OPEN LOG: Establishing a Base in Kirkwall

[faderifting]

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

Comments

[circleprodigy]

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.

[theexile]

"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.

[circleprodigy]

"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.

[theexile]

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.

[circleprodigy]

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.

[theexile]

"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."

[circleprodigy]

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?"

[theexile]

"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."

[circleprodigy]

"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.

[theexile]

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.

[circleprodigy]

"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."

[theexile]

"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?"

[circleprodigy]

"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.

[theexile]

She saw the spark of something. It was something that spoke of deep feelings for what had taken place with the Wardens. She'd heard rumors but hadn't ever gotten the full story. Kattrin wondered if that had anything to do with matters of the Inquisition.

"Will you tell me what took place? Many things are heard in the mountains but it is not always clear to us what are truth or otherwise."

[circleprodigy]

Inessa nods, seeing no reason why she shouldn't know what is not common knowledge to everyone else. "I...can, yes. Though I hope you'll indulge my desire to settle down with some tea, first. I would prefer a calming cup to counter that tale. Does the barracks at the docks have any? Otherwise, you're welcome to join me at the Gallows."