faderift | THE FALLOW MIRE

THE FALLOW MIRE

WHO: Open to all
WHAT: The Inquisition sends forces to the Fallow Mire to deal with undead, plague, and missing scouts.
WHEN: Firstfall
WHERE: The Fallow Mire: Inquisition camps, Fisher's End, The Tavern, etc.
NOTES: For more information about the setting and RP opportunities in it, check out the OOC Post.

The trip down the mountains from Skyhold is no walk in the park, and south of the Hinterlands the land turns wet and miserable, subject to seemingly endless storms. Villagers have tried to carve out a meagre existence in the Fallow Mire, but their lives are under constant threat by a tidal wave of undead rising from the murky waters flooding much of the region.

The Inquisition has sent a sizeable force, and travel back and forth between the Mire and Skyhold happens as often and as quickly as conditions allow. The camp is a neat patch of tents on the largest bit of dry land to be found. "Dry" is relative; everything's still pretty muddy. There are several clusters of tents, tucked between rock outcroppings and abandoned buildings, the least leaky of which are being used to store what supplies the Inquisition has managed to haul in over the difficult terrain. Campfires are numerous and fill the area with a constant smouldering glow and low-hanging cloud of smoke that mingles with the morning and evening fogs. It's lovely, really.

Fisher's End barely even counts as a village-- just a haphazard handful of ramshackle buildings perched on the edge of the swamp-- but it does have a single tavern. It's a dreary-looking wooden shack like every other structure in the area, distinguishable only by the lamp still lit above the door and the sign that swings creakily in the breeze. Whatever was painted on it has long since worn away and been molded over. The place is just known as "the tavern" because it is literally the only tavern for miles and miles around.

Inside is dim and smoky from peat-burning fires in the two grates. There are a half-dozen tables with benches, none of which ever seem quite level on the uneven floor. The bar is tended by Thorolf, a grizzled bearded fellow with a local accent so thick he's almost unintelligible. No matter the time of day he serves a simple fisherman's meal of hard bread, salted fish, and a hunk of strong cheese. His cellar is stocked with exactly three varieties of alcohol: one ale, one wine, and one spirit, all of which are strong and dark. There aren't many locals left, but there are usually a few hunched over a mug or huddled around the fire.

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He's fairly soaked, and smelling exactly like one would after wading through a bog and fighting rotting corpses, but all in all, he's managed to come out of things more or less unscathed. Like her, he's well aware that they were lucky and that things could have been much worse - but he still thinks they could've handled it.

However, he also realizes that a risking a second fight after all this is probably not a good idea. He's minded to go back to the camp as well, and he nods in agreement before his eyes flick over to the boulder with that summery-stone in it.

"Aye, maybe so. Shouldn't I get that one bit of metal before we go, though? If I stay out of the water it should be safe enough."

Ellana looks surprised by his question, but then laughs softly, reaching out to touch his arm.

"If you'd like. If anymore corpses appear despite your precautions, I'm sure you can take them down easily. You did very well fighting them, you know. I'm proud of you." He's earned this praise, because he stood his ground admirably and came out of things just fine, except for being wet.

Getting praise like this - no matter how well deserved - is a rare thing for Jamie. Usually any praise he gets is accompanied by a fair amount of teasing. While he doesn't mind that from his friends, this is much, much nicer. A small pleased smile flickers into being for a moment, and he winds up squaring his shoulders, his chest puffing out with pride at the same time. However, that only lasts a second or two, and when he actually replies, his words are rather more modest.

"Och, it was nothing."

He's fought plenty of things before, so it's really not a big deal. But he can't really say that he minds the compliments from Ellana, when it comes down to it, and as he moves over to the stone and pulls out his chisel, a hint of that smile from earlier returns - at least, when he thinks she's not looking. As he glances back over his shoulder to look at her, his expression smooths back out into something more normal.

"Besides, this shouldn't take long, and then we can head back. Just let me know if you hear anything unusual, all right?"

Ellana does enjoy teasing, but she knows when to stop and give credit where it's due. As someone who has often felt like she's had no real purpose, or nothing to contribute, she's highly sensitive to others who have done something worthy of attention.

"I will. I'll be lookout." So she lets him get on with that as she scouts the area -- without entering the water, of course -- and finds that everything has calmed down for now.

The fact that it's gone quiet again is a good sign, although it doesn't stop Jamie from tilting his head slightly as he works. The first sound of a splash or any sound of fighting, and he's more than prepared to drop what he's doing and go to help her instead.

But there's nothing - no sounds of undead, or combat, or even anything that he thinks sounds like magic. Just the quiet. It gives him the time he needs to get that last stone free, and the moment it's done he heads back to where Ellana's keeping watch, stone clutched in one hand and tools in the other.

"Right, that's sorted that, then. Want me to put this one with the others or should we just go? Maybe those corpses'll not come back but I'd not fancy finding out the hard way they have."

"You can put it with the rest and I'll carry it. I can drop it all at the first sign of trouble." She doesn't want to return empty-handed, especially after all the work they put into doing this and risking themselves as well. The Inquisition will get a fine load of metals from the pair of them.

"The work went so much faster with two of us, didn't it? I hope others have been pairing off for safety and to work faster too."

"Alright, if you're sure."

Privately, though, he thinks he might keep an eye out - not only for trouble, but to see if it looks like she's getting tired and needs a bit of a break. There might be some other way they can haul the stones if so, so they don't have to leave them behind. Some sort of stretcher, maybe. For now, though, he starts to head down the path with her, thinking that's something he can worry about later, if it comes up at all.

"Think you're right, though, although why anyone would want to do this sort of thing by themselves here is beyond me. If nothing else, having the company while you work is nice."

A hint of a smile plays about his lips for a moment, and then he adds, "Of course, that depends on the company. Think maybe some would be better than others."

The stones float off the ground behind Ellana as she walks, staff returned to her back. She feels more at ease now that things have calmed down, and she offers him a smile at his words.

"That's true. I try to give everyone a fair chance, but some I just can't see myself getting along with. You, however, are very easy to talk to. I've loved learning about Scotland."

"Aye, well, I could say the same with learning about the Dalish."

There's still a lot he didn't understand, but he's found he's actually enjoyed listening to what she's had to say. Maybe that was because of who's doing the explaining, though. He's never minded explanations when done by a pretty lassie, and Ellana certainly fit that description. Being told he's easy to talk to, though, is a surprise, simply because it's something that he hasn't really been told before. Despite his best efforts, some of that surprise shows through, although he's able to keep it a few seconds where his eyebrows temporarily disappear into his his bangs.

"You really think I'm easy to talk to, though?"

"Well, yes, of course. I ask questions, and you answer them. You tell me things on your own, and ask me questions too. That's how conversation works." She has to giggle a little at his surprise. "I think we keep each other entertained too, don't you think?"

"Oh, aye, I know that. If I had a shilling for every time someone's told me to shut up, though..."

Well, that won't do him all that much good here, will it? He opens his mouth, promptly shuts it again, then gives her a slightly sheepish look.

"I'd have a lot of money that'd not work at all here. The point is I can't say as I've ever been told I'm easy to talk to before. Especially when I lot of what I've done is talk about Scotland."

"Maybe you just haven't talked to anybody before who appreciates Scotland," she replies, though she has to admit, "They were probably more well traveled than I, and didn't need to hear about other places. But I want to learn about everywhere, especially the places I'll never get the chance to see."

There'd been more to it than his just talking about Scotland, but he appreciates the thought. Enough so, in fact, that he he winds up smiling warmly at her - and then, a few moments later, when she mentions everywhere, winds up grinning rather broadly.

"Oh, well, if you want to know about everywhere, I think I might be able to help about that. I've been to a lot of different places in my day - and that's just on Earth, mind. Think I could tell you about a fair few things and still not run out of stories about them for you."

"Then I shall be pestering you often to hear all about these places!" She giggles, even though she is quite serious on this point. The camp appears ahead, but Ellana veers towards the spot set aside for wagon loads of minerals since she's still energizing their pile of rocks behind her.

"Someday, I'll be well traveled enough to share my stories with others."

"Well, then, we're agreed. Might take me a while, though. Means you'll have to put up with me that much longer."

When Ellana veers off, he follows, even though he doesn't technically have to. Barring anything truly unusual she should be able to get the minerals in the wagon just fine, but it can't hurt to go along. Especially since it means they can still chat, at least for a few minutes more.

"Thinking of becoming an author like Varric, then? I'm still trying to figure out how to read those rune-things so I can see for myself, but from what everyone says he's quite good at telling stories."

"I wouldn't say there's a writing career in my future, but I'll enjoy sharing tales of my travels with my friends. I'll finally be able to give back after hearing all about exciting places from the rest of you."

Reaching the wagon, she lifts the rocks up with her arms miming the action. Once they settle, she releases her magic on them and that's that.

"There; a good day's work, I'd say."

"Well, I know I'll look forward to hearing them, in that case."

The smile he gives her lingers as he watches her lift the rocks up with her magic, and once they settle into place he nods once, satisfied.

"And aye, I'd say you're right. That should do for today. Anything in particular you thinking of doing since we're done, then? Or are you just planning on heading back to your tent and unwinding a bit?"

"Back to my tent," Ellana answers without hesitation. "It's been a long day." And fighting corpses would make anyone a bit exhausted.

"You're right about that one, too. Think I might head back to mine and see about getting some of this muck off. Not that there'll not be more later on, but I'd rather try and take care of as much of it as I can. Listen, though, if you need more help with gathering things, let me know, alright?" The corners of his mouth quirked up in to a grin. "And I promise to stay out of the water if we do."

"Thank you, Jamie. I would be happy to call on you again for help, and I much appreciate that you'll watch your footing next time." She caps that off with a teasing grin before heading back to her tent.

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THE FALLOW MIRE

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