Cannot Find The Words

[el_tybs]

WHO: Samouel Gareth and ANYONE
WHAT: A lots happened since the Fallow Mire. Sam reflects and keeps busy before getting shipped out again.
WHEN: Between returning from Fallow Mire and leaving for War Table operations
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Just the usual.

{Magic Lessons - Before/During/After}
Even though Fallow Mire had been trying, it doesn't mean that he can just take a break from his lessons. Sam is progressing with his Spirit magic with the help of Lady LeBlanc, as well as learning to control Ice spells to a point, though having difficulty. He's also trying to get the grasp on Storm magic with the help of Roul.


{The Armory}
With the new shipment of ores from the Fallow Mire there have been numerous orders for armor and weapons. Seeing as his sparring lessons with Krem have been put on hold for now for... reaons, he spends most late afternoons/early evenings helping with the forges.


{The Library}
He's still having issues falling asleep since the bog so Sam spends a good amount of time in the library in the evenings. That's not the only thing keeping him up. There are a number of crumpled up papers on the floor as he tries to figure out what to say in a letter.


{Wildcard}

Comments

[gatheringstorm]

That nudge shakes her out of that thought spiral and Korrin smirks, nodding. "I guess you're right, just in case. It can't hurt to see about training with the others, either, learning to coordinate as best we can before heading out. The more we can do automatically, without wasting precious time, the better."

It won't be like her days in the Valo-Kas, where they worked so smoothly that most of the time, planning wasn't even necessary. But Korrin won't spend her time longing for what's past, at least for now. If this focus can help them in the present, she's all for it.

[el_tybs]

"Coordinate? Think we'd be able to get everyone together before we even head out?" Not that he's against it, but exactly how would they train? For scouting or for battling? They didn't exactly have time to do both necessarily, or at least not fully. Not to mention he hasn't even met Katniss or Kain.

[gatheringstorm]

"I don't know, but we can find out. Besides, that rifter guy's been training constantly ever since he got here. I bet he'd be up for it." Korrin doesn't know much else about Kain, but she is certain that he's a born soldier. That much is evident. And if he seems dedicated to fighting as way to return, well, that can only benefit them.

"By the way, Adelaide told me something weird and I wanted to talk to you to get the full story. What's the deal with the 'bog unicorn'?"

[el_tybs]

At the mention of his mentor, Sam tilts his head curiously. Something weird that he knew? He purses his lips lightly in thought, trying to figure out what Korrin might be referring to. Certainly it wasn't about Kr-

Bog unicorn.

The name immediately has Sam frowning and narrowing his eyes. "Oh... that." He's quiet for a moment as he considers on how to explain exactly what that was, but instead he just sighs and rubs the back of his head. "Might be easier to just show it then try to describe it. It's down by the stables."

[gatheringstorm]

The name is silly to Korrin, but it's the one she was given earlier. If she'd have her way, it would be called something else or, more likely, not kept at all. Because really, why keep an undead horse? Sure, there's some novelty to it, but she can't imagine riding that thing would do much for the Inquisition's reputation.

"If you have the time, so do I. If I'm going to see that thing, it might as well be with the person who can explain what the hell happened to get it in the first place."

[el_tybs]

"I've got plenty of time right now," he offers. Normally he would have another lesson after this, but since the Mire it's kind of been on hold, so he has more then plenty of time for other things. "Well I wasn't the only one there."

With a shrug and a smile, Sam nods his head towards the courtyards exit. "Maria, Nahariel, and Ellana were there with me. We knew it was a big animal, but we were thinking... more Hart by the reports."

[gatheringstorm]

Following along, and glad that she doesn't have to consciously keep pace with Sam since he's not that much shorter than her, Korrin listens. She smirks at little at mention of a hart, shaking her head. "Poor Nahariel and Ellana. I bet they were disappointed that it didn't turn out to be one, after all. Though I'd pity the hart that got stuck in that bog, anyway. So where'd you find it?"

[el_tybs]

"I didn't ask, but I think they were glad it wasn't for the very reason you said; terrible place for a creature like that." Seeing as keeping pace was easy for the two of them they were making their way to the stables a bit quicker, though slow enough that they could enjoy the small talk.

"We found it around one of those strange statue landmarks. Apparently it kept returning to it and circling before leaving for some reason." Sam gives a small shrug at that, still not sure why the beast had done that. "Ended up waiting around for it for like five hours before it showed up and tripped my spell."

[gatheringstorm]

"A stakeout for a 'unicorn'...." Korrin's lips twitch, though if it'd been her, she would have been increasingly annoyed, waiting around that long in the mire. The only satisfaction she'd gotten there was baiting undead, and that ended when Merrick's life nearly did.

"And it...what, followed you back?" She has no doubt that the Dalish can work wonders with animals, but this is an undead one. Do the same rules even apply? It's almost giving her a headache thinking about it.

[el_tybs]

Sam snorts at that. "No, that would've been too easy. Damn thing got spooked when we got close to it and took off. Nahariel managed to get on top of it though and rode it around for a while. Course it unsettled a bunch of corpses so we ended up fighting until the thing settled again."

By now now they had walked enough to have reached the stables, but it obviously was not with the other horses. "Just on the other side. They keep it away from the others since... well."

[gatheringstorm]

"Maker, I almost wish I could have seen that. But I wouldn't have the patience required, so it's just as well." Korrin chuckles at the image, though, then continues with an arched eyebrow.

"Sensible, considering it doesn't take much for normal mounts to get spooked. But how'd you -or they- convince anyone that we should keep it? I can't imagine that went over well."

[el_tybs]

"Well I didn't convince anyone. We brought it back to camp and handed it off to Harding to figure what to do with. I guess they figured it was unique enough to keep for study."

Motioning for Korrin to follow, Sam rounds the last stall towards a pen off by the wall. There's a sickly sounding neigh when it sees them. "That's him."

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin stops short and just...stares for a moment, taking in the sight of the undead 'unicorn'. She's not going to bother to hide her unease with it, as she looks the creature over. Part of her is admittedly a little fascinated, but not enough to get any closer yet.

"Just study, or is someone brave or indifferent enough to actually ride this thing around Thedas? That person won't be me, by the way. Give me a battle nug any day, over...that."

[el_tybs]

Sam laughs at the look on Korrin's face. That was probably how he looked when he first saw the thing and the several times after. Now though, he's gotten a bit used to it.

At Korrin's questions Sam gives a shrug before walking closer to the pen, patting the horse on the nose. Now that it was out of the bog it feel a bit more normal to touch. "Study for now I think. I don't know if they've found someone to right it."

[gatheringstorm]

Sam's patting the horse is met with a simple headshake from her, as Korrin can't imagine treating it anywhere like a normal mount. "That's probably for the best, you know. I doubt that it would do the Inquisition's reputation any good if an agent was seen riding something like...that. They already think we're heretics, don't they?"

And as much as Korrin hates having to care about what other people think, the Inquisition needs as many allies as it can get.

[el_tybs]

The creature seems content to just stand there being pet, though it does seem curious of Korrin by the feel of it. "I'm sure they'll find an use for it. Maybe for a search party for anyone getting lost on the way here." Sam gives a shrug, not really sure what they could actually use it for.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin grudgingly steps forward to have a better look, but she's still not petting the thing. She may not be fazed by much, but an undead horse pushes the limits of what she wants to deal with.

"...it's unique, I'll give it that. Send it out, and you're guaranteed attention, if that's what you want. Which means bringing it with us to Emprise du Lion can't happen. Simple merchants and hunters don't hang around with weird undead mounts."

[el_tybs]

Sam balks at the idea of bringing it to Emprise du Lion. "Oh Maker, no. There's no way in the Blight that, that would be acceptable. Besides attracting attention I'd probably never get a moments rest." Just because he was comfortable enough now to pet the thing didn't mean he wanted it following him around.

[gatheringstorm]

That reaction gets a chuckle out of her as she nods in agreement. "It'd probably keep away most hostile wildlife just by being around, but...still not worth it, in the end. We'll manage well enough without, I'm sure." They have a fairly sizable and talented group; between them all, Korrin's certain they can overcome whatever they must.

[el_tybs]

"Probably the wildlife we'll need to hunt as well. No thanks." He'd also sleep better without it standing outside his tent and just watching, waiting.

"Still interesting that they have three Mages and Krem going on this, or did I miss how scouting missions generally go?"

[gatheringstorm]

"It's not my area of expertise either, but that has me cautious. If they haven't just sent in the regular scouts on their own, then they must think they'll need the extra muscle. Emprise du Lion must be a real mess, even worse than the Hinterlands was at first."

That Korrin isn't looking forward to, not exactly, but if her lighting magic -and other kinds -will help out, then that's what counts.

[el_tybs]

Korrin has a point. If they're sending in a team like them in then something must be really up. "Well hopefully there aren't any bears. Little tired of seeing those."

It'll be interesting to work with Korrin and Christine on this mission. Actually any of them.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin smirks at that, crossing her arms. "You know saying that means we'll end up fighting a horde of them now, right? I can only hope there's some variety to go with it; rift demons, plenty of Red Templars and Venatori to go with them. Maybe even a giant."

[el_tybs]

Sam gives a dramatic groan at the ones Korrin throws out. "And you're worried about me being a jinx. You just listed things that are five times worse. Least we could eat the bears."

[gatheringstorm]

"Again, variety. And giants aren't that bad, as long as you don't let them anywhere close. Between us and any archers, I doubt they will. But fine, just to be nice I won't say anything about all that once we cross the border."

Getting everyone nervous by that point would be counter-productive, anyway. Korrin can't help but hope for some excitement, though. That's the way she is, needing to be in the thick of the action.