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

[samahl]

"He... his interests lie in the same direction that mine do, if that's what you mean, but he hasn't had the luxury of being able to explore them as much as I have. He is the Keeper's son and now the First. His has a responsibility to the blood of our people..." He frowns a bit at the thought, but moves past it - not really in the mood to dwell.

"I think they will be pleased that Pel's carrying on the ways and teaching them to you, of course. Just... leave out anything personal." He means the pregnancy specifically, but he doesn't say it because he isn't sure who all Pel has told. It's not that she's ashamed or anything, of course, but just that it was personal and he intended to keep it that way.

"As far as Kali, she's sweet. She tries too hard to play the part of the rough and tumble hunter but in her heart she's just a kind girl trying to protect her Clan. She's good with blades, though, Merrick saw to that. She was an infant when the plague hit. It took both of her parents. That makes her the youngest of us orphans."

[kallian_endris]

"Mmm." She doesn't say anything about the exploring. "Honestly, that's a relief to me. One less thing to get potentially awkward."

Gently, she lays a hand on his arm.
"I'm not in the business of telling secrets. Healers have to be good at confidentiality. Don't worry."

Her grip on his arm tightens.
"I'm really sorry. I know it's rough growing up without your parents. It's just... not the same without them."

[samahl]

He uses his free hand to gently pat her hand, a soft, comforting gesture. "I've gotten used to it," he reassures her. "And anyway, I wasn't alone. The Clan raised me."

[kallian_endris]

"I had Nienna after my mother was taken, though she made it clear that we were in no way family. And, I suppose, in a way, an alienage is sort of like a clan... Even so, the elves living in Denerim's do have... opinions... on Dalish... and Orlesians... Lucky me, I'm both."

She shrugs.

[samahl]

"It's so strange how fractured we are. Half of the time when I'm talking to a city elf they expect me to judge them or chastise them."

[kallian_endris]

"Oh, well, come to Denerim sometime. You'll shock the shoes off the people there. Most of the people in the alienage consider the
Dalish nothing more than a children's story." She chuckles wryly.

[samahl]

"Like a story you tell your children to frighten them?" he asks. "I've heard we sharpen our teeth and kidnap children to cook them into stew."

[kallian_endris]

"More like a fairytale. Every year, there's usually a handful of young elves who decide they're going to leave the city and escape to find the Dalish. They nearly always come back after a few days, hungry and embarrassed. I suppose being here, that makes me among the few who've succeeded," she explains.

[samahl]

He seems a little surprised by that, and then amused. "I suppose it does," he admits after a moment. "And you have your own collection of Dalish brothers and sisters. That's a good thing, isn't it?"

[kallian_endris]

"It is. This is the first time in my life my family has consisted of more than two people. And for twelve years, I didn't have any at all. It was pretty lonely, especially at first. I was without any parents, I didn't have many friends, my mentor tried to hide me away from the world as best as she could in order to protect me, and I had brand-new powers I didn't understand. There were many times I was tempted to run away in search of my father."

[samahl]

"A mage running, though, can be more than a little dangerous," Cyril points out carefully. "It's probably best you stayed. We could try to find out who your father is though, if we get in touch with some Clans who were in the area at the time." That is much easier said that done, though. They'd have to wait for an arlathvhen for one.

[kallian_endris]

"I know. Believe me, I appreciate the risks of being a mage on the run. And so far, I've only run once, to escape from the city. And... there's no going back to that now. Living in an alienage just... isn't an option anymore, and shems get awfully testy about elves trying to live independently outside of them."

She sighs, running fingers through her hair.
"...do you really think there's a chance of finding him?"

[samahl]

"It really depends if we can narrow down his Clan. Then, we'd have to wait for an Arlathvhen..." He frowns a bit. "So, not as easy as said, but we can still try."

[kallian_endris]

There is a clear flash of disappointment across her face, obvious in the lowering of her lashes, the tightening of her jaw, but it soon softens into resignation.

"I wish I had a way to do so. I doubt my mother remembers, or I would ask her."

[samahl]

Cyril nods at that and then after a moment he comes closer to her and touches her back lightly.

"It means something, that you even have that option now. To speak with her and ask her."