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

[arlathvhen]

Deheune patiently watches Kallian approach, a polite smile on her face as she speaks. "Thank you for your kind words, child. It's my pleasure to be able to host the Inquisition, especially when there are so many people originating from my clan working within it. I do wish more of them had come, but..." She tilts her head slightly, the smile still as firm as ever. "I am sure there are good reasons for it."

Then she straightens, hands clasped together. "I appreciate your offer, but the only thing I require is to keep my clan safe from harm. And you are already planning on helping with that. There is nothing else I could ask from you."

[kallian_endris]

"I would never want to harm anyone in your clan, Hahren. Whatever power is afforded to me, I will use it in their defense. I've become friends with so many of them... Especially Cyril and Ellana and Pel... They're like the siblings I never had. Pel has been so kind to me... Every week, we meet and she teaches me about the People. And Ellana and I sing songs together. And Cyril... He's been so warm and caring... I just adore him."

She smiles softly.
"I hope they make you proud. They're all wonderful."

[arlathvhen]

Deheune doesn't say anything for a few beats, looking at Kallian with no expression on her face. Then she gives her a gentle smile. "I see that Pel has taught you much, and I am glad to see that her training as a Keeper is not going unused. If you see her after this, please send her my regards, and tell her that her absence was keenly felt. However..." She tilts her head, glancing off to the side, appearing hesitant. After another small pause, she continues on.

"...I understand that city elves use hahren as a term for the leader of their alienages. And I thank you for using the term, understanding what you intended. The Dalish, however, have a different use for the word, one that I do not fit." Her correction is said in a gentle tone, that calm smile never budging an inch. "For us, you see, the hahren are a group of respected elders, wise and great with the knowledge that comes from a long life. They often serve as a...council, I think is the term. They advise the Keeper, and in some ways, help lead the clan as much as I do."

She turns away from Kallian, looking out over the clan. "I know that I am no spring chicken, but I have not quite reached the age of the hahren." At this, she gives a little chuckle. "But don't fret, child. I do not hold you accountable for such a simple mistake." It's almost as an afterthought that she glances back at Kallian and adds, "But I am glad to hear such warm praise for those who originated from my clan. They have truly come a long way from what they once were."

[kallian_endris]

"Oh..." Deheune's words might be gentle, but Kallian still flinches like a scolded child at the correction.

"I think Shianni, one of the elders of Denerim's alienage, isn't all that old... But I suppose things are done differently in the cities..." She falls into a thoughtful, if awkward, silence.

"...your hahren... they are storytellers, too, aren't they? My mother is a bard, and I was raised on stories... Including a few my father taught her while she traveled with his clan. And some I have learned from the Asharas who came to Skyhold. I will certainly give your well-wishes to those who could not journey with us."

[arlathvhen]

"As I said," Deheune's smile is still gentle and warm, "It is simply a matter of different cultures. I am sure that the more you learn of ours, the more you will be able to pick out the differences between it and yours. Some of them can be rather subtle--even I do not know everything there is to know about your people."

At the mention of storytellers, she nods, and points to one of the aravels across the clearing. "One of our hahren, Anan, rests in that aravel. His body is rather weak, so he stays within, but his mind and spirit are still as strong as ever. If you desire, you can visit him. I'm sure he'd love to have a new listener to hear his stories."

[kallian_endris]

"It would be my great privilege to listen to them," she says, a new eagerness in her eyes. "I am sure he has more than I could hear in the time allotted to us among the clan."

There's a pause, heavy with caution.

"If you would like, I would be happy to share what I can of city culture. And it is my wish to continue to learn more of the Dalish side of my heritage. I... It was suggested... well, Pel thought that perhaps spending an extended time among the Clan would be of benefit to me. A... trial period, of sorts, to see if it would suit me on a permanent basis. Perhaps not right away, as I have duties I must attend to with the Inquisition, and I know I am no replacement for those who have chosen to seek new paths outside of the Dalish, and that it can be a delicate task balancing the numbers of those who are... gifted, as I am, but if you would consider it for the future, perhaps... I would be grateful for the opportunity."

[arlathvhen]

Deheune listens to Kallian's proposition silently, expression politely interested. She tilts her head as the other elf finishes, and glances to the side, letting silence settle as she mulls over the idea. It's hard to tell what she's thinking exactly, but after some time, she straightens, and begins to speak, smoothing out her robes as she does so.

"I would be happy to listen, but I am afraid that there is only so much time I can dedicate to my own curiosity, and I imagine that I would have to stop you for questions more than once. I would suggest bringing the tales to Anan when you go to listen to him. I think he would enjoy getting to exchange stories. And more importantly, he would be better suited to spreading those stories to the others in the clan, so that all can learn of what knowledge you would share. As for an extended stay--"

She gives one final tug to her robe, and clasps her hands behind her back, turning to Kalli. "--It is true that we have taken city elves who sought to return to their roots. And having another mage..." She is clearly contemplating that, having only recently gone down from three other mages to just her son. "I can not give you a definitive answer right now. Not when no one knows how long this war will last, and where the world will stand afterwards. However, I will say this much--I am not opposed to the idea. After everything is said and done, and you can dedicate yourself fully to the clan, return to us, and you and I can discuss possibilities."