faderift | open | I remember way back then

WHO: Nari Dahlasanor and YOU :D
WHAT: Building, drinking, hunting, night-walks; you know, whatever.
WHEN: Nari catch-all for Firstfall/Nov.
WHERE: Skyhold and surrounding environs
NOTES: N/A

[Skyhold Main Hall]

Andrastian, Qunari, Templar, Dalish, Circle, Dwarven, Avaar--the balusters alternate in their carved imagery all the way up the hall's twinned staircases. Their creator is sitting crouched at the bottom of the northern stair, putting the final touches on the very last pair in the set, to be installed at the base of the stairs: the flame-wreathed eye of the Inquisition, set in the crossbars of its sword, the blade and pommel of which form the baluster itself. The small dark elf is whistling cheerfully as she polishes it to a glowing luster, raising a polish-stained hand in greeting to any who pass through the doors.

[Kestrel House]

Late afternoons find Nahariel working on the crest rails of chairs with painstaking progress, carving one small feather after another into the dark wood. If one were to look carefully at the sides, they might find a sharp line amidst all the gentle curves; little hidden blades, unyielding against the softness of the plumage.

Her concentration is so total that she'll not notice anyone entering the room--the kind of trust which might be deemed unwise in a house of assassins.

[Elsewhere]

Trying to keep up her slightly rusty blade-work at the practice pells, repairing chairs--and getting paid in ale--at the Herald's Rest, sitting in the Undercroft staring really really hard at a slab of stone, visiting Boggy at the Stables and more!

[Holler if you want a starter. <3]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Korrin's spending a lot of time in the stables lately, thanks to her latest acquisition. Asher (Asher the Second, if one wants to be formal) is placidly accepting of bonding time, not putting up a fuss as the Vashoth woman strokes the nuggalope while giving him treats. When she spots Nahariel nearby, Korrin grins and waves her over.]

Nahariel, meet my nuggalope!

[The movement of Korrin's arm catches Nahariel's eye, and she stops petting the true... just... horror of nature she came to visit to wave back. A few strands of limp "hair" come along for the ride. The elf makes an exaggerated 'bleaugh' face, shakes them off, and gives the bogicorn a final pat on the nose-bone before making her way over to the mage, rubbing the patting-hand on her leathers as she does so.]

Korrin! And this is...?

[Woah... it does look a little like a shaved bear. With impressive horns.

And there are the hands. Creators.]

[Yeah, Korrin's seen all she ever wants to of the 'bog unicorn' so she'll just focus on the less creepy stable inhabitant. She smiles and gestures to the nuggalope.]

This is Asher. The Avvar at Honey Badger Hold helped direct me to where a herd was roaming, and we brought them in. This is the guy I claimed for myself.

[As Nahariel joins them, Asher moves over to investigate by snuffling at her. He grunts, recoiling wherever the bog unicorn's own scent is the most noticeable on the elf, but seems to otherwise be fine with her presence.]

[Nari's more than happy to be snuffled, putting the offending boggish hand behind her back with an abashed grin when the nuggalope expresses his displeasure with it.]

Telam'odhe, I know. Abelas.

[When let, she'll pet his muzzle, and exclaim at the softness. Then again with a small murmur at the odd but lovely way the horns split into different curves. Eventually she'll give him a final pat and turn back to Korrin.]

Those are impressive. I've never seen a beast with horns that do that.

[innocent cheeky >:3]

...Jealous?

[That gets a laugh out of Korrin as she observes Asher calming down when that bog scent isn't right against his muzzle.]

Honestly? A little. I wouldn't mind having multiple curving horns like that. Some qunari do, but I'm not that lucky. Still, I can deal with a little horn-envy if it means having his majestic self around. What do you think, should I keep up with the war paint?

Oh, definitely.

[Nari peers around, eyeing the dark lines against the natural lighter colors of his hide, then leans back casually against the fence.]

I like it. Striking. And I bet it makes him feel important and appreciated too.

I used to paint some of the halla's horns, to honor the ascension of Ghilan'nain. They loved it. All the clan would exclaim over them, sneak them little treats. It got so that when I'd finish one, they'd go out to the herd and walk around like they were the Halla Mother herself. [She grins.] We all need all the morale we can get, right? Nuggalopes included.

That gets Korrin's interest and she raises her eyebrows, looking away from Asher for a moment. "Have you done that with the halla here? That would be quite a sight. I'd love to see the results, if non-Dalish can visit them." She wouldn't assume they're available for all, out of respect. Asher gets her attention by grunting in her ear, and she strokes that muzzle. "I wonder how well nuggalopes and halla would get along. The former seem pretty mellow, as long as you don't get between them and their food."

[Nari's eyebrows fly up comically in surprise, having completely forgotten the Inquisition had a few halla in residence.]

Oh! I didn't--where are they?

...I should probably ask whoever the halla'amelan is here before I start painting them.

[As far as nuggalopes and halla... Nari grins as Asher whuffs and grunts in Korrin's ear.]

Halla are pretty gentle, overall. Although they can be a bit skittish sometimes. I'm sure if they got used to each other it'd be fine...

[She snorts a little and shakes her head with a grin, thinking about the massive muscular bulk of the nuggalope sharing a pasture with the slender halla.]

How fast does he go? Like a horse?

[Korrin nods, proud of her nuggalope buddy.]

Yeah, and he has more stamina, so he can keep that pace for a longer time. The hands are pretty good in rocky terrain, too. Being able to grip things can make a huge difference.

As for the halla...um, I don't know. Somewhere in the valley, I guess? I wasn't sure they'd react well to me, so I haven't gone to see them.

[Nari shakes her head in no little wonder, looking at the hands again]

I keep thinking of hands as sensitive things, you know? Like how I might feel about running about in the Frostbacks on all fours. But then I suppose that's how people look at my feet.

[She looks at her feet, and then coughs and colors slightly. She's wearing a pair of leather boots that are a fair bit nicer quality than the rest of her clothing, and look suspiciously like they're lined with something fuzzy and soft.]

Well. Other Dalish feet.

I uh...

...boots were just so good in the swamp.

[As Nari stares at Asher's hands, he uses one to prop up against the stable gate, leaning in to sniff at her again. Korrin gently pushes him back down, not wanting him to break the gate by accident. Glancing down at those boots, Korrin grins.]

Truer words were never spoken. And hey, you're not a bad Dalish for making sure your toes don't freeze off in the mountains. That's a real risk every time we step out of Skyhold, winter or no winter.

open | I remember way back then

Stables

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