faderift | OPEN ↠ HARING EVENT

OPEN ↠ HARING EVENT

WHO: All
WHAT: WINTER IS HERE
WHEN: Haring 15-Wintermarch 1
WHERE: The Gallows, Kirkwall
NOTES: You can use this post as an event-style mingle log, or just use it as background information for your RP elsewhere!

It's been a chilly month already, but in mid-Haring the temperature suddenly plummets. One day it's merely cold, and the next morning the Inquisition wakes to frost on the inside of the window panes and an icy draft whistling through every crack in the tower's masonry. Downstairs, the pipes that feed the bathing chambers and the kitchens creak in the walls, loud enough to be heard even out in the courtyard, where they run beneath the stones, and around midday, when the sun has failed to raise the temperature above freezing, a blocked pipe finally gives, cracking open to spill water across the central court and send it running down side passages. The whole area floods several inches deep and almost immediately begins to freeze, presenting at first a gigantic, treacherous slush puddle and, after a few hours, a sheet of sheer ice.

Melting a safe path from door to door and laying down sand or wood to keep it from becoming slick again is a simple enough undertaking, but before the entire courtyard can be thawed, someone appears with ice skates—and that’s a better idea, surely, for at least a few days. Anyone who complains about the frivolity can be assured it’s good exercise, not to mention good training for a force that may have to travel or fight on ice in the future.

Temperatures remain cold enough that even some parts of the harbor begin to freeze, first just at the calmest edges of the shoreline, and then the more protected nooks and crannies of the bay, inlets and the spaces between piers and beneath docks. It snows most days--not real storms, just a couple inches here and there--little enough for the window to blow most of it off the icy plain of the courtyard and other wide open, paved spaces, accumulating on branches and in alleyways, and creating growing drifts in corners and against walls.

After a week or so actual chunks of floating ice begin to fill the narrow channels of the harbor, threatening smaller and less-sturdy vessels, and the situation in the poorer parts of the city begins to grow dire. With the Viscount's blessing, Inquisition teams (particularly mages) are called in to help. Some are assigned to the docks, to clear ice that makes landing and unloading treacherous, others to help escort ships into harbor by melting a path ahead. Others are sent into Lowtown to clear ice and snow and to provide warmth and medical attention where needed. At least one mage is sent with each team, and while many neighborhoods are pleasantly surprised and grateful for the quick work fire glyphs make of cold hearths and frozen streets, a few are unable to overcome their distrust, and refuse the teams entry, determined to take care of their own without the help of dangerous outsiders.

In the last week of the year, a true blizzard strikes, snow falling steadily for more than a day, blanketing the city at least three feet deep. Digging out the Gallows will be a group effort, and most non-essential trips outside the base will be cancelled for a few days until travel is less difficult, while those who reside in the city or elsewhere may be encouraged to stay a night or two in the fortress so they might continue to work without traveling through the storm. But on the first day of Wintermarch the First Day feast goes on as planned, with modest but plentiful food and ale served in the Gallows' dining hall for anyone who wishes to celebrate the new year.

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Skadi's born to skate and has made no effort to hide that fact, gliding around the Gallows with easy confidence. She hasn't fallen once or so much as wobbled, and can't help flash a smug grin as the tables are turned and the lowlanders are in her element for a change. That's ripe ground for some good-natured baiting, and she has a habit of skating out of nowhere, causing people to think she's going to slam into them when instead she's able to stop short just fine. Or at least that's what happened until now. But someone skating just as fast as her might throw her off her guard enough for a different outcome.

"Oh, watch out, Skadi!" Ellana says, hands coming up to brace for impact. She hasn't exactly gotten the hand of turning just yet.

Having seen Ellana's skill on the ice, Skadi assumes the elven woman knows what she's doing more or less. That certainly seems to be true from the times she's glanced over, but it also means that she overestimates Ellana's ability to turn away. Even with the warning, she's coming in a little too fast to suddenly divert and adjust.

"Shite--!" And that's how the large bundle of furs that is Skadi slams into the elf, clutching her in an attempt to steady them before balance is completely lost.

"Oof!" she exclaims, breath knocked straight out of her. The action leaves her dizzy for a moment before she can suck in more air, and she's aware that she's starting to drop to the ice. So she tries to re-balance, her legs spreading apart into a split.

"Oh, Fen'harel's ass," she mutters to herself, feeling her thigh and groin muscles pull. She places glove-covered fingers on the ice and slowly pushes herself back up until she can get her legs back together again.

"Sorry! Sorry. I can't figure out how to switch directions."

Skadi herself feels her surroundings blur for a moment, her heart dropping in her chest as for once her balance is not secure. She likewise spreads her legs, and though it keeps her from falling flat on her face or ass, it's hardly comfortable. Wincing, the Avvar woman steadies her breathing and works to straighten herself before offering a hand to help Ellana.

"Whew...sorry, there. That's what I get for assuming you were used to this." She flashes an apologetic grin, brushing herself off. "I can try to show you, but after that, my legs will need a moment to cooperate. That's the closest I've come to losing my balance in a long time!" Far from upset, her tone is almost praising. Ellana's accidentally done what many of her opponents could never manage.

"No, it's okay! I've been going pretty fast, so it must look like I have a clue, doesn't it?" Ellana laughs and takes Skadi's hand to get up the rest of the way. Then she readjusts her woolen hat which was knocked askew in the collision.

"It'd be great if you could give me some pointers." It's a little surprising to see someone so pleased to almost be knocked over. It must be pretty rare to a warrior like her.

"Of course, of course." Skadi pauses to readjust her hood. That it's up is the one concession she makes to the snowfall. "It's all about reflexes and ankles, learning how to adjust as smoothly as possible. You're a mage, aye? Do you know the spell Fade Step? If you've learned how to angle yourself using that magic, it's similar. You have to learn how to glide and aim yourself in one go." And yes, she knows it sounds weird for a warrior to be discussing magic, but she's seen her sister use that spell time and again, learned how she adjusted to it. Freya herself would mention it, if she were here.

She pauses to look Ellana over. "Are you still in pain?" If she needs to heal herself first, Skadi can wait. She really doesn't want this to end in a trip to the infirmary because anyone was overeager. However long this lasts, she intends to be up and active for it.

"Ohhh," she says, eyes lighting up. "I do know it, yes!" And while it is a little strange to her that a warrior knows this, she's much too intrigued by this tip to question where Skadi learned it.

Shaking her head, she continues. "No, no! I've had way worse than a few bumps and bruises. I'm fine." Perhaps a worrying thing to say, since she appears to weigh all of 100 or so pounds soaking wet. But part of the reason Ellana has learned to become a stealth mage is because she can't take many more hits like she has in the past.

"Good, then." Skadi smiles, having been a little concerned about the more slight and fragile elf woman but she's eager to show off. So, she backs up so that Ellana can see better. "Alright, let's see if I can show you without this being an ironic lesson...." She's fairly confident, though, that incident of a moment ago tends to be a fluke.

Starting off, Skadi skates in the general direction of the templar tower before changing source in one fluid motion, aiming for the central tower instead. She does it again, when turning to head back toward Ellana. "Aim...then glide and turn, all in one go. When you do it enough, you won't even have to think about it. Don't overthink it and you'll be fine."

The attentive student watches with interest, nodding along to what Skadi says. It's true that Ellana was probably overthinking how to turn, and that is what causes her to lose her balance. Now that she has the fade step tip, however, she feels this will come a lot easier.

"Okay, here goes." She looks around her to make sure no one will be getting in her way, then she takes off towards the tower as well, doing a fade step and suddenly flying to the left. Her arms are held out for balance, but she realizes she still doesn't know how to stop.

Uh oh.

"Look out!" she warns two women carefully making their way across. They bump into each other trying to back out of the way, and Ellana desperately tries turning again, this time on her own because she doesn't have the mana for another fade step. For a moment it looks like she's tripping all over herself, but finally she swings in another direction and avoids the women, losing her momentum in the attempt.

Skadi comes to a halt to better view Ellana at work, just in case she needs further advice or assistance. She grins at seeing her fade step, for a moment reminded strongly of Freya. When it looks as though there might be another collision, she gets ready to intervene but relaxes upon seeing the elven woman manage.

"Heh, not bad! You kept your balance in the end and didn't slam into anyone, that's the important part. Stopping is the next step, aye? I'll go first; you watch and then try to do the same. This is the part where you'll have it easier than me, once you know what you're doing."

She's certain a smaller, lighter elven frame definitely helps ice-skating, but having done this most of her life, Skadi can compensate well enough. Pushing off again, she'll make another turn in one fluid motion and again, before shifting her weight to bring her to a smooth stop.

"I think it was luck more than anything," she answers in a cheerful tone. "But thanks." Now she keeps a close eye on Skadi's movements, amazed at how she makes it all look so easy. There may be a bit of a challenge in replicating it, but she'll give it a go. By now, people are giving her a wide berth, so she has room to experiment on the ice. She gets going well enough, but when she shifts her weight to stop, she over balances and nearly goes down, putting out a hand to brace herself. She manages to catch herself, but she's bent in an odd position and makes a noise of discomfort as she tries to push herelf upright again.

"IIIIIIIIII think I pulled something there. Yes, definitely pulled something. Ugh."

Racing over, Skadi promptly offers her hand so that Ellana can more easily steady herself, frowning in concern. She's no healer, herself, her expertise solely limited to 'elfroot is good for healing potions' and that's it. "Do you know healing magic, or should I take you to the infirmary?"

"Oh, no, don't worry about it. It'll heal on its own." Ellana waves a hand at the notion, then rubs at her side where the muscles have pulled. "But I think I'd better stop skating around like this, in case I make it worse."

She nods, refraining from the usual lowlander-teasing. The Dalish aren't her people, but she'll save her attitude for the Andrastians who have the real power in Thedas. "Aye, that's for the best. It's less likely to happen the more you get used to the ice, if it's any comfort. But you look as though a seat by the fire and a mug of something warm would do you better, for now."

"Probably because my nose is a lovely shade of pink right now, hmm?" she asks with a soft laugh. "But yes, I think so. If you could help me off the ice, I'll go do that."

"Ah, but of course." Skadi offers an arm, to help guide her toward the edge of the ice, where they can rid themselves of the skates for the time being. "I hope they don't get rid of it too quickly, a little skating could be a good distraction for many around here."

"I hope so too! I'll want to try again once I recover a little." She removes her skates, leaving her in a pair of thick, woolen socks.

"I'd better get upstairs before the cold goes through my socks. But thank you for the lessons! I'll remember them."

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OPEN ↠ HARING EVENT

Collision time?

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