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

[lyriumcarved]

"I was hoping you would say that. There's too much ice here for any one person to manage alone. Why don't we start over here?" He gestures nearby, to the area where he's primarily been working. It seems pretty unending at the moment, with a lot to break down... but maybe between them they can make some good headway. He readies his sword again. "I'll get this spot, here."

[gatheringstorm]

"Perfect." Glancing over, she nods to that and readies her staff. Once she's in position, Korrin unleashes a burst of flame, engulfing the ice. Hopefully that will melt it enough to make the next part a little easier.

[lyriumcarved]

Meanwhile, Fenris gets to work on the section he's claimed, raising his sword high and giving a powerful downstroke. He does this again, repeatedly, starting to glow by the end of his efforts. The ice cracks and crumbles away as he works, and he starts to see some good progress after a few moments. From the look of the flames nearby, it seems things are going well for Korrin too.

[gatheringstorm]

It's tempting to summon her spirit blade and slice through the ice, and maybe she will at some point, but for now Korrin sticks with fire. They need some ambient heat or they won't be able to keep at this for long. She uses her staff as well, the lightning striking and cracking the ice further. Korrin narrows her eyes and begins to use more force than is strictly necessary; these ice blocks can substitute as a punching bag for now.

[lyriumcarved]

Yes, exactly, punching bags. It’s worth picturing the ice as an enemy to smash into. Fenris is doing that right now, envisioning them as magisters he’s hated or… you know, Anders, from time to time as well. It’s actually very cathartic. He continues with the smashing, giving stroke after stroke, watching the ice continue to crumble away.

“Now we’re finally getting somewhere…”

[gatheringstorm]

She pauses only to energize what's left, moving it out of the way. "After this is over, how about a game of Wicked Grace by the fire with some of that mulled wine?" It's the most social she'll have been in a while, but Korrin trusts Fenris not to push her limits there, just as she wouldn't for him.

[lyriumcarved]

"I was hoping you would be up for something like that." He nods, thoroughly looking forward to getting in and warming up, not to mention grabbing a drink after all of this hard work. But then, there never really needs to be an excuse to enjoy a drink or several.

He smashes apart the last bit remaining in his area, kicking or pushing the broken pieces of ice away with his sword. That ought to do it.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin paces and peers around, melting a stubborn patch of ice in her designated area and looking for any more to likewise melt before glancing to Fenris with a nod. "This looks better; less likely to cause an accident, at least. Do you see any other trouble spots, or should we move on?"

[lyriumcarved]

Magic... does have its uses, even he has to admit that much. It made this job go by all the faster. Even so, he's glad they could split up a bit so he was well away from her area she was casting.

"I'd say we're done here... and not a moment too soon, it seems to be getting colder by the moment." The weather has been bitter and wintery for a good while now, and it seems to be only worsening, the past few days. There are a few snowflakes on the air, too.

[gatheringstorm]

"Yeah, no shit." She glances up and scowls at the clouds above; it's not as bad compared to Skyhold's weather, but she'll still dislike it anyway. "I don't trust it not to get worse, but at least we don't have to take a boat to go anywhere. Let's get out of here, before we freeze."

[lyriumcarved]

"After some of our recent escapades, I'd be fine without ever traveling on a boat again." Not that he'll likely have a whole lot of choice in the matter, if it comes to it, but even then... even then he still likes to tell himself he's still free, still taking these Inquisition missions of his own will. He can still step away at any time. "I also like the prospect of not freezing as well. I'm ready."

Time to go inside and seriously warm up.