faderift | [Open]

WHO: Kain and ANYONE
WHAT: Just one prompt this time. The next stage in the griffon-riding training: actual flyiiiing!!
WHEN: Now, anytime in the month of Drakonis
WHERE: Skyhold, in the air, wherever they land (leaving that part open and up to the responders!)
NOTES: No warnings!

This is it. Kain has been taking all of Maja's advice to heart, when it comes to preparing for griffon-riding. He's been coming by daily to feed and groom Potato and just spend time bonding with her in general. Between him and Inessa, this is becoming one spoiled griffon. He's gotten a lot of trust from Potato over the past few weeks, and learned to trust her in return. Now it's time to start training in the air.

Kain mounts Potato with ease, getting comfortably settled on her. He feels much like a Warden of old when upon her like this, and he straightens with a touch of pride in his posture.

"All right, Potato... let's go!"

Up and away they fly! This is strictly for training purposes, of course, the same as he would do with any mount. But whenever he ascends skyward, Kain breaks out into a rare grin. Yes, this... this is where he belongs. Where he's always wanted to be all along, soaring through the air, wind in his face, with the ground so far below. Anyone observing from the ground will notice them circling through the air, practicing various maneuvers. After a while, they come back down to take a break somewhere in the area surrounding Skyhold... (or maybe even occasionally to perch on one of the taller towers).

Where will she land? Anywhere a griffon can go! Sometimes, it's a bit of a surprise landing, coming down right next to someone very suddenly. Sometimes, Potato catches a small animal on the run, swooping in to snatch it with her talons. Maybe she even comes in to slash at an enemy of some kind, helping someone in a fight. Anything is possible!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It is a tragedy, Kain would be the first to agree. But while he's been trying to use other names, ones that are far more dignified and fierce... none of them are sticking. She doesn't respond to anything but the name she'd unfortunately been given. And it's not a good idea to mess up her name while airborne.

"Perhaps so... who knows what might draw their attention?" He's still learning about their real behaviors himself. It's one thing to read all about them from Wardens gone by, quite another to have a real live one on hand. Kain nods. "She's one of the several griffons we have here. They're all magnificent, though... I've grown most attached to her. I'm lucky she's granted me the honor of flying upon her in turn. Have you ever seen griffons before? On your world?"

"Not in person," the Medicine Seller said, tying his bandana back into place.

"I have seen etchings, however."

He extended a hand for Potatoe's inspection. If griffons existed in his world (and he saw no reason why the shouldn't) then they must live somewhere off in Europe.

"They do not do you justice, Potatoe."

Potato gives a screech that Kain has gotten to understand as a greeting of sorts, before she leans in to nudge her head toward the Medicine Seller's hand.

"I'm sure they wouldn't.... The images and tales that we've always had also don't truly show off their full majesty. I feel fortunate to be around for their reappearance." Kain pets her side from where he is, definitely feeling a lot of pride in his favorite griffon right now. "She's even more incredible in the air... and, as you can see, quite clever. I only wish I'd been able to choose her name."

But, well, such was the case for the whole crew of griffons and their (mostly) silly set of names.

He stroked along the length of Potatoe's beak, before using using his claw-like nails to scritch lightly under her chin. What an excellent cat-bird!

"It would seem that dragons are not the only beings thought long dead now making a return," he said thoughtfully.

"You are fortunate to have such a bond with her."

Kain looks at Potato with the expression of a pleased parent. He's really glad to see her doing well socializing with any of their allies. She's learning well.

"Exactly. It's fascinating that we're experiencing this resurgence of such legendary creatures... I'm glad to be here while they're reappearing. Who knows what it means..." He hopes it's not a bad thing. There are enough problems erupting as it is. Though who knows, maybe the griffons returned to help them combat this great evil. "I feel very honored by this bond. Griffons are very particular about this sort of thing, it's not easy to earn such a connection. I feel like more of a true Warden now."

Dragons, griffons, ancient magisters - things thought lost or legend all coming back. The Medicine Seller may not have been from this world, but he was a rather old man who had seen his share of history.

Something was up.

"Were you not a true Warden before then?" The Medicine Seller asked absentmindedly, an amused lilt creeping into his usual monotone.

Something is up, indeed. Kain doesn't think any of this can be a coincidence. The rifts may be to blame, or so he'd be willing to guess, though it's hard to say how that actually... works. Who knows?

"I was always a true Warden, having gone through the Joining, as we all must. So in that sense, of course I was. But... something was always missing. There are many legends about the Wardens of old and their griffon companions... stories which I admired, but could never emulate. Until now."

"Stories, hm?" He looked up from Potato at last, his cold stare now fixed on Kain. The Medicine Seller's scrutiny was rarely a pleasant thing.

"Which ones, I wonder?"

At least he's not too bothered by the scrutinizing stare, able to handle that sort of thing well enough.

"There are more stories out there than I could tell right now. Much like dragons, their legends are ancient. There are tales about the first alliance made between them and us Wardens, the bonds we formed... about the many wars we faced, and the heroes who emerged. We Wardens are the best defense against Blights, so there's no shortage to those tales. Garahel is the name of one of these famous Wardens...together with his griffon he ended the Fourth Blight."

The very Warden who Inessa named her dog after, actually.

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