C'est la vie

[aceso]

WHO: Christine + OPEN
WHAT: A catch up post.
WHEN: Kingsway 8th to the start of Harvestmere
WHERE: Skyhold + off somewhere with Korrin
NOTES: Mention of the death of a loved one possible?

Part of her wishes she could have stayed with her mother, but now that Maman was living with Uncle Pierre, Christine knew she was safe (and that her uncle wouldn't want a mage in his house). Besides, she has her duties to the Inquisition as a healer and a researcher of red lyrium. When she returns, she plans to throw herself back into her work, but the new addition to her life has other plans.

{ adventures in dog-sitting }
The dog is her mother's. She repeats this to anyone who asks after the lively little fellow, lest they think she actually chose to adopt him of her own volition. Oh, no. This duty was put on her by a woman blubbering into her handkerchief, asking what was to become of her precious Poncelet because her brother wouldn't allow her to bring him. Uncle Pierre is a real ass. But Christine takes this very seriously despite her dislike of ill-behaved canines. She watches little Ponce like a hawk, and it takes awhile for her to warm to the idea of anyone else looking after him. But she does give in because she needs to work without a yapping dog at her heels. One day finds her marching after the prancing dog holding a broken leash in one hand.

"Ponce, sit. Sit." But every time she approaches to try and catch him, the dog scrambles further back, thinking it's a game. The poor thing has spent its life with a sickly woman who never played more than tug-of-war with him. It's time to have some fun.


{ at the healing tents }
It's business as usual for this healer. Christine spents her day attending to patients, both bedridden and walk ins. When not doing that, she can be found in a tent with an opened flap, mixing up potions or poultices. It's quiet, repetitive work that leaves far too much time for thinking. Thinking about her father and the opportunity she missed to ever know him. She has gotten most of her tears out, but at times she stares off into space, tears collecting in the corners of her eyes. Sometimes Ponce can be seen sleeping on a pillow in the corner, his leash looped under a chair leg so he doesn't run away. Whenever someone enters, however, he wakes up and starts barking at the stranger.


{ creating a spirit blade }
Once she returns from visiting her mother, Christine throws herself into as much as possible, and one of those things is becoming a Knight-Enchanter. She's watched Korrin wield her blade and has seen how long her barrier can sustain itself. It's something she wants to pursue, so she makes contact with Commander Helaine and is impressed with her forward manner. She's instructed on the book to read and given two kinds of items she must collect to form her spirit blade. The reading comes first, naturally. And once she's understood everything written, she and Korrin head out to gather the supplies. First is the Exalted Plains for lazurite. No one can blame her for putting off a return to the Fallow Mire for wisp essence.


{ learning to ride a horse }
Another skill Christine wants to have is learning to ride on her own. She knows it's terribly inconvenient to always be asking others on missions to let her ride with them. Her first lesson is with one of Master Dennet's apprentices and she's grateful he starts her out on a very tame mare. She does her best to follow instructions, but can't help being stiff on the horse's back for fear of falling off. If others approach, her voice is high and breathy as if she may be in danger of passing out or at the very least shrieking at any unexpected movement.

Once the lesson is over and her feet are on solid ground again, she's more amenable to chatting and explaining why she wishes to learn.

Comments

[gatheringstorm]

Noting where Christine's gaze has gone to yet again, Korrin expression is sympathetic. She can't take that pain away, only give her the opportunity to vent and/or work it out through combat. As it is, the recent events have had her sending more letters to her own parents.

"Maybe? But if there's one thing I've learned, it's to not underestimate the variety of demons that want to dogpile you in a place like this. Besides, the Veil isn't only thin in the mire. I'd think that plenty of spots in this area would qualify."

[aceso]

"Indeed they would." She releases a sigh, knowing that places where many have died tended to attract spirits and weaken the Veil. The Exalted Plains is a prime location.

"The crafting of a spirit blade is fascinating reading. To be able to construct it like this will make it feel like an extension of myself. Is that how it feels for you?"

[gatheringstorm]

Peering around as they talk, since this isn't a place to let one's guard down, Korrin smiles. "Yeah, pretty much. When you're involved with the crafting from start to finish, it's a lot more personal. My hilt was made to invoke the Valo-Kas, since they all have dragon-shaped weapons. It means more to me than if I'd just found it somewhere. Sam helped, you know. I think I convinced him to at least consider the path when he's up to studying more."

[aceso]

"That's wonderful," she says with a smile, but at the same time, she has no idea what motif she'd want hers to have. Does that make her rather bland? She wants no Circle image, and after her recent woes, she wants nothing to represent Orlais or the House of Valmont, who sends good men and women to die in the place of cousins bickering.

"Perhaps mine could have the eye of the Inquisition? Though that by its very nature invokes the Seekers as well. Hmm, perhaps not." She shakes her head. It will require more thought. "Sam? How many specializations can one man have under his belt?"

[gatheringstorm]

That gets her to chuckle. "I know, right? He's going to make the rest of us look like slackers. But he seems to be having fun exploring new forms, so maybe that will hold off for a while longer."

She tilts her head, thoughtful. "Maybe a hilt to match your staff? A spirit blade with an ice-like hilt could be an awesome sight."

[aceso]

"That does sound like a good idea." Though she has no idea how Hakkon's Wisdom was crafted and how you make metal look like ice. Maybe Sam knows.

"Or it could have snowflakes etched into the hilt. That would also look nice."

[gatheringstorm]

"That, too. It doesn't have to be the most outlandish thing ever, just something that's special to you. You're the one who will spend your time wielding it, after all." Korrin couldn't imagine not taking the time to put her own personal stamp on it, for all that she loves her wield dwarven-style staff. The spirit blade is on a different, more personal level.

"...I see glinting up ahead. Maybe that's our lazurite?"

[aceso]

Special to her. She does enjoy birds in flight because for so long she felt like one trapped in a cage. Maybe there could be birds on it.

But her thoughts on designs are halted as Korrin brings her back to the here and now. Shielding her eyes, she too catches the sun bouncing off something shiny.

"I hope so. If it is any other metal I will be quite put out, you know." But it's said jokingly enough and they can make their way over easily enough. It's not suspended off some high rock they would have to try and climb.

[gatheringstorm]

"Too bad it doesn't call for iron, huh? That's all over the damn place. But the recipe was pretty damn firm, so it's best not to deviate." Besides, lazurite is rather pretty even if she personally would have gone with something else. As they approach, Korrin takes a careful look around. "Some canines to the left, but they're pretty far off. I bet we can get what we need before they get this close, if they even do so."

[aceso]

"That applies to all things, does it not? Recipes, spells, crafting. You do not deviate unless you want to ruin what you are doing." As they get closer, Christine can see that the shiny metal does have a purple sheen, which means it is what they're looking for. Good, because she really wants to get what she needs and head back. Being here on these desolate, war-ravaged plains just brings up all sorts of upsetting thoughts.

"I heard a rumor once of an amulet that when worn, keeps wolves docile around you. I wonder how it works, if such a thing truly exists."

[gatheringstorm]

"Really?" Korrin raises an eyebrow, curious. "That could come in handy, especially when you're just trying to get back to camp and don't have the energy to fight a damn wolf pack on your own. That's how I first came into my magic, blasted the shit out of a wolf pack that found me. But avoiding a repeat scenario would be just as well."

Unless they're driven mad by a rift, she'd be just fine leaving them alone. Korrin has all the furs she could ever want now, thanks to Asher. Inspecting the lazurite for a moment, Korrin nods, satisfied. "We'll still need more, but this will do for a start. A few more stops and we might have enough."

[aceso]

"That is a far more tiring experience than what I first did." Her expression is surprised, though it soon fades down into a respectful look. Not all children could handle wolves, even with an outburst of magic.

"Ah, somehow I knew you would say that." Still, she works on knocking the pieces loose to collect them. "Do you happen to spy any in the distance?"

[gatheringstorm]

"Not at the moment, but...." Korrin pauses to unroll her map, tracing her finger along the area. "If this is accurate, there's one a relatively short distance from here. I can't tell if it's along the river or in it. Both sound like so much fun, don't you think?"

Rolling up the map, she moves to open the satchel for the loose pieces. Once there's enough, she'll carry it without further word. This isn't heavy at all to her, and she doesn't mind being a pack mule for a friend.

[aceso]

"Maker. As long as it it is not a raging river, I will tolerate it." The lazurite goes in the bag and by the time Christine pulls herself to her feet, Korrin has it in hand. She smiles her thanks and they continue on.

"You know, I am interested in Faith's opinion on the wisps we will collect. She would know them better than I, I should think."

[gatheringstorm]

"Hm, good point. Let me know? I'm a little curious about that, now that you've mentioned it. As for the river, I'll distract them and you collect what they drop. Since we have no shards and no one to close rifts, there's no point in fighting wave after wave. I'll just draw them to me and keep forcing them to catch up while you pick off the wisps." Hopefully there won't be terror demons to trip her up, but even if so, she'll still trust in her ability to be a big, annoying distraction.

[aceso]

Christine draws in a steadying breath and nods. "You will be fine with your replenishing barrier, yes?" She certainly doesn't want to put Korrin in danger just for Christine's own needs.

[gatheringstorm]

That question is met with an instant nod. "Perfectly. I wouldn't offer to play the decoy if I couldn't handle it, trust me. As long as I keep attacking every now and then, that barrier isn't going anywhere." Another glance to the map and she rolls it up, tucking it away. They'll see a flash of green soon enough, so she's not terribly worried about finding it.

[aceso]

"If someone had told me years ago that someday there would be multiple tears in the sky leading to the Fade, allowing demons to escape, I would think they had a very active imagination." Christine shakes her head and takes her staff in hand to prepare for the fight, just in case. She's not supposed to make herself a target here, but if by chance Korrin needs help, she wants to be ready to step in. Wisp gathering can wait if there's trouble.

"Ready?"

[gatheringstorm]

"Heh, you're not the only one. I'd thought I had seen at all...and then everything fucking explodes." Which reminds her, that grim anniversary ought to be acknowledged. Later, though. Readying her staff and blade hilt, she nods. "Ready. Go do your thing, I have this." Casting Barrier over them, she then blurs forward and casts Chain Lightning to get their attention. The weaker ones dissipate back into the rift, for now, but the hardier types, such as the terror demons, are in pursuit.

[aceso]

Christine stands by, watching and waiting for the wisps to follow and attack Korrin so she can bring them down. Hopefully they drop their essence early on, and they don't have to keep provoking them. The terror demons are concerning her, so she wants to leave as soon as they can.

[gatheringstorm]

It's not easy, holding back from destroying the waves of demons, but Korrin knows if she does, then another -likely more powerful- wave will emerge. With just the two of them, powerful though they are, she'd rather not take that chance. So even when she can't Fade Step again so quickly, Korrin will still back up and cast Static Cage on the terror demons before they can phase in and knock her over. That ought to hold them for a little while, so she turns her attention to the rage demons spewing a stream of fire at her. "That's right, focus on me! Piece of--"

[aceso]

With this many demons, Christine is growing worried that they'll overwhelm Korrin. Not because of any lack of faith in her friend, but because Christine is a born worrier. However, she then sees a green wisp wraith move away from the pack and Christine immediately focuses on bringing it down. She casts a barrier over herself because knowing her luck, the rage demons will lend their fire to the wisps and then they'll be trying to light her on fire. If she can just take down the wisps on her own, it's less work for Korrin.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin absolutely won't mind Christine taking initiative in that, as long as it doesn't interfere with her task. Trusting that the other mage will let her know when she has enough, the Vashoth continues her cat-and-mouse game, charging in to attack only to zoom away. She also keeps an eye on that static cage as much as possible, ready to conjure a lightning bolt as soon as it fades. This is kind of fun, in its own way, a challenge to balance defense and offense in a way she hasn't needed to before.

[aceso]

Trusting Korrin to call out for help if she needs it, Christine takes on the wisps, renewing her barrier as she does so. She can't wait until her barrier renews on its own instead of her having to recast it and work out which spells to use with her limited mana pool. But eventually she gets down three of them and hurries over to gather what they drop. In her head, she's saying Please, please, let there be enough, because if there's not, then they will have to defeat all these demons and let another wave fall through the rift.

At each place where a wisp was destroyed, she scoops up their essence into her bag until she's collected three. That should be enough.

"Got it all!" she calls out. "Let's go!"

[gatheringstorm]

Excellent. Having had her fun but glad to end this weird game, Korrin nods and gestures for Christine to lead the way. "You don't have to say that twice!" She blurs away from the nearest demon and over to the other mage, ready to flee them together. Shardbearers can come in and clean up the mess some other time.