OPEN ↠ HARING EVENT

[faderifting]

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.

Comments

[aceso]

Ponce looks up with interest, even though he has no idea what stairs are. He does however, know what a mabari crunch is, and it's been a long time since the pampered pooch has turned up his nose at one. He leaps from the pile of snow and slides across the ice to hop in front of Inessa, clearly saying Give, give, give!

"Come along," Christine says, skating towards the stairs. "You get a treat if you come here." Ponce drops down to all fours, looks at Christine, back to the treat, then trots after his mistress a few steps before looking back. Garahel's mother is bringing the treat, right?

[circleprodigy]

That she is, and Garahel's in hot pursuit as well. Joining Christine at the stairs, Inessa gently tosses the treats one after another, bending down to remove the ice skates while they're distracted. "I've more, if that's what it takes."

Setting the skates aside, she quickly slips back into her boots before her feet have a chance to freeze more than they have already.

[aceso]

"Oh, do not let him know that," she says as she sits on the stairs, untying her laces. "He will never leave you alone. I have never seen such a small creature be so ravenous. He makes it look as though I do not feed him."

Skates off, she unties her boots from where they hang at her belt and slip them back on before the cold can penetrate her thick socks. Meanwhile, Ponce greedily scarfs down the treat, and probably would have stolen Garahel's had he been quick enough to intercept it.

"Now, come here," she says, snapping her fingers at Ponce, but being that he's still a stubborn little thing, he refuses to come. Sighing, Christine pushes up from the step and airily says, "Fine; stay out here and freeze," before she turns and heads up the stairs. The dog watches her go, standing completely still as she gets farther and farther away. Then, suddenly aware that his mistress is truly leaving him, he hurries up the stairs after her, crossing in front of her because all little dogs tangle themselves around their owners' legs. It is a sacred pact they share, passed down generation to generation.

[circleprodigy]

Garahel has mastered the fine art of inhaling his food as though his life depends on it, so there is no mabari crunch treat to intercept. Not this time, anyway. He trots right alongside Inessa until he realizes that Ponce isn't coming too, and barks at him to catch up. When the little dog scurries after them, Inessa chuckles.

"That's one benefit to having a larger dog, I don't have to worry about Garahel getting underfoot. On the other hand, getting knocked over is a real possibility."

[aceso]

"I must admit, I do not think I could handle a dog I could not pick up. I never thought I would be handling a dog period, but c'est la vie." Christine has come to accept her fate as a dog parent.

Once inside, Christine throws back her hood and smiles as Ponce tries to bite at her feet as she walks. This is common behavior for him, and just because the location has changed doesn't mean his actions will.

"I think if we were to swap pets for the day, I would find a well-behaved boy that I would still worry would knock me over, and you would have a little terror on your hands."

[circleprodigy]

Inessa shakes her head at that feet-nipping, but as long as Christine isn't truly bothered, she'll remain amused more than anything else. Besides, Garahel moves to distract him before long. "I suspect so, but it would be entertaining to see his big attitude compensating for such a small size. Everyone needs at least a little chaos in their lives, don't they?" The last question is directed at Ponce with a smile as Garahel distracts him with a lick.

[aceso]

That last statement makes Christine laugh and shake her head no. "I am the person least likely to welcome chaos into her life, and yet it has arrived regardless of my wants." Ponce remains oblivious to it all, hopping around Garahel to play with him even as they walk towards a nice, warm spot by the fire.

"Perhaps he is good practice. I do not know."