Player Plot: I will call you home

[arlathvhen]

WHO: Beleth, Cyril, Merrick, and Ellana Ashara, Thranduil, Sina Dahlasanor, Metaari, Sam Gareth, Kallian Endris, Alistair and Ruby i think??? whoever wants to go
WHAT: Keeping Up With The Asharas, the reality tv show
WHEN: Backdatedish, around mid-kingsway
WHERE: The Heartlands of Orlais
NOTES: OOC post

Tel'enfenim, da'len Irassal ma ghilas Ma garas mir renan Ara ma'athlan vhenas Ara ma'athlan vhenas	Never fear, little one, Wherever you shall go. Follow my voice-- I will call you home. I will call you home.

Clan Ashara currently resides in a small valley nestled into the mountains, that seems idyllic for a Dalish clan. A stream runs through the valley, descending into a waterfall with the steep cliffs on one side, and sheer mountain walls going straight up on two other sides. The only way in and out is through a gap big enough to lead several aravels through. It's a defensible position, safe from any threats. Except the fade rift that has opened up just a little ways from the gap. The hunters can handle the demons spewing from it well enough, and there are always a couple stationed there to pick off whatever appears. But it's too dangerous to lead the aravels and noncombatants through, and thus, they are forced to wait. To compound the issue, there's a village close to where they're currently staying, and while both sides have kept to themselves, neither are pleased with the current situation. They've helped get a message to the Inquisition in hopes that someone will come take care of the problem, and now both are tensely waiting for something to happen to change the situation, for better or worse. And so the members of Clan Ashara, with their friends in tow, return back to their clan.

Comments

Clan Ashara

[arlathvhen]

Clan Ashara is on the larger size for a Dalish clan, numbering over a hundred elves. Unsurprisingly, there are a wide variety of temperaments and opinions to be found, particularly regarding their new visitors, who have been allowed to explore the camp. As the Inquisition pokes around, they can meet the various elves and get an idea of how they feel about the current situation. Or, you can just keep to yourself and refuse to talk to anyone, if you want. You might get bothered anyway, though.

Keeper Deheune

[arlathvhen]

Deheune is a middle-aged Dalish elf, the Keeper of the Ashara Clan, and held in regard among the Dalish clans as one of exceptional competence. She may not always be the most friendly person, but she leads the large, tumultuous Ashara Clan with a skill few others could manage. Despite her stringent expectations on the members of her clan, Deheune is fairly progressive for a Dalish, more open than many Keepers to interacting and trading with outsiders.

Sure enough, she's politely amicable to any of the visitors to her clan, and if asked, will step aside with anyone who wants a private conversation with her.

after the rift is closed

[serannas]

Once the clan is safe and everyone gathered together once more, Ellana approaches Deheune when she has a free moment.

"Keeper, may we speak?" She's been so nervous imagining how this conversation would go, and yet now that she's reached this moment, an odd sense of calm washes over her. She thinks of everything and everyone back at Skyhold and knows she has support there. Nothing said here and now can hurt her.

[samahl]

For the most part, Cyril gives the Keeper space. He's closer to the other hunters and the Crafter than any other of the Clan elders, but there is a certain level of respect required and expected to the Keeper. More so, given his role as liaison he wants to make sure all communication between the Inquisition and the Clan is open and clear.

"Ma serannas for hosting so many of us, Keeper. We'll get rid of this Rift and clear out of your hair quickly, but please let us know if you need anything else from our presence here." He knows the people they selected to bring will respect the Clan but he still wants to be clear that if there are issues, they will take care of them.

gently leaps on

[rowancrowned]

It's certainly been wonderful to see such a large gathering of elves. They seem much more well-fed and happy than their counterparts in the cities, more confident. Thranduil is well aware he stands out among them, having kept to himself once they arrived, content just to simply watch-- especially the elflings, who fill him with hope.

Eventually, he must stand and find the keeper, whom the whole camp seems to swirl around, aware of her presence and her central nature.

"I understand you are the Keeper for Clan Ashara." He inclines his head in polite greeting, mindful to treat her as an equal, as kin. "Might I beg a few moments of your time?"

[kallian_endris]

At one point the shy young city elf approaches the Keeper.

"...I just wanted to thank you again for your clan's hospitality, Hahren. The opportunity to be here is a rare and valuable privilege, and I'm just sorry not all of your clan members could join us. If there is anything I can offer to repay your generosity in hosting us, please say so."

[eolasemah]

After their initial conversation, it's fairly easy for Sina to approach Deheune. She's far more reticent against the inhabitants of Skyhold than she is with a fellow Dalish, especially since she's likely met her before. Even if she was just a child at the time.
"Keeper," she greets with a respectful nod, "again I offer thanks for the protection of my clan." She pauses, faltering slightly at what she's about to say, but pushes through it: "I... will not be assisting with the rift, as you've... probably guessed." Unable to help herself, she glances down self-consciously. "But if there's any other way I can assist Clan Ashara while we're here, it would be my honor."

Atisha and Sulahni

[serannas]

Atisha is in her late twenties, with shrewd golden eyes and a near permanent frown on her face. She can often be seen standing in the background, arms crossed and a bow at her back. Eventually she moves closer to examine the newcomers, her expression very judgy. But if anyone comes to talk to her and tells her their name, chances are she says, "Right. Ellana's mentioned you." This is Ellana's best friend, though the two women seem as different as night and day.

Sulahni is a woman nearing fifty with white blond hair and fine lines around her mouth and across her forehead. She stays close to the halla enclosure, which is fitting because she is the clan's halla keeper. She can be seen tending to them, but at times she wanders away towards where the Inquisition is keeping their mounts. She might make a comment about "good breeding" or "healthy flanks" and it takes her awhile to get talking about any topic besides animals. If a non-elf comes too close to the halla enclosure, she quickly steps forward.

"Andaran atish'an. Ir abelas, but you may come no closer."

[eolasemah]

Sina has to visit the halla. Them's the rules. She doesn't have Ghilan'nain on her face for nothing.
"They're beautiful," she remarks as she approaches, "your care for them is clear."

[nadasharillen]

When Sulahni returns from one such inspection of the Inquisition's mounts, she'll find Nahariel leaning against the enclosure fence, content to watch them graze, the hunter chewing the end of a reedy stem herself.

She turns her head at the sound of the halla keeper's return, and smiles.

"Savhalla, halla'amelan."

Keeper's First Sorrelean

[writteninblood]

Sorrelean is a relatively young elf, with no reputation greater than that he is the Keeper's only son, and one of a pair of twins that includes the Inquisition's own Beleth Ashara. He's friendly enough, but has a tendency towards sarcasm that sometimes gives him an irresponsible impression. Although he follows the progressive politics of his Keeper and clan, Sorrel makes no secret of his very Dalish isolationist bent.

Despite his outspokenness and quick-barbed tongue, he has good intentions, and is quite kind, at heart. If you have time to distract him from the family reunion, he's perfectly willing to step aside and have a chat.

[serannas]

Ellana wriggles her fingers in a wave at Sorrel. They grew up together, were taught magic together, but at one point Ellana's training ended and she was set loose to be the hearthkeeper while Pel and Sorrel were taught how to be Keepers. It's always stung a little, and Ellana can admit to a bit of jealousy too. In recent years she hasn't had much reason to hang out with Sorrel at all, but since she's here, she may as well reach out.

"Those robes suit you."

[samahl]

Cyril finds Sorrel and then comes up behind him. "Aneth ara, Sorrel," he says, pleased as he takes in the sight of the Keeper's son. "You look well."

[arlathvhen]

Beleth has spent almost the entire time since she's returned at Sorrel's side. Even when she isn't talking to him, she seems to be content to just be near him, in his general area, even as they take care of different business or talk to other people.

She does, however, spend a lot of time talking to him.

"...I don't know if I'll really make it, as a bard, but--I want to try, you know? No Dalish has ever done it before. We need representation, we need to have some control, within the nobility. The politics." She gestures vaguely, lips pressed together. "The Game is...ridiculous. But if I play it, and I play it right, then--It's more power than we've had before."

[el_tybs]

Sam doesn't venture far from where they're being allowed to camp, but it doesn't stop him from going around and looking at some things - respectfully of course and keeping distance for most of it, especially on his own. When he comes upon the robed elf that had greeted them first though, he slowly makes his way over.

"Ah... Sorellean, right?" Beleth had introduced him as Sorrel, but that was probably too formal. "Or am I supposed to call you First Sorellean? Sorellean the First?" The mage inwardly sighs - smooth, he should've asked the others on etiquette more on the way here.

hey I just met you, and this is crazy

[eolasemah]

It's well into the second day when Sina finally has the spine to formally introduce herself to Sorrel, whom she's certain can't be so bad if Beleth is so close to him, but is also a singularly unique new manner of threat to her way of life. But up she goes regardless, and clears her throat awkwardly before lifting a hand in greeting, her mannerism significantly less adult than it tends to be.
"Hello," she says first, in that strained way that she's learned to greet people in the Inquisition, because she's meeting someone new, after all-- but only moments after realizes he's one of the only people for whom 'aneth ara' would actually be appropriate, and immediately second-guesses herself. A provincial shem-loving fool from a remote and friendless clan, here she is making an excellent first impression.

Hunter Kali

[believeinthisone]

Kali is one of the youngest hunters of the clan. She was an infant when the plague took her parents and so was raised almost entirely by the clan as a whole. As the youngest of the plague orphans, she tended to be babied a bit, and grew up in Merrick and Cyril's shadows especially.

Since they left, she's come more into her own as a Hunter. She's one of the Clan who stays by the Rift to fight the demons, but she comes back into the camp to sleep and catch up with her brothers and friends. She can be found either of those two places.

[kallian_endris]

Kallian spots the young hunter among the throng of Dalish, and starts to walk over, but slows down the closer she gets. Sure, Cyril said they should meet, but... Kallian honestly doesn't know what to say to her. It doesn't seem to her like they would have much in common. But eventually, she makes it over.

"Ah... it's Kali, isn't it? Cyril's told me about you..."

thranduil being delighted at all these elves, come bother him

[rowancrowned]

He's made the token introductions, gone to see the halla, spoken with the keeper, and now he's perched on a rock near the edge of the camp proper, in sight of all the activity. In truth, he would be content simply watching- watching the elflings play, the cooks prepare dinner, the older children receive lessons. This is how it ought to be-- oh, he knows there's a rift spewing demons not an hours' walk away, and that half the world is embroiled in war, and also the whole matter of Corypheus, but-

This is pleasant. This is how things should be. Elves with elves, all of them well-fed and happy. He need not be a part- he only wishes to watch, and to hold this memory close, for when the fighting becomes thick.

bothers u

[arlathvhen]

At some point, Beleth approaches Thranduil with someone whom Thranduil had seen before--kind of. But this time, it was safe to assume, this was the real Sorrelean that Beleth was dragging over to him, not a demon. Probably.

Once she reaches him, she shoves Sorrelean in his general direction, like a cat proudly presenting a mouse, slightly chewed on.

"Ser Thranduil," Since she wasn't allowed to use Lord. Rude. "This is my twin, Sorrel! I've--told you about him, right?" There's a moment where worry crosses her expression, as she recalls the first time she tried introducing Sorrel to Thranduil. A time that she had never actually told the real Sorrel. She quickly moves on, however, giving Sorrel a little shake.

"This is Thranduil! He's an elf from Middle Earth. I'll tell you about it later, but it's really amazing."

awkward giant in your midst

[metaari]

Well, this has been extraordinarily awkward. Not that Metaari thought it wouldn't have been, he was fully prepared for it, but the reality is way different from anything his imagination could have conjured up for him. It got even worse when, somewhere along the way, he'd gotten separated from Merrick. Not that he isn't sure Merrick can't find him if he needs to--he kind of stands out--but it's significantly harder for Metaari to find him.

And so, just to make sure he doesn't say or do something to make everyone trust him even less than they probably already do, Metaari has found himself a very nice stump just on the outer edge of the camp to sit on and he's just going to be there in case anyone needs him.

To occupy himself, he'll at least tend to his bow for a bit. It usually helps him take his mind off of things.

Beleth

[arlathvhen]

If Beleth has any of the nerves that she felt on the way here, it doesn't show. She's an entirely different creature from the anxious mess that she had been, a social butterfly that flits around to different people within the clan. She's generally well received by most of them, and it's clear that this was the place that Beleth honed her skills at befriending people.

A great deal of her time is spent around her brother, and very little of it around her mother. In fact, if you didn't know better, you might begin to suspect that she's avoiding her.

Cyril

[samahl]

Cyril still has mixed feelings about being home but it's easier to pretend he's perfectly fine when he's with people he's been pretending around his entire life. Settling into the culture here is surprisingly easy.

Before the Rift is sealed, he spends his time coordinating when needed and making sure everyone is settled.

After it is closed and they are getting ready to leave, he goes through the motions of saying good bye and letting everyone know that he'll miss them.

When he's alone between that he spends his time trying to decompress and deal with all of the conflicting thoughts clouding his head.

Clan Ashara's Black Halla

[dalishious]

The discomfort surrounding Merrick the minute he enters the camp is palpable. The other elves skirt around him, acknowledging him with an awkward nod or wave if they acknowledge him at all. While it's nothing he isn't used to--people give him a wide berth at Skyhold too--this is a different kind of rejection, a stark reminder of what he'd dealt with all through his childhood and adolescence since it happened.

He's been spending most of his time with Metaari, who is at the very least as uncomfortable as he is, but there are moments when he needs to back away and find a quiet spot to breathe. His anxiety is bone-deep, his mind buzzing, and he just wants to leave. He just keeps reminding himself he's here for Beleth, and that he just needs to collect his thoughts before he returns to everyone.

He perches on the bank of a nearby stream, watching the water move, occasionally running his fingers through its cool surface and obscuring his already rippled reflection. 'Just breathe, Merrick. In and out.'

Kallian - Come Bother the Cityborn

[kallian_endris]

Kallian's feelings being among the clan are mixed, truth be told. On one hand, she's been preparing for this for so long, and it's amazing getting immersed in her father's culture like this. But, at the same time... she knows she doesn't quite fit in here, being only half Dalish. She can feel the way some of the clan members stare at her. Some are curious, a few hostile, and some look at her with that sort of haughty pity reserved especially for city elves.

So, Kallian mostly stays at the edges of the camp, watching the Dalish with a sort of hungry longing. Of course, she'll offer a song or a story to any who approach her...