faderift | [OPEN] Smoke and Mirrors: Perendale

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[OPEN] Smoke and Mirrors: Perendale

WHO: OPEN!
WHAT: The Inquisition's forces fight against the Venatori to prevent Corypheus from seizing power in Perendale.
WHEN: Early November.
WHERE: Perendale, Nevarra
NOTES: Violence.

On the edges of Corypheus' territory, Perendale is the site of a major Venatori offensive--a push by Corypheus' forces to take control of the city and push his influence further across Thedas. The Inquisition's forces have rallied to answer the Nevarran governor's desperate plea for support. The battle for Perendale will decide the fate of hundreds within the city's walls.

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"Have you ever known me to refuse a game of fetch with Garahel?" Kain smirks a little as he approaches, noting that she's definitely well occupied. They'll undoubtedly need it, too, so it's best she has enough time to finish.

He turns his attention to Garahel now, reaching down to pet him fondly, before going for that twig. "I hope you're ready for a challenge, you know I throw farther than Inessa."

Garahel barks happily at that, and Inessa shakes her head, a smirk forming. "Blunt, if apt. Wear him out enough, and he'll sleep well for the battle tomorrow." She picks up a new vial. "You know, he wanted me to put on that dragon costume when we left for battle. I had to remind him it would be quickly ruined, unlike his kaddis."

"I'll be sure to do that, then. We'll have a long day ahead of us, after all. And... it was a great costume," Kain remarks, thinking back to the night of the Satinalia revelry. It had all been... rather unexpected. He looks at Garahel, "Your kaddis will also be more useful with its enhancements, unless Inessa managed to enchant that costume of yours."

Which, well, you never know. Kain readies himself with the stick. "Be prepared to go long for this one." He holds it up, winding back and then throwing, giving it a good, steady toss with plenty of momentum.

"I'm not a Formari or a dwarf, so enchantments are beyond my skill." Thankfully, she doesn't want to be guilt-tripped by her mabari into wearing whatever he wants just because he can.

Garahel wiggles with excitement, his mind solely on the ball and Kain's ability to throw it. The moment it leaves his hand, he streaks away in search of his prize. Inessa shakes her head. "My throwing arm is rather decent, thank you, but I do appreciate the spare time to finish these. Afterward, I'll make us some tea."

"This is all too true, I suppose... ah, well, he can still save it for parties. A dragon-mabari sounds like the fiercest and most clever creature to ever live..."

He looks amused, as he watches Garahel run off eagerly. "Well, and I have to admit, you've had considerably more practice, as well... you're probably at an expert level for fetch by now. I'm still improving my skills." He nods agreement. "Tea sounds like a good idea, at the moment." It'll be relaxing at the moment, something to calm their nerves.

"Then give a moment and I'll start on that." Inessa raises her flash to the light for inspection. Satisfied, she places it in the flask before grabbing another. "James has asked to fight alongside us. I believe there's a good chance he will become the next Forces division lead."

That seems to please her. Ser Norrington is a good man with battle experience, and just as importantly, a native Andrastian human. Given the rest of the present leadership's makeup, they definitely need someone who might calm those more anxious about outsiders.

"Good." Kain awaits Garahel's return, watching the mabari running along happily, getting in his exercise for certain. He glances back at Inessa with a nod of agreement when she mentions James. They've fought together enough by now, been on enough missions that he has a good sense of the man, alongside other times they've spoken.

"Norrington, hm... I could deal with him." The Inquisition division leader isn't his true leader, that would be Alistair or Nathaniel, as he still considers himself more of a Warden working within the Inquisition than an Inquisition member who is also just a Warden on the side. But, he still has to answer to them in some way, so he'd prefer the leadership be tolerable. "He's one of the finer Templars I've met. He's always reminded me of Cecil in that way. He's one of the few who... takes their responsibilities in the right direction. I think that this could work out well."

"He's a man of good sense, one with the experience of a native who can balance out our rifter division heads." Inessa smiles as Garahel returns, all smug with his prize. "Not that we don't answer to the Wardens in the end, but what happens within the Inquisition still affects us regardless.

Have you heard from your friend Cecil lately?"

"Good point there... Nothing against rifters, of course, but a native in such a role is good for building trust with outsiders." He knows the Inquisition still doesn't always have the best reputation, that they've gained it in some areas of the world, but still have work ahead of them in others. He nods agreement. If ever the Wardens had some disagreement and broke ranks, he knows he'd follow them at once. But for now their goals are the Inquisition's.

He nods. "He and Rosalie are settling in well to married life, though he complains often of being entangled in various noble quarrels and the like. It sounds very wearying, and reminds me that I made the right choice in joining the Wardens instead. That life isn't for me. He really sounds as if he needs to take a vacation."

What he doesn't tell her is that he also has most certainly been asking his best friend for advice on impressing one's girlfriend. Well. Not directly, because Kain has a hard time communicating. But in the most round-about, indirect way, he's asked Cecil some 'hypothetical' questions. Between that and advice he's gotten from among the Inquisition he thinks he's ready. Once they're home and have some downtime, he intends to put his plan into action too.

"So much for hoping that the end of the War of the Lions would lead to a lull for the Game." Inessa shakes her head, carrying nothing but disdain for the royals who tore their empire apart for the same of it. At least Kain's friends seemed to be a decent sort, but anyone playing the Game is in danger, as much from themselves as others. She's just as glad Kain isn't entangled in that mess, as it would be more than she herself would want to endure.

"You can always invite them to Kirkwall, when there's time. I know there isn't much to spare, but I would never discourage your friends from visiting." She's interrupted by Garahel's insistent barking. Throw it again, Kain!

The Game is a tedious tradition, one which Kain hopes to never deal with again. What little experience he'd had with it had been... frustrating, to say the least. He can only play the kind of game involving swords. Battle is so much more straightforward, kill or be killed. He's glad not to be involved with any of it, too, though he also hopes for the best for his friends. It's not like it's exactly been a popular thing, Cecil marrying a mage and all.

"I'm glad you like them. They like you, as well, you know. Both have asked about you. I've... I told them about us. They both have been very encouraging." They're his childhood friends, and mean so much to him, so he's just relieved that everything has gone so well for them. "I'm sure they'd enjoy a chance to get away for a while. I'll have to ask, sometime. It's been a while since I've seen them." Not since their wedding, really.

"Go long, boy, this one will be out of sight!" Kain gives another impressive, strong throw.

And Garahel is off in a flash. For someone of his size and bulk, the mabari's pace is pretty effortless. He has the perfect incentive, after all.

Inessa smiles, both at that and Kain's news about his friends. Their opinions are important to him, she knows, and it's good to know they approve. That isn't something she wanted to take for granted, even when all signs indicated they wouldn't protest the match. "Please do. At the very least, they will know they are welcome in Kirkwall, whenever they can spare the time. And yes, we can show off Potato as long as they're careful. You know how enthusiastic she gets, but she'll behave herself if we remind her."

Kain loves watching him run, always amazed at the power in the mabari's stride. He's certainly enjoying himself at the moment, too.

He nods eagerly. "That would be a very good idea. I'd like to see their faces when they meet her. They've been amazed enough by everything I've told them, but to meet a long extinct creature like this in person... nothing else can compare. The old legends don't do them justice." He gets a wistful expression. "And it'll be good for Potato to meet new allies, too, so that she gets used to behaving properly."

"Yes, though I hope they don't expect her to carry them. She's been very clear that the only riders she will accept are us, and that seems unlikely to change." Inessa knows non-Wardens have bonded with griffons, but it's still a very unlikely thing, and not going to happen for those who are only visiting. She listens to Garahel pace around to find the stick as the day's light slowly wanes, setting aside a treat for him when he's done. Now it's time to work on that tea.

"Nor would I ever ask such a thing of her. We must always respect the griffons' decisions, after all. We're really quite fortunate that she even chose us at all. I'm sure they'll be satisfied enough with seeing her, though. Neither of them shares my fondness of heights, anyway." He can remember many times over the years when he'd be perched dangerously at the edge of a cliff, or walking along one, much to his friends' dismay. Not to mention, all those trees he always ended up in. They could never quite climb as high as he could.

As Garahel races back to Kain, Inessa nods. "I admit I don't share that fondness to the level that you do, in any circumstance. However, I feel secure enough on Potato. She's so well-coordinated that I haven't worried about losing balance or falling in some time." Only when Potato was just young enough to carry them but still inexperienced did Inessa have genuine concerns.

Kain is ready as Garahel returns, motioning for him to give him the stick so that he might prepare another throw.

"I certainly would trust her entirely with our lives." Which is more than can be said for other people, sometimes, so she has a lot going for her. "And if she can even make you comfortable with flight, then... that goes to show how truly incredible she and her kin are. The Wardens have needed something like this for a long time, to boost our morale."

"I just hope we can find more nests frozen in time. The amount we have now is not truly enough to see a lasting resurgence. I know we should enjoy what we have, but...it remains on my mind, often." Inessa falls silent, setting up the tea for when the water's heated enough but also pensive about the subject.

Kain's gaze lowers, and he nods slowly. It's certainly something he's thought about, as well. It really is important that they keep it in mind. "I know. We've all been excited about their return, and rightfully so, but in the long term..." What use will it be if this is the sole generation of griffons? They could perhaps reproduce among themselves, but with such a small population, that isn't so sustainable over a long enough time. "This means we'll have to keep searching any probable locations, so that we might find more..."

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[OPEN] Smoke and Mirrors: Perendale

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