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[the_effect_she_has]

WHO: Katniss and You
WHAT: A week in the life of a Mockingjay
WHEN: Covering the first week of Haring
WHERE: All around Skyhold
NOTES: Warnings for possible suicidal triggers via music.

Katniss Everdeen is a young woman who does not like to be idle when it can be helped, especially when she is waiting to know where she can help. So if you are looking for the rather brusque 'Some Other Archer', you will find it hard to miss her.

1. Distributing Food and Supplies Through The Survivors

Skyhold has literally become the pilgrimage of hundreds who are seeking to flee from Corpheysus's reign of terror, who are looking for balance in a world gone mad without a Divine, or have lost their homes in one of the many wars blossoming across Thedas. Many of them came without a stitch on their backs, or food to feed themselves -- or their families.

Yet, in the last week, a tall young woman with serious grey eyes and dark hair braided along the side of her head has been handing out provisions - fresh meat mostly, and cleaned leathers and warm furs. Candles, cooking fat, and there are even healing poultices, simple things. She asks for nothing in return, and thanks makes her nervous -- but she is there almost every day to offer assistance where she can. Children make her easier - she brings them necklaces made of leather and small stones, and little toys made of bone.

Do you meet here here or ...

2. Outside in the training areas outside of Skyhold

Someone has taken the time to set up what can only be considered a crude archery training area, out of old barrels and crates, with targets painted on. But it's not just straight targets and dummies, no. It's practically an obstacle course - with the targets being at different heights, and various objects that one had to move around to get a clear shot. It's not just a test of accuracy, it's one of agility and of quick thinking.

Katniss trains here every day, practicing her shots in a dozen different scenarios. Up high, down low, jumping and rolling out of the way to make a shot. Shooting and moving at the same time, weaving between targets. She wants to challenge herself, that's clear enough. Against what? Everything, apparently.

Want to join? Want to gawk? Want to take your barrel back? Come and speak with her, unless you want to speak to her ...

3. Alone On The Ramparts

It's the song that will capture your attention. A beautiful, clear female voice will echo down to you as you climb the stairs to the ramparts, perhaps to go on guard duty. Perhaps only to see the stars. Yet while the voice will make you smile, perhaps, the song itself might just chill you down to the bones.

Or at least wonder who would sing such a song.

"Are you, are you?
Coming to the tree
Where they strung up a man they say murdered three
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree

Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Where the dead man called out for his love to flee
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree

Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Where I told you to run, so we’d both be free
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree

Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Wear a necklace of rope, side by side with me
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree

Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Where they strung up a man they say murdered three
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight in the hanging tree..."

If you go hunting down the voice, you'll find it soon enough. Katniss is sitting with her back against the ramparts, looking up to the sky and singing upwards to the stars. As if she is trying to reach someone with her voice that she just can't seem to get to.

Will you come and sit with her, or pass by?

Comments

[the_effect_she_has]

"I never met her. I never even knew she existed, until I got back home to the Hinterlands. But if it hadn't been for her ... those who murdered my sister would have escaped justice." Katniss's voice was soft, and her eyes were distant, "I owe her a life, even if she is not here to collect it."

She looked up at the other woman, before her mouth twisted. "So there are more idiots trying to save the world than ending. That's good. Our odds are better." She sighed, leaning back to the stone. "I just care, though. I don't have a cause ... not really. I'm just a woman with a bow."

[gatheringstorm]

"Hey, it's a start. Harding began much the same way, didn't she? And she's one of the best people we have now. That you care is enough, you can find a cause later...or it'll find you."

Her expression softens as she gently rests a hand on Katniss' shoulder. They may have just met, but seeing that grief touches her nonetheless. "I'm sorry about your sister."

[the_effect_she_has]

"... I didn't know that, about Lace." She paused, then added shyly, "I knew her, long time ago. I always thought she could do better than goat herder. I guess I was right."

She blinks at the hand, but she doesn't move away from it. Instead, she bows her head again. "She's been carried by Falon'din, and she's with our father now. At least ... at least they aren't alone."

[gatheringstorm]

"...Falon'din? An elven god?" Mention of him startles Korrin, who was naturally expecting to hear something about the Maker. That a human would mention him is strange, though she's not about to put down whatever gives Katniss comfort.

[the_effect_she_has]

Oh, right. Well, she doubts that Korrin here is going to mind. She points at herself and simply says, "Half-blood. My parents raised me to worship both the elven gods and the Maker. Although I sort of prefer Andraste."

[gatheringstorm]

Nah, Korrin doesn't mind at all. She just nods, matter-of-fact. Race almost never matters to her and when it does, it's because of her own kind. Well, as much as real Qunari can be called that.

"Ah, that makes sense. I lean Andrastian, too. What the Chantry does with her teachings is another matter, but I can admire the woman herself."

[the_effect_she_has]

"... I think the Chantry gets too caught up in itself sometimes." Katniss said slowly, rubbing her knee a little, "I mean, don't get me wrong. They taught me, taught my sister. Fed and clothed us after my father died, at least until I was able to start hunting again after the Blight. But ... it's really the individuals, and not the group, that make the Chantry ... a beacon."

She smiled, faintly, "Like Andraste."

[gatheringstorm]

"Like the Herald, too. I'd bet anything she'll be added to Chantry legend sooner or later. You know, when it's convenient for them and they forget that we were labeled heretics for following." Korrin does listen and nod to the positive aspects, though, not discounting those. "That said, I've seen some lone chantry people out there who try to make a difference. They don't have nearly the support they should, but still."

[the_effect_she_has]

"She had better be. I'll put her up for ...whatever you need for that, myself." She was a woman who deserved to be remembered. Even by those who didn't know her personally. A faint snort, "Maybe we all will be. We'll have plaques in Val Royeau and statues in Redcliffe."

She heaved in a deep breath, and let it out, "Then ... we should see that they get it."

[gatheringstorm]

"Damn right." Korrin response with a snort of her own. "Statues, eh? I'd pay to see them actually put up a qunari statue, that'd confuse the hell out of everyone who calls us 'oxmen savages'. At you'd get a badass pose with a bow, I assume."

Speaking of race.... "How have people here been, about treating you fairly? For the elf-bloodedness, I mean. Is there anyone who needs to be set straight about that kind of crap?" That's not the safest question to answer, at least if Katniss doesn't want anyone punched.

[the_effect_she_has]

"Not sure about that - they're not really for honoring half-bloods either. However, if I get a statue, so do you." She mocked doing a full-draw, her eyes narrowed, before she snorted, "As if any of us are really here for the glory ..."

She looked back at her, her gaze narrowing further, "There have been a few - but I've set them straight myself." With arrows. "However, Cu - the Commander made it clear that if anyone made comments I was to report them." She paused, then scowled, "Have they been making comments about you?"

There might be a report in Katniss's future -- along with more arrows, damn it.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin smiles, not doubting Katniss' ability to stand up for herself. That doesn't mean she won't underscore it by being a 'scary qunari' if necessary, though. At that question, she huffs and shakes her head.

"They're smart enough to keep that out of earshot, though I've caught looks here and there when they think I don't notice. It's mostly the newer ones; those who have been around here long enough either get to know me or know that I'm not going to put up with any crap. Stay here long enough, and I suspect it'll be the same for you, too."

[the_effect_she_has]

Oh no, Korrin had no worries there. Katniss was no six foot tall Qunari, but she was five nine and as mean as a bear if she was pushed too far.

"Maker, I hope so. I would hate to have to take to task every single idiot who thinks being elvish is lesser. I wouldn't have any time to fight the forces of darkness." She sighed, quietly, "...The Commander wants this Inquisition to be for everyone. What is so hard to understand about that? We need to come together, not hold onto old prejudices."

A pause, and a wry smile. "Even my own."

[gatheringstorm]

"I know what you mean on that. And speaking of which, that's damn reasonable of him. It's weird to think that he was a Templar at some point, though maybe the 'reasonable' part is why he left. I never bothered to ask, but if he's ever not surrounded by all those agents sometime, I might."

Maybe. Korrin hasn't sought him out and he always seems busy, so she'd feel guilty interrupting important business just to satisfy her own curiosity. Still, she listens to the rumors about what happened at Kirkwall and wonders how much of it's true.

[the_effect_she_has]

"It is weird ... and yet at the same time? He's the perfect example of what the Templars should be. Honorable, straight-forward, hard-working. Willing to accept people despite their backgrounds or mistakes." Katniss paused for a moment, before she tilted her head at Korrin, "Haven't you ever read 'The Tale of The Champion'?"

[gatheringstorm]

"Templars shouldn't 'be', period. The whole system is geared toward keeping mages prisoner. Fuck that." But Korrin just barely holds back from another rant, as she's made her opinion quite clear at this point. She nods to that last question. "I did, and a better warning for one of my kind not to visit Kirkwall I haven't seen. Can you imagine my company there, even briefly? It'd probably send those people into a panic all over again, nevermind that we're not with the Qun."

[the_effect_she_has]

"I don't think they were always like that - I think once upon a time they were something good. But that was once upon a time. And this is now." She glanced over at Korrin, "So ... will the mages and the apostates take care of the blood mages now?"

One corner of her mouth twisted, "Well, then you should know he used to serve in the Fereldan Circle - I think ... right when it almost fell, in the time of the Fifth Blight."

[gatheringstorm]

"Yeah, I know. It was overrun, wasn't it? It went to hell all at once and then the Warden swooped in and saved them all. Between that and the Blight, I'm surprised he didn't just quit then and there. I'll have to get Zevran's version later." Maybe, if she bribed him with drinks and flattery. He likes the attention, to be sure, but that's still not easy subject matter.

"As for blood mages...I've fought them before and I will again. Any mage worth something doesn't need to resort to that crap, and I'd bet anything that the council agrees. The Templars aren't the only ones that can deal with them, and if we're going to advocate mages' freedom, then we need to take the responsibility that comes with it. Which includes those who misuse it. "

[the_effect_she_has]

"It was - abominations and demons and blood mages." She sighed, rubbing one hand over her face. "I was in Redcliffe then - Maker, the tales they told ... I just think more of him, for surviving that. For still wanting to serve." She shrugged her shoulders, her grey eyes bright, "And when it became clear that he needed to make a stand, he did. Brave beyond measure ... " She paused, cleared her throat, and focused.

She hummed softly at that, "Are you going to form like - what was it - Enchanters Colleges again? You know, like ... open circles?" She really had to read more about the Circle of Magi.

[gatheringstorm]

Watching Katniss talk about Cullen that way, she can't help but grin. That crush is so obvious, and perhaps when she knows her better, there will be some teasing about it. Friendly teasing, of course.

The question shifts her focus and she wrinkles her nose. "It'd better not have anything of the Circle in its name, I'll tell you that much. I don't know the details yet, other than that everyone disagrees about everything but that we need to look out for our own interests. Predicting what will come of this right now seems nearly impossible. I know I'd like something where the interests of fellow apostates can be respected, but I have no idea what will come.

...ugh, I can't escape politics no matter where I go."

[the_effect_she_has]

Honestly the only people it is not obvious to is probably Cullen, and just how smitten she is, is utterly lost on Katniss.

"... it could always be called the Magical Square instead." She states, with a completely straight face. She looked thoughtful, "What about outside people? People who aren't mages?"

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin snickers in amused surprise at that suggestion, then shakes her head. "Thanks, I needed that."

The questions make her brow furrow, though, and she quickly changes her focus. "You mean how we'll interact with them? I know the council plans to police misuse of magic, so some idiot mage doesn't decide to burn down a fruit stand and think he can get away with it. But I don't think any set rules are in place, not yet. I'd like there to be something more, though, so non-mages can learn not to fear us. Keeping people secluded away in Circles or on the run has only contributed to that fear. When people have more exposure, learn to see us as actual people ourselves...well, some of them will still be bigoted assholes, but hopefully less of them."

[the_effect_she_has]

"You looked like it." Katniss said, with a faint smile, then she shakes her head slightly, "No ... like, are you talking to common people? To see what they think should happen? Getting opinions outside of the Circle of Magi? I only ask because - well - I know we're not mages but I would be curious to know what you all decide, and how you decided it."

[gatheringstorm]

That gives Korrin pause and she mulls that over for a while, not having seriously thought about non-mage people opinions, other than Templars and Chantry-folk. But for a few reasons, it's not a bad idea.

"As long as said people aren't going to try and shut me in a Circle, I'm willing to listen." Really, that's her major sticking point. She's never going to be imprisoned in a tower or go through a Harrowing, just let them try it. "When it comes to mage issues affecting them, it's only fair. What do you think should happen?"

[the_effect_she_has]

She shrugged her shoulders. "I just think ... when the Mages decided to break free, and the Templars decided to fight them, the people who got hurt the worst were just - every day, normal people. People who now don't trust either side. Giving them a voice would probably help you all with people not screaming 'Circle, Circle!'"

Katniss counted off her fingers, "I tell you right now - mostly what we'll want is - No Blood Magic. No Fighting Where There Are People."