faderift | OPEN LOG: Establishing a Base in Kirkwall

OPEN LOG: Establishing a Base in Kirkwall

WHO: Many People
WHAT: Cleaning up Kirkwall
WHEN: Cloudreach 1-21
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: This log post is for characters who go early to Kirkwall to assist in preparing it for the rest of those assigned there. We strongly encourage IC discussion of things left to character discretion—someone should definitely do a crystal post to discuss what to do with the personal belongings left behind in the Gallows or what new form the statues should take!

Kirkwall once lived on the edge of the Tevinter Imperium and was home to nearly a million slaves. Stolen from elven lands or shipped from across the sea, all slaves fed the Imperium's unquenchable thirst for expansion. They worked in massive quarries and sweltering foundries that produced stone and steel for the Empire.

The city's complicated past is not easy to forget, history having earmarked many corners of the stone city. A ship approaching the harbor spots the city's namesake: an imposing black wall. It is visible for miles, and carved into the cliff side are a pantheon of vile guardians representing the Old Gods. Over the years, the Chantry has effaced many of these profane sentinels, but it will take many more years to erase them all.

Also carved into the cliff is a channel that permits ships into the city's interior. Flanking the channel are two massive bronze statues—the Twins of Kirkwall. The statues have a practical use. Kirkwall sits next to the narrowest point of the Waking Sea, and a massive chain net can be erected between the statues and the lighthouse, closing off the only narrow navigable lane. This stranglehold on sea traffic is jealously guarded by the ever-changing rulers of the city as the net trolls taxes, tolls, and extortions in from the sea.

—From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by Brother Genitivi

Establishing a presence in Kirkwall is a delicate matter. First, there's Provisional Viscount Bran Cavin—a man so used to batting back friendly offers of entirely harmless occupation of the battered city-state that his first three responses to the Inquisition's leadership appeared to be slightly personalized form letters. Proving that the Inquisition is here to work and not to conquer will be a process. The first step in that process is the second reason the move is delicate: the only building the Provisional Viscount is willing to part with is the Gallows, left quarantined and unoccupied since Knight-Commander Meredith Stannard's famous crystallization into red lyrium in the courtyard. The Gallows have since overgrown with red lyrium. If anyone is going to live and work there, there's a lot of work to do.

↠ Cloudreach 1-3: The Journey There
↠ Cloudreach 3-4: Arrival
↠ Cloudreach 4-14: Haunted
↠ Cloudreach 14-21: Spring Cleaning

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Garahel responds with a happy bark, always glad to get a little attention though he soon turns it to the fennec. Large and muscular though he is, the mabari seems to restrain some of that boisterousness for the sake of not harming the fennec, sniffing at it before plopping down by its side. If the fennec wants to climb Mount Mabari, there he is.

Glancing over briefly, Inessa looks back with a smile and nod. "Yes, that's right. There is no danger, however. He knows to be gentle with those smaller than himself; if he didn't, I would have suffocated long ago." There's no point in being sensitive about her not-at-all impressive height, so she might as well find humor in it. "I'm Inessa. Was I right in hearing that you are Avvar?"

"I am though I have no hold now. I am Kattrin the Exile." The Kattrin she had been before was dead now as far as she or her people could be concerned. Perhaps it was better that way and it was something she was at peace with. The only part that tore her apart now was the guilt of breaking her oath in order to become exiled as she was.

"Word travels fast in this place for I have not been here. But a short time after the Inquisition arrived it would seem." Honestly she thanked the gods for aiding her with that particular timing so she could help with this transition as best as she could.

"One of the Avvar folk wasn't quite unusual when we resided solely in the Frostbacks, but now, in the Free Marches...you stand out." Inessa's smile is sympathetic, as between those pointed ears and the staff in hand, she knows something about standing out as well.

"You aren't unwelcome, though. Far from it, your healing skills have been mentioned and we are always in need, in that respect." Her gaze shifts to the fennec, fond and curious. "What is the fennec's name?"

"He has only the name his heart knows for I have not seen signs of what that name is of yet." She did wonder at times but had fallen to simply affectionately calling him little one. And she could see the fennec had taken to Garahel now, boldly climbing onto him and sniffing his face and ears now that he could see there was no danger.

"He has guided me to where I am but we are still learning how our paths cross."

Garahel is a big, friendly, muscular mountain who doesn't mind the in-your-face curiosity of the fennec in the slightest. Inessa chuckles, watching him. "He's used to foxes, you see. Some much bolder." Maybe less mannered, though she'd never incur Lux's wrath by saying so. "I hope he's faring well in our new surroundings. City life can be an adjustment."

Not just for the fennec, either. Inessa remembers just enough for it not to be completely alien to her, but an Avvar woman likely has no such context. It's worth noting, so that her and others in her position don't fall through the cracks.

"He understands them about as well as I do, I think. Things here are odd. Crowded." Something she felt was more like a city in general. She wondered if she was ever going to get used to something like that. Perhaps not. Perhaps so. Whatever the case was she could figure things out.

"I had always heard of lowlander approaches to matters but to see them is perhaps more confusing that having heard of it." Part of the reason why she'd limited herself for a bit. To allow herself to adapt. She'd already thrown herself into a big enough change not that long ago just by exiling herself.

She nods in sympathy, crossing her arms as she listens. "I'm from Denerim, originally. I vaguely remember crowds and crowded living, but much of my time has been spent away from that since then. Now it seems I've come full-circle, in a sense. I can't pretend to understand all aspects of city life, let alone Kirkwall, but if something confuses you, I'm willing to at least attempt an explanation."

"People here offer information so much more freely than the Avvar. It is strange to me to not require proof that I have earned it before being given it." Mainly because no one here really knew her. She was not upset by the different culture, not at all. Mostly it was just proving to be a learning curve when she would expect something only to have another thing happen instead.

"Well, here information is vital to our cause. We cannot effectively function if secrets are kept to any great extent. The more we all know about our enemies, the better we can combat them. This is doubly so when we might be on the field together." Inessa shrugs, seeing it as a matter of practicality more than anything else.

Her eyes widened a little at the practical explanation. It was certainly more than most had offered to her and she was grateful for it. It spoke strongly to her Avvar ancestory. Kattrin soon was offering a small smile to the elf woman as a result. "Though the Avvar keep to themselves they are not truly one for secrets. Rather the sharing of such vital information must be earned."

It seemed fair to explain where her confusion had come from in the first place. "You have my thanks for making things clear as you did."

Smiling politely, Inessa nods. She wouldn't admit it aloud, but the Avvar intimidate her a little for how very tall they are, almost as tall as qunari. That this one is as well-mannered as she is alleviates that somewhat. "You're quite welcome. I was new to this organization at one time, as well, though I admit having my fellow Wardens here helped a great deal. I...don't know of any other Avvar around, at present."

That's said a little apologetically, hoping the woman doesn't feel too lonely for it.

Kattrin wasn't nearly as tall as many other Avvar. Honestly she was probably considered short among them. Still, she was taller than this Elf woman but she wasn't about to use that as some sort of advantage. "It is fine. I would not be considered one of them any longer so perhaps it is for the best that I do not speak with them."

She could only imagine the awkwardness that would be bred from such a talk. If a talk would even start.

Her expression shifts to one of mild surprise, and then sympathy upon hearing that unexpected news. "Oh--I am sorry. I hope Kirkwall will be a fresh start for you, then." Given Kirkwall's nature, though, she can see that having complications. It's not exactly high on anyone's list in terms of that.

Edited 2017-04-17 13:56 (UTC)

"Kirkwall is where the spirits have led me so it is here I will find a path." She looked around the area she was in for a moment then sighed a little. "A strange path that I have taken perhaps but the Inquisition is in a quest that is holy. So to them I have pledged my loyalty."

And in all honesty she really had nowhere else to go.

"Then we are fortunate to have you. Aren't we, Garahel?" The mabari pulls his attention away from the fennec to grunt in agreement, coming over to lean companionably against Kattrin. It's alright, one is never alone when they have a mabari for a friend.

Garahel, with fennec still balanced on top, came over to lean against her. She looked down at him with some surprise before lowering herself down to stroke his face. There was so much joy in that expression that it was impossible for her to not return the smile it looked like he had. "You have such a wonderful soul within you, Garahel." Words meant for dog and Warden really.

Garahel happily nuzzles that hand for the compliment, rumbling quietly in response as Inessa pauses by him to see if the fennec will allow her touch. She so wants to stroke those large ears, but holds back since she's not sure how tame it is, or affectionate. "Watch out, he'll exploit for that for treats or belly rubs, if he can. You may never be unpestered again." Truly a harsh fate.

"I would not be bothered to be pestered by a creature so filled with life as this one." It actually felt like an honor in a way. She was certain he extended this blessing on many but it still warmed her heart to know that she was among them.

As for the fennec, he was far from tame so he shied away at first from Inessa before cautiously leaning forward to sniff at her hand. Kattrin explained the reaction. "He is still wild for I have never tamed him. He is my guide in all of this now but still in the body of an animal. If you give him a moment to get used to you being near he will allow touch."

Kattrin's compliments get a happy woof and tail-wagging from Garahel, who's already soaking up attention like a sponge. Undeterred by the fennec's shyness, Inessa nods as she listens to the explanation. "I can be patient...and attempt to have treats handy for next time. I have mabari crunch available as always, for Garahel, but a fennec might want something different?"

"Fennec prefer meat from small animals. He has been catching rats often in this place." She supposed that it would be a good way to gain his trust but she would leave it up to him to decide if he wanted that. In the end he was a free creature and she was sure he only still followed her to be her guide in this new world she lived in. "I would feed him dried meat when I was treating his injury."

"So, jerky then. I believe I can manage that easily enough, once we're better settled." It's hard to predict anything until the Gallows is effectively cleared and the move is more or less completed. Tentatively, she reaches over to lightly stroke one of those large ears. "You have fine ears, my friend. It almost makes me wonder why elves are called 'rabbits' and not 'fennecs'."

Not that she truly wants to be called either, but if she had to pick, fennecs seem more charming to her.

The fennec lowered his head before lifting it slightly. Apparently he wasn't too sure about her yet but smelled the dog on her. Since he liked the dog then she must be okay too. Perfect animal logic.

"They do call elves terrible things in the lowlands." She frowned at the fact. Why they would decide to single out elves in such a manner was beyond her. Beyond her former people as well. "They have less than favorable views of the Avvar too though."

Not that her own former people were always much better when it came to lowlanders, of course. Nor would she ever claim them to be.

"Quite true. Anyone not human and Andrastian is suspect to many." Inessa would still argue that elves have it worse, but she isn't in a mood to debate. Besides, there is some solidarity to be found in being on the fringes. She smiles as the fennec sniffs at her, allowing him to do as he pleases in order to feel comfortable.

"With any luck, the necessity of the Inquisition in Kirkwall will keep tensions to a minimum."

"It is the truth. It is why the Avvar admire Elves who push beyond it as you have. They are aware that your people have it far worse and such a life is not easy to have." She certainly admired it herself.

"How long have the Wardens been with the Inquisition?"

"Longer than I have been a part of it; I was something of a latecomer." Inessa smiles wryly as Garahel yawns and then plops down on the ground, watching them. "Several of us came from Weisshaupt, after the Inquisition's rescue. Before then, their Warden presence comprised of those sane enough not to follow Warden-Commander Clarel's plan."

Her tone is mild, as is her demeanor, though there's a spark of...something in her eyes as she recalls all that.

Edited 2017-05-05 02:10 (UTC)

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