respect when needed. "And besides, you're not the only one." There was that other one as well--the Hawke sibling, he recalled. If time and seniority was the problem, then she could easily fix that problem.

Bruce sends back a smile of his own, trying to be reassuring. "Don't worry too much about it. I'm sure things will work out fine."

[circleprodigy]

Those reassuring words and another sip of tea go a long way towards evening her mood out somewhat, though Inessa doubts she can let go completely until they're well away from the area. "With any luck, that optimism will be rewarded. I would be more comfortable approaching the tower now instead of waiting for morning, but I won't endanger the mission by breaking away from the plan. Besides, Garahel has been a very good companion today, getting people to open up with him around, so he's earned his rest."

Garahel barks happily, his tail thumbing against the floor. Reaching over, she scratches him behind the ears before straightening again.

[amygdalae]

Bruce wouldn't call himself optimistic by any means, but he supposes he is hoping for the best in this scenario. He didn't desire bloodshed and it seemed like the other party could feel the same as well. Hopefully, an exchange of words would be all that was needed to resolve this issue.

"They probably wouldn't take kindly to people marching up in the dead of the night anyway," he says after the mabari barks out loud. "Better to do it in daylight, where we can more easily show that none of us mean any harm to them." There was always something about the night that made people more paranoid and edgy than usual; Bruce has been there more than a fair few times.

[circleprodigy]

"There's sense in that, I agree. I'm more concerned with those who might try to preempt us, but perhaps I'm wrong about that." Inessa dearly wants to be, at least in this instance. The tension is everywhere, and she wouldn't put it past some people to decide for the town before the Inquisition can do anything to stop them. They thankfully don't seem to be the majority, not right at that moment, but still. It'll be enough to keep her from sleeping much tonight, wanting to remain alert to a possible disturbance.

[amygdalae]

He could see where her concerns were, and their presence around here could be a good thing or a bad thing - from what he could see things could go in one of two ways: the people would be more assured, or they might be more volatile and take them being here as incentive to do something themselves. From what he's seen though, at least, it feels more of the former than the latter. Which was a good thing for the most part.

"If they do attempt something I think the ruckus they'd cause would alert us pretty quickly." It'd be hard to keep something like that quiet, at least while it was in progress. "We have some time to spare still. Don't stress too much over it." They would be dealing with it tomorrow one way or another, so the best thing to do was to be mentally prepared for whatever was going to happen.

[circleprodigy]

"I'll try not to do so, at least. In any case, I trust Garahel to awaken me if there's need." Her mabari is a light sleeper, quick to rouse if there's actual trouble. If he's snoring away, that's a good indication that all is well. She slips him a treat, which catches his attention for the next moment or so.

"Have you been to Nevarra before?"

[amygdalae]

That was a good enough indication, he supposed. Bruce cracks a tiny smile as he glances down to the mabari once more - its not hard to be charmed enough by it, being Ferelden himself. Even if he supposes it is kind of stereotypical at this point.

He glances back up at the question, taking a moment before he nods. "A few times. But I'm usually only passing through, so I've never been to any of the bigger cities and towns." He couldn't risk it then, not with the chance of being recognized. That was a different time in his life.

[circleprodigy]

"I've only really seen the Cumberland area and countryside, myself. I wouldn't mind visiting their capital, though. The Mortalitasi and Grand Necropolis sound interesting, and practices aside, I want to see how they manage to be so accepted and vital. It's not like anywhere else outside Tevinter." She takes another sip of her tea, before it grows old.

[amygdalae]

Bruce gives another nods. The culture of Nevarra always had some interest to him as well, though these days he rarely lets himself indulge on such things. There are more important events at hand, and he's already been down the path of curiosity before. It tended not to end well for him.

"Maybe someday there'll be a chance to go there properly," he says, drinking from his own cup that he had poured out earlier.

[circleprodigy]

"I hope so. Perhaps there will be reason for the Inquisition to send us there in due time." They have a few Nevarrans among their numbers, don't they? Those ties might send them forth again. "At any rate, it's a welcome break from Halamshiral."

Her lips form a thin line upon remembering the tension and the pressures that came with dwelling in the Orlesian Empire in general and a former center of rebellion. While she'll return there as need be, Inessa will probably never call it a pleasant experience.

[amygdalae]

Its not hard for Bruce to share similar sentiments on those words. He quirks a wry smile as he remembers his own time in Orlais - going there always reminded him why he wasn't very fond of that place.

"A lot simpler, too," he gives his verbal agreement. "I think we've all had enough of fancy Orlesian politics for a while."

[circleprodigy]

"Indeed." Inessa takes a calming sip, and some of that inner irritation seeps away. Some. It'll be there until the mages are safely away from town, but that's for tomorrow. "Resolving this issue and returning with the mages to Skyhold will take some time. Who knows what might be resolved in Orlais, by that point?" She crosses her fingers, a small smirk emerging.

[amygdalae]

Bruce snorts despite himself, especially at the last part, though he doesn't quite smile like her.

"I guess we'll know when we return." That's all that he can really let himself say. Anything else is probably stuff that other people don't need to hear for the most part.