[OPEN] I know dark clouds gonna gather 'round me

[mactears]

WHO: Loghain + OPEN
WHAT: A catch-all for Loghain for November.
WHEN: Throughout the month of November.
WHERE: The Gallows, Kirkwall, Sundermount.
NOTES: None yet, will update as needed. Starters for specific characters under the cut.

I. SUNDERMOUNT (OPEN + MORRIGAN)


The woodsman who had placed the cabin up for let likely hadn't expected for Loghain Mac Tir, the Traitor Teyrn of Gwaren and father to the Queen of Ferelden, to become his tenant, but there it was. He paid well for this private retreat in the wilderness, and with a promise to make some modest improvements to the property, one can scarcely suggest that the land owner himself is coming away at a loss.

There's a single-paddock stable attached to the cabin, which is where Sooty now rests eating from her feed back, while Loghain chops wood for the wood stove. Lying on the ground some distance away from him is a peculiar-looking dog--clearly part mabari, but with the unmistakeable ruff of a wolf around the face and hackles, too. Every so often, she rises up from where she rests in the grass observing Loghain's work with intelligent topaz eyes, and trots off into the undergrowth, only to come back sometime later to find another place in the sun to rest.

When he isn't in Kirkwall, this is where he spends a great deal of his time:  fixing up this run-down cabin, and trying to befriend the strange dog that now hangs out around the property.



II.  WARDEN OFFICES (ALISTAIR + NATHANIEL)


Alistair and Nathaniel Howe wish to speak with him.

In Loghain's experience, this can go one of two ways:  he's being ousted, or he's being murdered.

Nevertheless, at the appointed time he arrives outside the Wardens' office and knocks once to announce himself. "It's Loghain," he calls, then rests his hand on the latch without pressing it yet.



III. THE LIBRARY AT NIGHT (TEREN)


While much of the drama surrounding his initial appearance at the Gallows has died down during the intervening months, the easiest time for Loghain to conduct any research in the library is still after dark, when the rest of the researchers and students have long gone to bed and there's no one but himself present to peruse the shelves.

He'd laid out his old notes from Maric's initial disappearance across his chosen work station, along with maps of northern Tevinter and some other assorted reference books, and paces behind his desk, as is his wont, while considering them. The wolf-dog that rests beneath the table dozes, but every so often opens her lambent gold eyes, ears pricked and alert.



VI.  DARKTOWN (ANDERS)


It is some time after the company's return from Blackmarsh that Loghain makes his way into the streets of Darktown, dressed in a set of unremarkable brown and grey work clothes so that he won't be so easily noticed or identified. The dog isn't with him; she's well enough--and independent enough--to be left to her own devices on Sundermount during the daylight hours.

Reaching the clinic, he steps over the threshold and searches out Anders in a glance. Not wanting to disturb him from his patients, however, he hands back, patient.



V.  LOWTOWN (CARVER + OPEN)


Loghain isn't much of a drinker, but the only place to do that around Kirkwall appears to be the Hanged Man--which is where he is now, seated alone at a seat in front of the hearthfire, gaze alternating between resting on the fire and examining the occupants of the tavern. A few people have, over the past several months, identified him, and even given him some trouble, but generally not at this hour early in the evening, before the city has time to get drunk enough to make its worst decisions.

So here he sits with a tankard of ale, unwinding, and making himself available for conversation to whomever happens to come along.

Comments

II

[pinprick]

Nathaniel opens the door looking fairly nonchalant. His feelings on Loghain have been coming toward a center lately, and the result of that is that he has suggested this course of action to Alistair. He wordlessly lets Loghain come in before shutting the door and coming to stand by Alistair.

"Senior Warden," he begins. "Now that you've had some time to adjust here in Kirkwall, and we have had time to consider, we have a proposition for you."

V

[unshadowing]

Carver's heard the rumor. Murmurs of a name that's not well liked amongst the remaining Fereldan residents of Kirkwall. It's been mentioned amongst the Wardens as well, but Carver's yet to have seen the man himself. Until tonight.

Surprisingly, he doesn't recognize him right away. Just a casual glance in his direction at first as he goes up to the counter to order a drink. But the face nags at him, that pulling familiarity coupled with the frustration of not being able to recall quite where that familiarity comes from. Carver mulls over it for a time, even after his drink arrives. It's not until after he takes his first sips that it clicks.

And honestly, there's a moment where he wants to take that drink and hurl it at his head. But he knows he can't, and he won't.

His following instinct is to just ignore the man. But even that might be troublesome. Whatever his feelings towards Loghain, they're both Wardens. Sooner or later, they're going to wind up working together. Maybe he could try and shove it to the side, pretend like everything's fine, but knowing him, sooner or later it'll come out. Might as well grab the druffalo by the horns and deal with it now.

Carver takes his drink and meanders over to Loghain, leaning against the wall next to the fireplace. "So, about how many drinks and or punches have been thrown at you since you showed up?"

III

[doneisdone]

Anders gave Teren a draught that will help her with her insomnia, but it doesn't always work, and... well, she doesn't always want it to. Sometimes it's important to be awake at night. At least that's what she tells herself.
She's wandering the halls of the various Gallows buildings when her eye catches the candlelight emanating from the library. Peering in, her good eye squinted, she sees a familiar silhouette pacing within.

Rather than speak and startle him, she steps inside, her gaze immediately moving to look over the contents of his desk. Call her a suspicious old bat, but... well, one can never be too careful.

i;

[arcaneadvisor]

Sundermount is large enough to go days without seeing a single soul; Morrigan who had once craved the world beyond the Wilds now seeking solitude again when the other prospect is her work in Kirkwall, with all of it having to be conducted in the Gallows of all places.

Kieran is with her though somewhere ahead, racing about with his new and improved practice sword courtesy of his favourite lady that he lives with, enjoying the freedom of the wilds when Morrigan--

Well, a new neighbour. For a given value of neighbour at least. With a curious hound likely to draw the attention of her son once he's done vanquishing whatever foes his he's found out here. (Spiders leave well enough alone, perhaps they recognise their two-legged brother.)

"Your hound fits the tales I heard returning to the Wilds," she calls out as she approaches, staff in the crook of her elbow since one can't be too careful in some parts of Sundermount. "Mabari lost from Ostagar who bred with the wolves in the swamps. A fitting companion for out here."

V

[faithlikeaseed]

“Is this seat taken?”

Myr’d been told—more than once—that he ought to keep out of Lowtown alone. It’s advice he’s taken the letter of and not the spirit; when the Hanged Man is so much a center of the Inquisition’s social life, it’s hard to stay away from. So of evenings he’s awake, he’s become accustomed to tagging along with any group headed to the tavern from the Gallows—to spend an evening with them. Or—increasingly—by himself, because he hasn’t much felt himself since the Blackmarsh and the thought of company beyond background noise had begun to pale against the lure of the hearth and solitude. (He tells himself it’s because winter’s coming on, without real conviction.)

So: Here he is with a tankard of something warm and mulled, fixing a hopeful look in Loghain’s direction with not the faintest idea who it is he’s walked up on. Only that there’s someone near his usual spot and perhaps talking to that someone might not be so bad an idea.

VI

[justice_is_blond]

He sees Loghain come in, keeping an eye on the door is a habit that he's not about to stop, but it's several minutes before he's free to come over. Once two patients are treated Anders washes his hands and grabs a towel on his way to greet the man.

"What brings you down here? I'm glad to see you're upright and not dripping blood all over the place."