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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"It is but her nature and I will not fault her for it." Kattrin offered a gentle look so she could let the man know that she was not bothered by it. The Avvar were aware that animals were not people and were more prone to instinct. Such a thing should be respected rather than feared or looked on with concern.

As for the fennec, he'd decided he would just stay in the bag where it was safe. Probably for the best really if one were to be honest. "She has a strong spirit to her."

His expression turns into a smile that's both thankful and fond.

"She does. I'm rather proud of her." There's no sign of the fennec so Purrelden settles down in Anders' arms and starts to bathe herself. "Would you like to pet her? She loves attention."

He was fond of her. That brought a little smile to the Avvar woman's lips as she watched the cat settle like she owned him. Perhaps she was a pet but there was something about this relationship that told her the was a unique sort of love between the two that she appreciated.

Holding out her hand, she offered her scent to the cat. It was still so new to her to be giving this sort of attention to an animal but she knew that in these places it was considered normal. She supposed it wouldn't hurt to pet the animal so long as it made the animal happy.

"She is your...pet?" There was only hesitation on the last word because the concept was still so foreign to her.

"She is. Or I'm hers, which seems to be the way with cats."

Purrelden leans over to sniff the offered hand for a few moments before giving it a lick and then rubbing her cheek against it in clear invitation. Or more like clear demand.

"I've raised her from kittenhood and trained her to be a little braver than she used to be. That is, she doesn't flinch away from crickets anymore."

This is... peaceful. It's nice to take a few moments and enjoy time with his cat while meeting someone new. There's no yelling currently, and not being in the Gallows means he's free of the feeling of walls closing in on him.

"You helped her find her courage."

The lick made her blink before she curiously stroked the cat's head. Mostly the ears. They were so soft. She'd honestly never petted a cat or any animal before honestly. Even the fennec that followed her was one she fed and cared for but didn't truly touch more often than to check on and make sure the injury he'd had was healing well.

"The Avvar do not keep pets. It is a custom I heard of among the lowlander but this one is the first that I have seen."

After a few of the strokes Purrelden settles down and starts purring, pleased. Anders runs his finger over the bridge of her nose, making her eyes crinkle closed happily.

"Your loss, really. A cat is an excellent companion. You feed them and house them and clean up after them, and in return they give you affection and company. ...And sometimes leave dead mice in your shoes as gifts." The woman gets a flash of a warmer smile. "I'd wondered if you were Avvar due to the outfit, but figured maybe I shouldn't open my mouth and be stupid. What's brought you down to Kirkwall?"

She was not that convinced about the wonder of pets but decided that if these two were happy then she could leave it alone. Honestly that was what mattered in the end, right? It was the thing that could end up pleasing the spirits more than anything else. That celebration of life.

And then the question about her being there came. She hesitated a moment, eyes lingering on the cat. "I am in exile. During my time alone, the gods guided me towards the Inquisition. I learned where they would be and came to be one with them."

That was the easiest explanation really.

...so he'd opened his mouth and been stupid anyway. Of course.

"I'm sorry." No one wanted to be in exile, he was nearly certain. "I'm glad you've joined us. And your fennec... friend?" She'd said she wasn't familiar with pets, but it seemed to be rather familiar with her.

"I'm, I'm known as Anders." Might as well see if he could get all the stupid things to say out first.

She'd heard rumors in this place of a mage who had done damage here but there wasn't really a way for her to realize that Anders was the name of that mage. So she showed no recognition of it. It was but a name to her like any other name really. Though, she noted the hesitation, her head tilting to observe him as she pondered what had caused it.

"The exile was my own choice. I thank you for your feelings though." That seemed the best way to let him know she was not upset with him. And that she felt the apology unnecessary but one she would not cast aside. "I am Kattrin."

No reaction. That's a relief, really, even if it means she'll just find out later. He doesn't want to invite that knowledge today, though, and so he simply nods.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Kattrin." Once upon a time, there would have been a suggestion that it could be more of a pleasure, but he's behaving himself now. There's no point in false advertising, after all.

"You're a mage, clearly. Do you mind if I ask what you specialize in?"

She hadn't decided yet if this was a pleasure but she did at least offer a nod so he'd know she accepted his feelings on the meeting. If nothing else she appreciated that he was polite. Then again, the fact that the cat was clearly so fond of him spoke highly of the sort of person that he was in her eyes. Animals were always far more honest than any human, elf, qunari, or dwarf ever would be.

"Healing. My teacher felt it was the path I was suited best for and guided me in how to speak to the gods so I might take care of the wounded." It was a path she appreciated too. She genuinely liked being able to heal those who were injured.

"You were taught differently than I but you would...specialize?...in something as well, yes?"

"Incidentally, my specialty is healing as well. Spirit healing. How we define it, that is."

Since Avvar work with spirits entirely differently, something he still has no grasp of.

"I partner with Mercy. Do you... work with any spirits when you heal?"

Spirit healing. So that was what they called it in the lowlands. She supposed it was a very accurate description even if she was sure that Anders was doing it very differently than she did. All the same it put him in a positive light for her since it would mean he'd have to have a good relationship with the spirit in order to accomplish what he did.

"Yes." Though she could easily say that spirits had different names among her people. It would not be so easy to tell him who she prayed to when she healed.

"To partner with a spirit is to have great respect for them. The gods do not come easily for all. It is considered a great honor among the Avvar to be chosen so."

Gods. Right. He couldn't imagine worshipping Mercy or Justice or Compassion... okay, maybe Compassion. Praying to her would possibly give hope, but the others? It's intriguing and he wants to ask a thousand questions, 999 of which are probably rude so he refrains.

"What's, which one has chosen you? Do they... I have no idea how to ask what I want to ask when I don't know what's culturally impolite to talk about."

It was...interesting actually. He wanted to learn but he also wanted to respect the culture that she was a part of. Well had once been part of but now knew no other way. Still, she appreciated the effort and desire. It was enough that she decided she would be willing to teach him about how her people interacted with spirits in their daily lives and using magic.

So she gave him a little smile. "I can teach you more but I would need a few things. If you will provide then I can introduce you to more of what the spirits mean in my culture and how they aid us."

"As long as blood isn't in that list, of course." He gives her a smile in return, trusting that she'd know that to be a joke and realizing he didn't know how the Avvar felt about blood magic. All the same, they have to know of the taboo it is among people of many countries. The Avvar are separate, not ignorant.

"There will be no blood required." Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a bundle of herbs. These she held out to him. Since she couldn't write it was easier just to have him see what the herbs were so he could match them accordingly. "I will need every herb in this bundle and a bottle of lyrium."

A small task for a magical healer as far as she was concerned but it would certainly help him to prove his worth in her eyes.

The herbs are easy to identify, and he makes a mental note of them. The lyrium, though... He takes a breath before nodding.

"Give me time on the lyrium. I'll need to gather the funds for a vial as I'm not certain I can justify using any of the Inquisition's lyrium for a personal project like this." This is about curiosity, and he's not sure it will help the Inquisition or the Wardens.

"That is fine. I am aware that obtaining such things is more challenging for lowlanders." Money was an odd concept to her still but she knew that at least it was common in the lowlands. Really she also knew that she would have to start learning to obtain money herself to survive her. After all, she didn't know how many places would be interested in trade.

"I will not be departing so there is time."

Anders nods and gives her a small smile.

"I look forward to finding out more in the future, then. And for now, I think I'm going to take my cat somewhere a bit further away while I work so your friend there can safely wander around and not be stuck hiding in a bag, if that's fine by you."

She gave him a small smile in return.

"The little one will be grateful for your thoughtfulness. Thank you and I look forward to our conversation in the future."

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OPEN LOG: Establishing a Base in Kirkwall

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