[OPEN] A dwarf out and about

[ragweed]

WHO: Kit and OPEN
WHAT: Kit recovering from the injury he sustained in the Deep Roads, and then exploring the Gallows a bit.
WHEN: The latter half of Solace/July.
WHERE: The Gallows
NOTES: This post is open to anyone who might have reason to drop by the infirmary, or interact with a slightly lost looking, ripped a f dwarf limping around the Gallows after his convalescence.

Kirkwall has changed since Kit was last in it.

He'd landed in the City of Chains the first time 'round the same summer the Arishok's warship ran aground and the Qunari themselves were camped out in their compound by the docks like dread sentinels. The dwarven mercenary band he'd been a part of at the time had been serving as a guard retinue for a Merchants' Guild caravan, and business had brought them into the city to settle old debts, and generate some new ones, all in the name of profit. The city had looked like a right shithole then, with the poor, the dead, and the dying right under the noses of the nobility, sitting pretty in their decadent Hightown estates. Chantry Templars and priestesses could be found at nearly every level of the city--save Darktown, of course, where they never set foot except in pursuit of apostates.

It still looked like a shithole--but at least the Gallows had a forest right in the middle of it now.


I. THE INFIRMARY


The cot he's been laid up in for the past couple of days is clean and comfortable; the blanket is a bit scratchy, and obviously cut for someone about a foot and a half taller than your average dwarf, but it gets the job done and keeps the chill out. A competent physicker has seen to his wounded leg, though after many failed attempts at cajoling Kit into accepting it, she finally accepts that he's just not going to tolerate a mage healer taking a look at the wound.

It means his leg still aches terribly days after his misadventure into the Deep Roads... but all things considered, he's definitely had worse.

It's a cool, early morning when he takes the crutch that has been left at his bedside and limps his way just outside the infirmary to roll himself a cigarette and have a smoke. Leaning against the doorframe, he squints his eyes against the morning light and enjoys the quiet, interrupted only by the drowsy sounds of the Gallows personnel as they wake, and the cries of seabirds.



II. THE LIBRARY


He's never been in a library before.

No, really. The casteless dwarves certainly weren't allowed into the Diamond Quarter back in Orzammar, let alone into the hallowed halls of the Shaperate with her many mysteries and memories of the dwarves who came before. As a dead-eyed duster kid looking up at the Diamond Quarter from the stifling ruins of Dust Town, Kit liked to imagine that there was, at one point, a Gandir dwarf who'd had a name, a caste, and a life recorded in those memories. Before he'd been reviled, and then forgotten, and then reviled again.

It was a stupid thing to waste energy daydreaming about, when he had no idea where his next meal was going to come from. And with the Legion, the only books he read were the ones that his fellows used to teach him his letters.

So it's not academic curiosity that brings Kit and his crutch limping into the Gallows library, each awkward step resonating with embarrassing noisiness throughout the cavernous chamber. He grimaces, and tries to peg-leg along more discreetly; does this place have anything on dwarven history? Probably not. He looks anyway.


III. WILDCARD


[got a better idea? go for it, man, I'll roll with anything as long as it's set in the Gallows]

Comments

[circleprodigy]

The elven woman isn't currently wearing her Grey Warden armor, rather civilian clothes, though the griffon pendant might give away her affiliation for someone in the know. Upon hearing a non-mabari reply, she straightens and pushes back her tome a little, eyes on Garahel a moment before a small, proud smile emerges. "Good boy. You can keep helping, as long as it's wanted."

As Garahel wags his tail, all pleased, Inessa gestures to an empty seat at her table. "There's available space at the table, if you don't mind sharing. I can make a little more when I put some of these books back, in a moment." Her eyes go to the crutch briefly, but she doesn't inquire. It's his business, unless he chooses to share it.

[ragweed]

The Legion of the Dead has fought alongside the Grey Wardens enough times that Kit has come to recognize the symbols that the warriors (and mages) in blue tend to carry with them. He spots the griffon pendant, and that, coupled with something almost sage in her bearing, gives away her affiliation.

He gives Garahel an affectionate scratch behind his little ears, then glances at the table when Inessa gestures to it. For a moment he looks like he might turn down the offer, then hesitates. "Maybe," he starts, then points with a thumb back towards the rest of the stacks. "You look like you know your way around; this place doesn't have any literature about dwarves, does it?"

[circleprodigy]

Kit's tattoos likewise don't go unnoticed and while she would have made her offer without them, it's a rare thing to meet one of the Legion, especially one the surface. That's not a opportunity to be wasted, if it can be helped. At his question, she tilts her head and frowns in thought.

"It's not extensive, but there are some tomes, yes. The Lost Thaigs, Stone Halls of the Dwarves, Gherlen the Blood-Risen, Paragons and Kings...most of them are about Orzammar, but dwarves also feature in some volumes of Kirkwall's history as well." She stands and picks up a few of her books to clear space, then points with a free arm toward the stack where she passed them earlier. "I don't recall seeing anything specific to the Legion, though we're still working on expanding the library's contents. Many tomes were scattered or destroyed when the Circles fell, and we're still gathering what can be found."

[ragweed]

He's never read any of those titles; Orzammar was happy to let its casteless dwarves sacrifice themselves for the good of the thaig with the Legion, but Ancestors forbid they teach them how to read. His fellows in the Deep Roads had taught him his letters by lantern light, and the books he'd read first were simple things with uncomplicated stories or themes. By the time he was proficient enough to read at a more advanced level, he'd run out of books--and the ones who had taken the time to teach him were dead.

He isn't surprised when she recognizes his tattoos, and smiles a little bit. "I didn't expect there would be much," he admits. "Still, thanks. I'll go take a look."

He takes a better hold on his crutch, and goes to investigate the selection in the stacks. He's gone for a bit, but does eventually return with a few books tucked under his free arm. Setting them down on the table, he tugs the chair out and settles himself into it, grimacing some at the effort it takes not to put too much strain on his injured leg.

[circleprodigy]

Nodding, Inessa pauses conversation to shelve her small stack in the appropriate spots, and reshelve others that were misplaced or left out along the way. One might think her a librarian, but it's just habit to pick up after herself and keep things tidy. Garahel normally lays down and snoozes while waiting for Inessa to finish, but this time he observes his new friend. If he seems too awkward or pained, the mabari will head over to his side to provide some support.

Returning to her chair with some new books, the slight elf woman glances over, hesitant as she doesn't want to pry. But at the same time, it only seems fair to make the offer. "I don't make it a habit to carrying potions or poultices while not on the field, but if you're in need, I can send Garahel to retrieve one. He's know to the healers, they'll allow it."

[ragweed]

It would be easy to be embarrassed at having his discomfort so easily spotted, but that impulse was pretty soundly grilled out of him in the Legion. There, it was better to own your pain--own it, walk it off if you can, ask for a hand if you can't.

He sort-of laughs. "I'm all right, right now," he assures her after a moment. "I think I'm over the worst of it; it's just about keeping the muscle strong now. You've got some good physickers here," he adds, hoping he sounds complimentary.

[circleprodigy]

A small but genuine smile forms as that as she nods, settling in again. "We're fortunate to have so many healers, especially Spirit Healers. Garahel here would not have recovered as well as he did without their aid." The mabari wags his tail, all pleased with the help given. Of course there's nothing wrong with him now, but scars here and there attest to his active live with his mistress.

"Forgive me, I keep forgetting my manners. I'm Inessa, one of the resident Warden mages. Kirkwall's Gallows was not my Circle, but I have become familiar enough with it to attempt answering questions." At a low volume, of course. She doesn't want to disturb any other library patrons.

[ragweed]

At her words, Kit reaches out a hand to give the hound an affectionate scratch underneath the chin, grinning at Garahel's intelligent enthusiasm. "Sounds like they treat all their warriors well," he says, ostensibly including the dog among that number.

He doesn't look surprised to hear that she's a Warden, even nodding his head in a way that seems to indicate he'd figured that out already. "You do have the look," he admits, smiling a little again. "I'm Kit. Technically still part of the Legion of the Dead, though I haven't seen what's left of my unit in years."

[circleprodigy]

"Watch out, such words will only cause his ego to inflate further." But Inessa's tone isn't too worried, a soft chuckle emerging as she watches Garahel melt under the scratching. That's all he wants in life, food and attention.

A hand automatically goes up to her griffon pendant, not at all surprised that Kit caught on even as she prefers to make a formal introduction. "It's rare to see one of the Legion on the surface, but your presence is welcome nonetheless. I'm sure we can benefit from your experience, below the surface and above."

[ragweed]

Rare to see the Legion above ground, indeed. Kit is quiet for a few seconds; it's possible that subject might lead in a direction he's unwilling to go. He tries to steer it gently.

"I don't know that my experience is that much more valuable than yours," he replies and toys with the old corner of one of the books in front of him. "How did you all end up in Kirkwall anyway? Last I remember hearing, the Inquisition was based out of Skyhold."

He's a little more up to date on current events than he's letting on, but he'd rather get Inessa discussing her own work, as well as the Inquisition's, than focus too much on his work and past.

[circleprodigy]

Steering the subject isn't met with resistance; if Kit doesn't want to discuss the Legion, that's his right. Inessa listens, taking a sip from her cup before the tea cools completely.

"It still is, at least partially. The Inquisition decided that they needed a foothold north of the Waking Sea as well as the south. Kirkwall is much more centrally located than a fortress in the mountains, which I can only assume makes it easier to coordinate efforts. The Gallows certainly provides more living space, as well...though it did take significant time and effort to make suitable for habitation, thanks to tears in the Veil and red lyrium."

[ragweed]

He's glad she doesn't object to the slight change of topic, but keeps that gratitude under wraps for now.

"So if someone decided they wanted to stick around and help out--hypothetically," he adds, spreading his hands to either side as he does so. "Who around here should they talk to?"

[circleprodigy]

"It depends on which division you joined...Forces or Scouting?" Inessa's guessing it has to be one of the two. "Beleth Ashara is head of Scouting and Lord Rourke Harlungin leads Forces. Their offices are located in the tallest central tower, I believe. There are also several projects, of which any division can join. For instance, I am part of the Red Lyrium project, as well as Rifts and the Veil. Each project has a leader, as well."

[ragweed]

He hasn't joined up with either yet, mostly because he hasn't committed himself to the idea of staying. It's hard not to feel the pull of the place though; this has to be the most he's talked to so many different people before in years.

"...I'll have to think about it," he admits, growing a bit quiet. The book in front of him grabs his attention, and he opens it to begin reading while he mulls over his options.

[circleprodigy]

Inessa nods, leaning back in her chair. She gave him the information, now it's up to him to do something with it...or not. The decision is not hers to make. "Whatever you decide, it's good to meet you." Garahel concurs with a soft huff, tail wagging again.

[ragweed]

"Good to meet you, too," Kit says and smiles, and one gets the impression that he means it. He makes sure to give Garahel an affectionate scratch atop his broad head to make sure he's included.

Then he grows contemplatively quiet as he starts to work through the books in front of him, content to sit quietly at the same table as Inessa (and Garahel) as he works on educating himself a bit about his own culture.