faderift | 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hopefully the fact that she's a rather small, light elf will make up for the rest? Inessa can only hope so, as she holds out her arms to blunt the impact as much as possible. She still loses all the air in her lungs upon said impact, scrambling to hold on so that she doesn't just fall back onto the ice. Perking up, Garahel rushes over to be of assistance as well; if she falls back, he'll give her something to hold onto.

"I'm so sorry--"

That, plus Kain is just a physically well-balanced person in general. Even so, on the impact, he goes sliding back a little, very close to losing his footing. He manages to stop himself at the last minute, moving his feet just so in order to stop from moving. At the same time, he’s putting his arms around Inessa to keep her steady.

“It’s all right… it’s not as if you meant to… or did you?” It’s quite the little excuse to come together like this, after all.

Inessa shakes her head, the chill easily bringing out the blush in her cheeks. "No, this was not a ploy on my part. I was attempting to use my magic to compensate for my lack of actual skill. It worked, for the most part...though I won't complain about how it ended, if you don't."

Kain is all too happy to keep his arms around her, for, uh, for balance purposes, yeah that’s it. He nods in understanding at her explanation, because it does make a lot of sense. Now he gets it, he thinks.

“It did look pretty natural before… I almost couldn’t tell the difference. Hm… Would you like me to help you with a few pointers? You’d only need a few basics, and then your magic could enhance the rest.” He’s not a total expert, just really good at adapting his regular skills to being on the ice. But he’s always willing to help Inessa.

She nods, a smile curving her lips. It's a chance to spend more time with Kain, and she's as much about simple moments like this as she is about Potato pulling stunts in the sky with them on her back. "I'm usually a quick learner, if that helps. Whether or not that will carry over into something more physical than books, we'll see.

Very well, where do we begin?"

Kain also smiles a little, realizing that this is definitely a great way to spend time with her. It's not as if they get to do things like this, very often, after all. He's suddenly very happy about this whole arrangement.

"You'll pick this up quickly. You still have to be well-coordinated to run around flinging spells as you do in battle. Give yourself some credit." Sure, it's not the same as swinging a sword, but she's still got an important role to play out there. You can't sit still in the midst of battle.

He doesn't move much from her, not particularly wanting to do so. But he holds up his hands to keep her steady. "Footwork is probably the best starting point. You want to take it easy, slow and steady... glide along like this." He lets go only to demonstrate for her, keeping his motions good and slow.

Inessa concedes with a small, pleased nod. That Kain's never underestimated her own strengths in battle is a large part of the reason why she'd begun to bond with him so well. She manages to keep steady with his help, watching his movements as though committing them to memory. When Garahel comes over to watch, she chuckles.

"Just what I need an audience to scrutinize. Alright...." Doing her best to follow his instruction, Inessa tries to take it slow. When she starts to wobble, she reaches for his hand. Just for a little support, dragging him down is not her intention.

Mages and magic can be downright terrifying, so he's always given it all a fair amount of respect. Inessa has also saved him countless times in battle, too. He'd never underestimate her. Sure, this skating thing may be a bit different, but... he's got faith in her abilities.

"Are you here to give us points for our skating moves, Garahel?" Kain asks the question wryly. "They have such contests back in Orlais among the nobility, you know. People would sit as judges while participants did all of these impressively over the top moves- much more impressive than I can manage- and award the winner with some expensive prize. They'd have races, as well. It figures, doesn't it?"

Kain takes her hand in his with a pretty natural motion overall, keeping himself steady and stable for her sake. "Just take it easy... it's no race, after all... just let yourself glide along, the ice will help you keep your momentum."

Garahel barks, wagging his tail enthusiastically in response. "We have an eager judge, at least. And I could actually see you involved in that, if your time wasn't elsewhere. You do have that competitive streak."

Not judging, of course. Inessa has it herself, in different areas. She falls silent to watch him intently, then nods. "Alright, I'll try...." She glides slowly and very carefully, not wanting to make her slight wobble worse.

Kain half-smirks. "You should see these skaters, though, they truly have skills beyond my own. Though mainly because they practice it so hard. I simply... bring my battle skills in to the ice." It actually wouldn't be a bad way to train, all things considered, since it provides more of a challenge for balancing, especially.

"But I'm sure if this were my interest more than fighting, I'd do everything I could to prove myself the best at it. By the way... you're doing very well. Just keep taking it slow... nice and steady..." He's sure to keep his hands on her to, uh, guide her along, yes that's it.

Inessa wobbles a little, but Kain's hold helps keep that from endangering her balance. She chuckles a little nervously. "I think more of the credit belongs to you, honestly. Much as I'm now interested to see your battle skills on the ice, I can't help but hope I can keep my distance, off it."

Garahel barks his encouragement, wagging his tail as he's pleased at the progress thus far.

Kain smiles a bit, amused by Garahel's encouragement. "See? He's definitely trying to tell you you're earning high points, even from that obnoxious judge from Val Royeaux." It's a total running joke about such events, the judges from the capital were always the hardest to please.

He takes care not to let go, not about to let her fall. Maybe in a few more moments, once he's sure she'll stay steadier. He rather likes this, though, anyway. "You shouldn't underestimate your own ability. Now, just keep gliding and you'll have it... It starts to feel natural after a while..." He purses his lips a moment. "I wonder if we ought to meet Corpyheus and his main army on ice. It would certainly be a spectacle, and make them all look like fools."

OPEN ↠ HARING EVENT

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