faderift | A bottle of white, a bottle of red

WHO: Open to anyone that wants wine and warmth and a little company.
WHAT: Wine and no whining.
WHEN: After the mage meeting wraps up.
WHERE: Close to the healing tents, specifically the Orlesian section.
NOTES: There will be wine, drinking, unwinding, and nibbles.

The meeting had been stressful for just about everyone involved. Tempers had flared, opinions made known, a few rounds of confetti and arguing before some manner of accord. Whether it would last or however long it might? No one could truly say. In the interest of being quite done with the stress and headaches such debate brought on the Orlesian healing tents clearing out the potions, bandages, and poultices in favor of what cushions and braziers they had on hand for light and for heat. The space was open, warm, and inviting with an odd assortment of tin mugs or clay glasses set around flat side tables propped up with stones to keep them from wobbling and tipping the whole mass onto the ground. There are some dried fruits and hard cheeses, dried meat and hard crusted bread- whatever scraps they could scavenge or spare and a few bottles of wine or brandy. Across the entrance to the tents there was a sign:

Bring a bottle or food to share for entry.

Tacked below was a list of rules:

Everyone is welcome, don't make a fuss
Don't hog the wine
Don't hog the food
Don't fight or argue
If you finish a bottle open a new one, don't recork it for someone else to find
Clean up after yourselves

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Christine snickers behind her hand. "I wonder whose smallclothes it will be." Her gaze wanders to find some likely candidates, then she gives a subtle nod of her head. "Oh, that one, definitely. His back teeth are floating by now."

The person in question is singing along -- badly -- to the hired bard. She winces.

"Maker, he should spare our poor ears. Anyway, you are quite well traveled. Was that because of family or career?"

That terrible singing earns a snicker, then a thoughtful look. "I could introduce him to qunari-brew? That'd knock him out fast. Though he'd really hate himself in the morning, afterward."

Right, anyway. "It was both. My parents are mercenaries, too. After they left the Qun, there weren't many other opportunities for them out there. It's a common thing, among Tal-Vashoth. Too many see them as 'savage' and therefore not fit for most occupations. If I'd wanted something else I might have striven for it, but I didn't. It's what I know, and I'm good at it and I get to see the world. Not a bad life, all things considered."

Mercenaries are something Christine only knows of from gossip and books, but she supposes that's a common thing and not simply a lack of knowledge from being brought up in the Circle. How many average people run into mercenaries on a daily basis?

"I confess, I never considered what role a mage might play in a mercenary group. They seem to be filled with the stealthy and the strong. Or at least that is what books would have me believe."

That makes her chuckle, as she grows increasingly mellow from alcohol. Such a wonderful solution to the headache that was building during that meeting. Or rather, the meeting that almost became a brawl.

"I'm not at all stealthy, but my magic is well-suited to the battlefield. There's always a need for barriers or bolts of lightning or freezing someone in place. Most targets react to that just as well as they do to any sword or dagger. My leader wanted variety, so that we'd be able to face whatever came at us. I'm no healer, though, that role went to someone else."

"I am the opposite way: a healer, but a poor fighter. Still, here is a place where I can learn the latter, if I need it. I would rather not inflict harm, but I know that sometimes there is no other way." It would be slow going, but she wants to have all her bases covered. She knows the spells, it's just facing off against enemies that she has little experience with.

"Do you know any specialized spells?"

Korrin doesn't seem to scorn the lack of battle magic on Christine's part. If anything, mention of her as a healer earns her a nod of respect. Anyone who can keep people from dying is worthy of that, and a good person to know.

"No, I don't. Not yet, anyway. I'm interested learning more, though, and I've thought that perhaps being here in Skyhold where so many mages gather would give me that chance. As long as I'm not required to sacrifice any freedom to do it, of course. What about you, are you one of those Spirit Healers then?"

"Not yet for me either, but I am hoping to learn. It would help more patients with greater efficiency than I have now." And one couldn't ask for a better mentor than Adelaide. "I feel the Inquisition can accomplish great things. It's just we all have to find common ground first."

She nods thoughtfully to that, taking another sip. "That's the hard part, finding that common ground. But what we did is a start. I'll take it, and hope that something good can come from it. Truth be told, I was always a little interested in those Knight-Enchanters. The way they're able to fight up close as though they're warriors is...well, it's impressive to see in action."

"It is a rather powerful image, isn't it? A mage rushing into the front of a battle, swinging their arm and connecting with the enemy. I admire any who put themselves into that position. It would not do for me, I'm afraid." She simply doesn't have the combat training to be comfortable with blades flying at her face.

Neither does Korrin, yet, nor is she sure that's her path. So she nods, understanding. "It's definitely not for everyone. I'm so used to keeping a distance that I'm not convinced I'd be great at it anyway. But I'll see you out there anyway, I suppose? Maybe not in direct battle, but those Inquisition camps always seem to need healers."

"I think so, yes. Wherever I am needed, I will go." A healer doesn't worry about the conditions around them, only their patients.

A bottle of white, a bottle of red

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