[CLOSED STARTERS + OPEN] Month long catch all

[aceso]

WHO: Christine + closed starters + OPEN
WHAT: Meeting new people and catching up with friends/acquaintances throughout Firstfall
WHEN: spanning the entirety of Firstfall whenever convenient for you character
WHERE: The Gallows, the docks

{ open to all: wildcard option }
Christine's schedule rarely deviates. She arrives at the Gallows in the morning, heads to the kitchens for tea, then her office where she spends a few hours. If it's a red lyrium research day, she can be found heading towards the basement where they have a warded laboratory for experiments, though no one except her team is actually allowed inside, so you'll have to catch her on the way. If it's not such a day, she heads to the infirmary and heals patients for several hours as well. Add in lunch and moving between rooms and buildings to see people, and she's pretty easy to find.


{ closed to adalia }
The day dawns foggy with a crispness to the air as people awake and attend to their duties at the Gallows. For Christine, it's an early morning trek from her house in Lowtown to her office in the central tower, but today she stops first at the infirmary to see to her patients from the day before. The fog closes in around the island and she steps out from the infirmary, producing a small wisp of light that she sends out ahead of her to light her way to the tower. Along the way, she nods politely to those she passes, well aware that some still don't like seeing a mage perform magic openly.

Though she has reports to read in her office, she's in no rush to start, and will be making herself a cup of tea before she dives in. That time can also be used for conversation, should anyone need her.


{ closed to skadi }
Though she's spent time with Skadi in the past, there is still much about the woman Christine has yet to discover. In particular, she's interested in learning about the hold gods that Skadi grew up with, and what being a Spirit Warrior is like. One afternoon, she sets aside her work a bit early to meet with Skadi over at the stables, where they can take out horses and have an open conversation without eavesdroppers.

She arrives promptly at the time they agreed upon and gives Skadi a smile. "Good afternoon. As you can imagine, I am looking forward to discussing the Fade and spirits with you."


{ closed to carlos }
Now that he's more settled in, Christine is happy to take Carlos under her wing and instruct him with working as a healer within an Inquisition base. After showing him around the place, she's set him loose to tend to patients, with herself hovering close by in case he needs help or a second opinion. She's also ready to swoop in should she feel he's making a mistake, but she hasn't seen reason to just yet.

Standing within earshot, she organizes a set of potion bottles so their labels all face outward again, and waits to see how he handles this latest case.


{ closed to elros }
Despite the Inquisition's remodeling, Christine really only stays in the Gallows for a few hours at a time because her office and the infirmary are there, not to mention their research laboratory for red lyrium, tucked away behind warded walls in the basement. She will never be comfortable in a place where her fellow mages as well as Tranquil were treated so horrendously by the Templars. Their pain and sorrow will forever be etched into the stonework. And so she can often be found down at the dock where the boats transport people from the island back to Kirkwall's docks, staring out across the water. It's better than sitting in the shadow of those imposing towers, much like the shadows of the Templars who used to breath down her neck at Montsimmard.


{ closed to myr }
It isn't often that Christine speaks out about her thoughts on the Circle system. She well knows that Montsimmard Circle was more lenient than other Circles, but that didn't mean it wasn't a prison in her eyes. Yet the fact she doesn't voice these thoughts out loud means assumptions might be made, such as today. Out walking in the Gallows, Myr's sensitive ears will likely pick up the end of a conversation between Christine and another woman.

"It's just... well, you seemed so level-headed, I only assumed you were a Loyalist."

"Libertarians are not without sense. Those who claim the title, then use blood magic or make deals with demons to destroy the innocent are not Libertarians; they are selfless and psychotic. My ideals are nothing like theirs."

"They are still far too lenient, in my opinion. And as this meeting is for Loyalists only, it seems I can't invite you after all."

"C'est la vie. I wish you a good day, Enchanter."

The other woman sniffs in distaste and her footsteps loudly clack across the stone as she leaves, but Christine stays in place a moment longer before she spots Myr and heads towards him.

"Hello," she begins, unsure if he needs help or if he's perfectly capable of navigating the Gallows unaided. It seems presumptious to ask, but a healer always wishes to help.


{ closed to thranduil }
Today the weather has broke from the near constant cold and drizzle, leaving the sky a brillant blue dotted with flocks of birds migrating north towards warmer temperatures. But Christine is unable to see it, as she's been inside all day, reading reports. And now she must put off going outside for a little longer, as Thranduil has requested to see her. Setting aside her paperwork, she rises and stretches, before making her way towards his office, walking at a leisurely pace because she's always early. Knocking on his door, she announces herself.

"It is Christine Delacroix, ser."


{ closed to the medicine seller }
Christine is incredibly work-oriented, and it's not unusual to see her going over reports, supplies, and the like even when she's supposed to be taking a break. There's only so long a person can work around red lyrium before they need a week long break, and she's in the midst of such a break right now. And even though she's out of work to do, still she heads to the infirmary, reorganizing what's already been organized by herself.

Eventually her hands are empty, there are no patients, and she has to admit defeat with a sigh. Time to walk around the Gallows to see where she can be of use.

Comments

[circleprodigy]

"I hope it will be. If there's a pattern we've overlooked, then perhaps that is how we'll find it." Inessa glances up at Christine, suddenly remembering how much of this she hasn't shared with others outside her project, and how much she's been living in her own head lately, trying to figure it out.

"Anders told me that it was that particular orb which a talking darkspawn -one working for an awakened broodmother- used to transport him, Warden-Commander Cousland, and their team into the Fade. That was the reason for the expedition, to see if we could recover the item so similar to Corypheus' own purpose and study it. I don't know what caused it to go dormant, however, and the Blackmarsh did not reveal this...though the Veil was so thin that it showed a great many other visions."

[aceso]

There's a slight tightening of her jaw at that name, but she stays silent and puts her feelings aside to concentrate on the story being told. Such an item sounds immensely powerful and frightening. Of course, many within the Inquisition fell into the Fade themselves at Adamant Fortress, but still, this is distressing news.

"I hope it does not become active again. That would be a dangerous thing." But she's sure Inessa already knows all this. "I do not envy you the experience. Being a mage gives me quite enough of a connection with the Fade; I would not like visions to come on me unbidden as well."

[circleprodigy]

Inessa notes that reaction to Anders' name but doesn't open that particular can of worms. She wouldn't even mention him at all, except that he's integral to her story. The entire expedition literally would not have happened without him, so she'll give credit where its due.

"It could be a dangerous thing, if we do so without protections or research. On the other hand, an active orb could bring us that much closer to understanding the one Corypheus himself bears. We need that, if we are to stop him." Inessa nods, well aware of the need for caution...but also tired of feeling as though they're treading water rather than making real progress. That has to change.

"It was unsettling, but...interesting, seeing history unfold with my own eyes rather than hearing about it through another. We saw the darkspawn activate the orb, saw Cousland standing before it. We saw the Queen of the Blackmarsh as well, though briefly. That's not an experience I care to repeat."

[aceso]

"Well, I certainly will not lecture you about safely handling this orb, because look at where we are headed," she states, gesturing down the hall towards their laboratory. "I would be quite the hypocrite if I did. You will know how to safeguard your workspace." She hopes. A mysterious elven orb is a little different than lyrium, since they created the cleansing runes.

"Hmm, who was she? The Queen? I have not heard of her before."

[circleprodigy]

Knowing that Christine of all people would understand, Inessa nods as they head down the hall. "We will see what happens, but I have advise that any research taking place be done outside the city limits. We do not want another Temple of Sacred Ashes to take place inadvertently. At least Pel seems to be just as cautious, so I am confident sharing new with the project was the right decision."

The Inquisition isn't going to succeed if they're all keeping vital information from each other, after all. "The Queen of the Blackmarsh is -was- an undead dragon, slain by Cousland and his team after the Fifth Blight. We saw her skeleton where she was slain...and just touching the bone stirred the Veil. We saw her animated once more, very briefly. It was enough to ensure that we did not repeat the incident."

[aceso]

"An undead dragon?" Christine exclaims, stifling any urge to say By the Lady or something equally Avvar and therefore blasphemous here in the lowlands. The Maker hardly even crosses her mind anymore.

She shakes her head in disbelief for a moment before saying, "That is something to keep in mind going forward. If bones can reanimate in places where the Veil is thin... well, perhaps it had something to do with the orb as well." Christine is just glad she only has matters regarding red lyrium on her plate, and nothing else. Inessa is taking on a lot.

Now close to the lab, she sighs and says, "You have come back safe, which is the most important thing I shall take away from this story."

[circleprodigy]

"The bones themselves didn't reanimate, exactly, it was more that touching them provoked a...very lifelike vision of the dragon itself. Her presence lingers in the area, despite her defeat." Inessa tilts her head, thoughtful. "From what I understand, the Veil was already dangerously thin beforehand...though the orb's presence could have made that effect more pronounced."

She nods and manages a small smile Christine's way. "All returned intact, and I'm ready to pursue our mutual course."

[aceso]

"How frightening, even for a vision." She's glad she's never seen such a thing. Seeing the dragons near Emprise du Lion flying overhead was more than enough.

"Good, for here we are." Stopping outside the door, Christine produces a key and unlocks the door, gesturing for Inessa to go in first. There is a little entry hall of sorts, where researchers can put down anything they don't wish to carry in, and another door with cleansing runes and wards placed on the wood. Christine sets down her things and locks the first door behind them. In this way, they stop anyone not authorized from wandering in.

[circleprodigy]

Inessa pauses for Christine, then enters and sets her staff aside, along with her satchel. "I'm here as long as you need me, today. Garahel is with Ciri and I'm certain she'll give him plenty of exercise." Besides, she really just wants to focus and hope that effort pays off. The substance has been too mysterious for too long. That has to change.

[aceso]

"Thank you. I am afraid it is business as usual today. We will not always have such a breakthrough as when we had Samson's armor." But that doesn't mean she's going to slack off. She thrives when she has work to do. Entering the lab, there's a warm glow from the torches lighting up the space, and the form of Sigred at a table, bent forward over her work. Her back is to them, and she doesn't bother lifting her head, though she does know that someone is there. Christine comes over to the side of the table to see what's being done and Sigred flicks her gaze over momentarily. She wears heavy gloves and a kerchief over her nose and mouth.

"Just breaking off pieces for today's potions tests."

Christine nods. To Inessa, she adds, "We could prepare the potions in bowls to see how the red lyrium affects them."

[circleprodigy]

"Hello, Sigred." Inessa doesn't really expect a reply when the woman is so intent on her work, but manners are ingrained at this point. She nods at the suggestion, seeing no reason to delay that. "A good use of our time. And I'm aware breakthroughs are rare things, but every bit we do now hopefully builds up to another one later.

...I spoke to our newcomer, Thane. Whatever you plan that relates to his condition or needs, I'm willing to give my full focus."

[aceso]

"Good. Let us get started on that." Christine leads the way, nodding at what Inessa says and releasing a soft sigh. "Yes, I spoke with him as well. I am unsure what tests we could do at present that are not too invasive. On the surface, he still looks perfectly healthy." But that's why she has a team; to work on all this together.

She takes down several shallow bowls from a wall cabinet and carries them back to their work table.

"What do you two think? Can we get through four potions today?" Sigred merely grunts an answer that basically means, It's up to you two.

[circleprodigy]

"We have time, at least. His condition does not seem to be advancing rapidly." Which they shouldn't take for granted, but Inessa will consider a reprieve of sorts until they can hammer out a solid range of tests.

In response to the question and Sigred's grunt, Inessa nods. "I believe so, yes. There's no reason why not. Let's begin."

[aceso]

"At first I assumed it would progress quickly, but having seen him out and about since our first meeting, I have had to rethink that. He may have years yet." She only wishes that in that time, they concoct a way to reverse the red lyrium's effects.

They start with a healing potion, to see how quickly red lyrium effects it. That way they can know what happens to a soldier drinking a healing potion while struck with red lyrium shards. Sigred carefully lowers a small crystal in with tongs, and they watch it as bubbles form around it.