faderift | [ OPEN ] The sky is on fire, at least that is the word out in the world

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[ OPEN ] The sky is on fire, at least that is the word out in the world

WHO: Adelaide LeBlanc and Various
WHAT: Adelaide returns to Skyhold
WHEN: mid Firstfall
WHERE: Courtyard, Library, Tavern, Garden, Battlements of Skyhold
NOTES: N/A, will update as needed

[ Courtyard A ]

The walk had been a long one. A long, boring, exhausting one- but one she'd made out to the mire and one she made back. Catching the odd ride from a cart on the way up the mountain had made stretches of it easier but her only concern now were a few requests and concerns as given to her by her students through the sending crystals. First thing was first: eat. Change. Rest. Then she could tend to the list of errands that brought her here.

Cloak dusted with snow and weight listing heavily against her staff with each step, she made a weary sight as she strode with unwavering focus to the Hold's doors. Students first, the rest would come later.

[ Gardens ]

Her concerns here were twofold- looking over the elfroot for improper trimming (recreational smoking, Andraste's ass, what were they thinking) and proper growth. Sleeves rolled up, hair bound back she knelt and checked every plant by hand to be absolutely certain, from root to shoot to leaf before moving on to the next. For elfroot, embrium, any plant with medicinal properties in the garden- and then a few that were not. The repetition and examination was soothing for her, a shred of familiarity that reminded her much of the time she'd done the same in the Spire's small garden.

Afterward- well. She began examining trees. For- meddling. Before seeking out a particular dalish mage. While it wasn't the only reason she returned, it had been a large part for her taking the walk back.

[ Library ]

Nothing on the plague as far as Bruce could tell while he was here- she hadn't passed him on the road but he'd indicated that he would be coming down to the mire to help when they last spoke. She did not doubt him his research- but the questioned and rather vexed swearing of the latest round of rifters had her seeking anything on the veil, the fade, and Tevinter magics. She could simply ask Dorian, she supposed, but his was more modern, less ancient. Mug of tea steaming at her elbow she picked through stack after stack of either horribly vague or horribly specific and useless information. Now and then she made a note or sat back, glaring at whatever she read, and muttered under her breath- "Bullshit."

[ Tavern ]

Evening found her at the tavern, eating with her students (glad for her return) and enjoying a solitary glass of wine. No books, no arguments over the state of the garden or the improper use of magic- just a meal. She might even be smiling ever so slightly while she listened to how they spent their days or the progress they've made in their studies in her absence. Now and then she wove her way to the bar proper to order another glass of wine for her other students or a mug of tea for herself, trying her best not to bump into anyone on the way there or back.

[ Battlements ]

Exhausted as the Mire had made her, long as her days have been, Adeliade did not find sleep easily. Between stress and frustration at not finding a cure or cause for the plague just yet or any manner of explanation for the rifters weighed on her more than it ought to. She never pretended to have the answers, never tried to know the whole of a problem. She was a healer and as much as it was in her nature to fix things- she wasn't certain if it was her own mind or Compassion that kept her from rest. Not wanting to bother her students (Roul minded the door in her absence) or anyone else for that matter, most nights found her on the battlements, bundled against the cold as she paced. Perhaps it would wear her out enough to sleep.

[ Courtyard B ]

Later in the day Adelaide can be seen coming up from a part of the hold, carting dust bins and cobweb covered brooms- more than a little dusty herself, and dumping the lot out, beating the broom against the stone side of the building, and taking a moment or two to enjoy the light and the fresh air before she wandered back down. Rinse and repeat, several times, until whatever room she was clearing out below was cleaned to her satisfaction. Needless to say it would take some time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sam? Alright, I'll pester him for a tale in exchange for buying him a drink. I'd do the same for you, if you think it'd help take the edge off.

[Alcohol isn't the solution to all those problems, no, but from what Korrin can see, there isn't much to be done about them at this exact point. A little relaxation might not hurt.]

At the end of a long day, perhaps. Though I am going to have to be mindful- it will not look good if I spend too many nights drinking my frustrations away.

[ Before she'd only worried about the example she set for her students. Now? She was being judged for her position. ]

[Korrin sighs and nods, unable to deny that.]

Fair point, you know some asshole would try to use that against us, whether Templar or someone on the council or whatnot. Still, that just means moderation, not completely abstaining. What else helps you relax?

We are now, whether we like it or not, bound up in a version of The Game. [ The twist to Adelaide's lips makes it quite obvious how well she likes this turn of events. ] Quiet? Which is hard to come by here. The hot springs are relaxing enough when I can find a moment when no one else is using them.

[Korrin makes the exact same expression at mention of the Game, shaking her head.]

Just what I always wanted, you know. If anyone tries to rope me into that more than I am already, it's not going to end well.

[But her mood eases a little at mention of hot springs.]

This probably isn't too popular an hour to be using them now, I'd think. Either everyone's at the tavern, sleeping or quietly being workaholics somewhere else.

For anyone, I should think.

[ The idea of someone trying to make Korrin do anything- it twists a laugh out of her. ]

...A midnight soak does sound like a wonderful idea.

[She grins, taking that laugh as a minor victory.]

A good soak tends to kill higher thought, which sounds like it's needed about now if rest is going to happen. I can't say I won't need it either; though that's more restlessness than anything else.

And what has you restless, Korrin?

[ They're back from the mire, they are warm and dry and with better beds, what has the Vashoth mage unsettled? ]

Most of it's sheer momentum, which tends to happen after a mission. Either I crash and crash hard, or I have to keep going for a while. Right now, it's the latter.

[But it's not all that, and Adelaide said what's on her mind, so it's only fair.]

I learned shortly before we left for the Fallow Mire that the Inquisition has a Qunari -real Qunari- spy working for them. He's not here right now, but at some point, we'll see him again. You know how I feel about Templars? Well, they're even worse. And we might have a common goal at the moment, but I can't forget those horror stories I've heard. Trusting him, working with him...not an option, not for me.

[Her lips form a thin line as she stares past, no longer taking in the mountains but thinking back to what she's heard. The fear of losing her freedom to the Qun is far stronger than what she holds for the Circle.]

What little I know of the Qunari is of how they treat their mages. [ But a spy, in the Inquisition? Knowingly employed? That...

Desperate times make for strange bedfellows but it is more than a little discomfting. There was a reason, most likely, but what reason they could have for continuing it- she doesn't think on it. For the moment the problem isn't entirely relevant. But upon the Qunari's return, it would be. ]

Who, if I may ask? Do you know?

[Korrin nods, sighing deeply.]

The Iron Bull, leader of the Chargers. I've spoken to him a few times, before I found out. He seemed like a decent guy then, if a little wary of my being a mage. But knowing he's Ben-Hassrath, one of their enforcers...that brings up a lot of bad memories for people I know, and I'm worried for them as well as myself.

I've met him. Just the once but-

[ He helped break up the scuffle after the Herald's wake. He'd been large and intimidating and...

Apparently she had not been wrong to have her fears. ]

He seemed pleasant enough. I suppose that is the job of a spy, to seem personable.

I didn't think it was the job of a spy to tell people he's one, but he must have, since he's open enough for Krem to tell Kas about it.

[That's another can of worms, and she paces, wound up all over again just thinking about it.]

The Chargers are good people, all of the ones I've met, and I'm sure Krem would vouch for the rest. I'd hate to see them get caught up in anything because of Ben-Hassrath crap.

Sort out who is made more suspicious by the announcement- for they are the ones with the most to hide. [ And those that would fight hardest to keep their secrets. ]

Merde. Krem either thinks him above using the position for it's intended purpose, or does not know the depth of the damage it might do.

[Korrin nods in grim agreement to that uttered profanity and the rest.]

He's pretty convinced that the Chargers can keep their leader in check...and if they can't, that he'd be able to do something about it. But that's not a position I want him to be in, him or anyone. Want to know something really ironic? I was strongly tempted to join them ever since meeting up in the Hinterlands. Now, there's no way. Not with a leader that thinks of me as a 'dangerous thing', and who'd probably recapture my Tal-Vashoth friends, if they could. Or at the very least pass on information making that possible.

On the one hand at least the Qunari are quite honest about how they see mages. It is disgusting and distressing, but it is honest. When a human or a templar sees a mage as a thing they are never quite so clear on the point. On the other...

[ She sighs, staring out into the night. ]

Fuck them.

[That gets a huff of grim amusement from Korrin.]

Fuck both of them. Either it's denying we're people at all, or it's all done 'for our own good'. We can't win. My parents are convinced that the Qunari will try invading Thedas in their lifetime, though, as is just about every Tal-Vashoth I've ever met. Given how chaotic things are now, wouldn't this be the perfect time for them to try and 'restore order' in their own way? So I'm not convinced that a greater threat will truly help us.

Build an empire on pillars of salt and sand and it will hold until the first rain. They can come. They can try. There will be death that far outweighs whatever land they gain in the attempt. [ Adapt or die- that is one thing that she can understand. Convert or die? No. Never. It is not something she wishes for anyone, least of all the students she fought so hard to protect. ] The sooner we see the rifts sealed and order restored, the sooner we can act to prevent it.

Trust me, I have a lot of incentive to hope it happens that way. We've already seen far too much death, but it'd still be better than the alternative. Of that, I have no doubt.

[Korrin knows she would never make it in the Qun anyway, but she'd rather die than have them even make the attempt to control her. And if she could, the Vashoth mage would be sure to take down as many as possible with her.]

At least it hasn't happened yet.

If we are careful? It never will.

[ It is too much to hope for, too much to plan against and she-

She minds her students. Minds the other mages. ]

...the hot springs sound like a fine idea now, wouldn't you say?

[Ah yes, the hot springs. Having vented in turn, Korrin's now eager to do something a bit more constructive.]

Indeed. I'm ready to stay there as long as it takes to shake this off. Probably until I'm red and pruney, but so what.

After you, Korrin.

[ If only to have a block from the wind. ]

[Korrin chuckles, having similar thoughts.]

Alright, I'll be your buffer.

[She does that often enough for everyone else, why not Adelaide? Her pace is relatively quick, but she makes certain not to leave her companion behind by accident.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ OPEN ] The sky is on fire, at least that is the word out in the world

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