[Semi-Closed] Things to do and people to see

[conqueredhearts]

WHO: Iskandar and characters he has threads with
WHAT: Iskandar spends some time hanging out with people he knows
WHEN: Throughout the month
WHERE: Various Kirkwall locations
NOTES: Will update as needed.

*Below will be the top levels for people! If you would like one and don't have one please get in touch with me and we can work something out!

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[justice_is_blond]

He grins, a little surprised by the response but flattered. The giant spirit is quiet the sight himself, but as Anders is very taken and very loyal that's where the thought ends.

"Right now, I'm dripping a blend of elfroot and concentrator agent into each vial. It's a safe, if tedious task." He pulls out two bottles and droppers, giving one set to Iskandar and keeping the other in front of himself. "Pop the cork from a vial, add two drops of the liquid in, cork it back up, repeat. They're a fourth of the flowers that I picked the other day with some friends. And another unfortunate bit of company."

On a nearby table is a set of vials that have liquid in them and bits that still look like flowers. Anders jerks his thumb in their direction. "That's another fourth. I'm trying to see if any of the wildflowers have any curative properties."

[conqueredhearts]

"I see!"

He got right to work without complaint, doing exactly as he'd been told. He wasn't quite sure if any reactions were supposed to happen right away so he figured Anders would speak up if that were the case. Until then he just worked his way along without seeming to mind how tedious it was, even starting to hum a little tune after a point to help fill the quiet of the room.

If one were to look it would be pretty obvious that he was really enjoying himself.

[justice_is_blond]

The hum helps the room and the work, with Anders glancing over to smile at the man. This was just the second step, he wasn't about to introduce Darkspawn blood into the vials with anyone present who wasn't a Grey Warden, but it was crucial just the same.

"Have you done this before? Helped with testing?"

[conqueredhearts]

"I suppose in a way. The last time I did anything like this though I instead gathered water so that way the boy could test the magic in it to find out where Caster was likely to be hiding. He did all of this actual portion."

And what impressive work that had been too. Even if the boy hadn't fully realized the wonder of it at the time.

[justice_is_blond]

"Magic in the water?" That's a new one. Though on consideration, maybe it shouldn't be. There are other fade-touched materials. Why not water?

"Was Caster doing something to the water? Or was it his proximity to water that mattered?" Anders finishes his rack and brings over another for each of them.

[conqueredhearts]

"We were looking for him so we could defeat him in battle. The Caster class is well known for being versed in magic. It is part of their abilities as a Spirit. So figuring out where the trail of magic led would mean finding him. And we did indeed find his lair. Though sadly I fear the unpleasant dreams it gave the boy after he saw what was there."

It fueled him with anger to that day. That senseless cruelty. He took a moment to breathe before he continued so he wouldn't ruin what Anders was working on here.

[justice_is_blond]

When someone speaks of a mage's lair, it brings up specific mental images. Specific, unpleasant mental images. While Quenton's was one of the worst he'd ever seen, he's heard stories and gotten the warning images that always came in the Circle about apostates and what they did.

"There are always those who will misuse what they're given." In many peoples' eyes, he's one of them. Some days he despairs of it ever changing, but he needs to try to push that back.

"Do I want to ask what it was you found? And if it had to do with water?" Despite his misgivings about the topic, he's still wanting to figure out how there was magic in the water itself.

CW: Horrible murdering of children talked about here

[conqueredhearts]

Iskandar paused a moment in what he was going. His face was grave as he looked to Anders. This was not a pleasant topic but he did not intend to hide it either.

"What we found had little to do with the water. Caster's magic was in use in the area and that spread into the water. What we found were the many bodies of small children. Mutilated. Cut to pieces. Their lifeless eyes were frozen in terror and what pieces Caster and his Master chose to use were arranged into sculptures of their own design. Blood was all across the floor and there was no way for anyone to ever manage to piece those bodies back together to know just how many had been butchered by their madness."

[justice_is_blond]

He's sorry he asked. It doesn't tell him anything about how magic got into the water, and it's a horrifying story. His face pales before he shakes his head, really not wanting to deal with that.

"I don't know what to say. I don't even have anything to say. It... no. I need another topic, something, anything."

There have been horrors committed by mages here, more than likely on the same scale. But it's not something he can stand to dwell on.

[conqueredhearts]

"Understandable. Another topic then, hm?"

Iskandar considered that carefully for a moment, stroking his chin slowly. Another topic... Ah!

"I have no lyrics for yet but I have been working on a tavern song. Would you like to hear it?"

[justice_is_blond]

"That may be the safest topic I've ever heard of," Anders says with a chuckle, working on pushing back the other. "I'd love to. And are you ready for your next tray? There are only a few left; we're making good time on these."

It's so nice to have help with the repetitive parts of the task.

[conqueredhearts]

"I am! Pass me the next and I shall sing for you."

With that, he rolled into a melody that was rather bouncy and uplifting. Something that one might want to dance to and would surely have playful lyrics once he figured out what those would be. A perfect cleanse after the previous topic.