OPEN | "The old ways are lost," you sang as you flew

[mythalenaste]

WHO: Pel + YOU
WHAT: Open log for April/Cloudreach
WHEN: Cloudreach
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: Will update with any warnings.

Arrival

Between the cramped ship and the stuffy warehouse, Pel feels like cargo. It's also hot, or it feels that way to her. Everything that was comfortable has gone, except for familiar people she doesn't know how to approach for a hug. She's not accustomed to asking for care.

So rather than her usual aloofness, Pel looks genuinely shaken, even depressed, and altogether wan and sleepless.

Early- to Mid-month

By the third day, Pel has shut herself up in a small room in the warehouse. There are frequent flashes of light underneath the door. Posted is a sign:

​I AM NOT DEAD OR POSSESSED
ANCIENT AND VERY PRECISE MAGIC BEING WORKED

If you mu​​st reach me, see the below instructions:

1. KNOCK.
2. If there is no answer, please get help.
2.a. If you are a mage and believe you can help, please do so.
2.b. If you are not a mage, please find a mage who can help.
2.b.a. Or Alistair or Knight-Commander Norrington. No other Templars.
3. If I answer, state your name and your business but do not enter.
4. If I give you EXPLICIT permission to enter, wait until all the lights you can see from under the door are gone before opening the door.
5. If I do not give you EXPLICIT permission to enter, do not enter.
5.a. Not even if you are a mage.
5.b. Not even if you are a close friend.
5.c. Not even if you think of something horrible that might be happening.
5.d. Not even if you have a delightful prank in mind.
6. If I have not come out for several days, please bring food.
6.a. NOTHING WITH EGGS IN IT.
7. If confused, please refer to the top line of this sign and read on from there.

Lowtown Bazaar

One or two days out of the month, Pel puts on a dress, girds her sword, and goes down to the bazaar. It's different from Halamshiral's slums--cleaner, with less fear and loathing. And there is a host of street food she has wanted to try out since hearing about this place.

One stall has fried Antivan doughnuts that melt on the tongue, sweet and spicy. Orlesian sweets, quiches (ew no no eggs), cakes. Broiled cheese scraped and spread like butter on peppered potatoes. Delicate crepes wrapped around candied fruit and nuts. Creamy yogurt with mint and lime. Skewers of charred beef. A massive variety of incredibly fresh seafood, seasoned and grilled on a stick or sometimes simply boiled or even raw. Rich cream cakes. Nevarran-style sausages with pickled cabbage. Vats of savory noodles. Tender chicken giblets in a spicy broth. Exotic fresh fruits. Fatty, juicy pork and pickled vegetables wrapped up in hot, crispy flatbread. Stewed intestines, fried sweet potatoes, stewed chicken with chewy dumplings. Almost all of this is incredibly cheap--not the fresh seafood, especially not the lobster, but nearly everything else. The places serving it aren't exactly clean, some downright filthy, but most of the food is delicious. Just don't get food poisoning.

Come with her on a food adventure?

Comments

[mythalenaste]

"Yes, he did." Pel takes a deep breath. "It means he's both elf- and mage-blooded, and both are reasons his mother didn't want anyone to know. But I thought the Wardens knew. Dirthamen knows nobody can keep straight what the Wardens do or don't know, but I'd think a Warden pregnant with a king's child would be noted."

Her gaze drops again. "Just...go talk to him. I'll sort things out with him later, all right?"

[justice_is_blond]

"Maybe it was noted and I didn't get the note." Anders shrugs. "It's not like I was exactly recruited because the Wardens wanted me." Or protected, or anything along those lines.

"I'm... I hope it will be easy to sort out. At the very least, I'll not spread the word around if he wants to keep it quiet."

[mythalenaste]

Right. Of course Pel is worried about how this will impact her instead of asking Anders not to tell anyone else. She nods.

"Please don't. It's her secret as well as his, and from what I understand she's come back around lately."

[justice_is_blond]

"Of course." Even though it could give some mages hope, hearing that one of the children stolen from them had been reunited with their mother. Fiona can share that information if she ever chooses to. But considering Alistair looks human and likely gains some advantages he'd not have if he'd been born an elf instead, Anders can't justify taking that from him.

"Call me on the crystals if anything changes with you, as usual." Then he's getting up and stretching before looking over at her. "Could you use a hand up before I go?"

[mythalenaste]

"Bless you." Pel reaches for his hand, already struggling to get up. "Ma serannas, lethallin. I'll see you soon."

[justice_is_blond]

He gives her a smile and the offered hand, helping her up before nodding. "That you will, Pel. Get some rest between all the casting, please."

And with that he's headed out, pulling out his crystal and playing with it as he tries to figure out how to ask Alistair about his blood.