[Open] You can take the Captain out of the Gaurd....

[didifuckingstutter]

WHO: Character(s) Aveline + You!
WHAT: Aveline has been "promoted" to Emissary of Kirkwall.  
WHEN: Current
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: It's a PR nightmare for Kirkwall's newest ambassador. Food shortages, cold weather, and people are turning blue.

It had been all of 48 hours since she had been told she would now be an Emissary of Kirkwall instead of Captain of the Guard. To say the news hadn’t been taken well was a understatement. She was well aware that she was probably the worst choice for this sort of thing, but the point was made that she was the only choice. It didn’t do well to inspire confidence, but, there was little left to argue about after that.

They required her to attend etiquette lessons with a pompous ass who delighted in teasing her about her un-femininity so much she ended up socking him in the jaw halfway through. But, she now knew the difference between a salad fork and a dinner fork, so she counted it as a success. She was given a frilly new uniform, which immediately refused to wear and a “compromise” was eventually reached after some heated words were exchanged. She would still wear her own armor, but she would also be swathed in a half cloak with the Kirkwall crest on it, to make her easily distinguishable.

This, of course, was before everything had gone to pot. Things were a mess before, but now things had become dire. The people of Kirkwall were desperate for food, for warmth, and especially for a glimmer of hope that things would turn around somehow. The guard were on round the clock posts to try and keep the populus calm, but they could only do so much. She would never ask her guard to do anything she would not do herself, so she had parked herself in the main entrance to lowtown, hoping to calm as many as she could. She had “requisitioned” (strong armed) two carts full of blankets, and several dozen loaves of bread to pass out to the citizens until she could approach the Inquistion for aid.

Comments

[iceblade]

One of those entering Lowtown is a tattooed woman in furs and leathers, standing at least a head taller than most folk. The greatsword seemingly made of ice helps her stand out, as well. She doesn't seem to need any help but approaches anyway, looking over the contents of the carts and nodding in approval. When she speaks, her Avvar accent is notable.

"This will go far, I bet. You're doing good work, serah."

[didifuckingstutter]

Aveline has never been one to judge others based on where they were from. She faced a great deal of prejudice when she first joined the guard, and that stomped out any inkling of those notions right out of her. She was a firm believer that actions were far more important than heritage. The woman who spoke seems strong and capable, even confident.

"It'll do." Aveline replied simply as she continued to eye the newcomer. "If you've spare time and spare hands you're more than welcome to help. I may need to go find some more blankets soon."

[iceblade]

Skadi glances over in the direction of the docks for a moment, then nods. "Aye, why not? I've a bit of time to spare before I ought return to the Inquisition's stables. The name's Skadi Iceblade, of White Wolf Hold. Well met."

[didifuckingstutter]

Once the blanket in her hand was successfully passed on, she extended it out to Skadi while shifting her weight to her right leg.

"Well met, Skadi. I'm Aveline Vallen, Captai-Um-I mean, Emmisary of Kirkwall. You're with the Inquisition? What is it you do, if you don't mind my asking? Although you all have been in Kirkwall for quite some time I admit I have been somewhat...occupied until recently, and I haven't been able to meet many from your organization."

Small talk. She could do this. So far so good.

[iceblade]

Taking the blanket, Skadi flashes a warm grim. "Aye, that I am. I'm the Stablemaster, but I'm also apart of the Forces division. If they need a large woman with a greatsword to cleave something, I'm there.

Aveline...you're famous in Kirkwall, aye? Fought against the Qunari horde and all that?"

[didifuckingstutter]

She let out a huff and then waived her hand a little.

"I just did my job. I'd be a piss poor Guard Captain if I didn't fight against them. Hawke had a greater part in all that. We just tried to lessen the casualties, and protect as many as we could."

She smiled, and then added, "I also get called whenever they need a large woman to kill something. I'm better with a sword and sheild instead of a greatsword though."

[iceblade]

"Come by the training area in the Gallows sometime, then! I'd love another sparring partner. Or if you're the riding sort, I don't mind company when I'm bandit-hunting on the coast." The best way to get to know someone; fight with them or alongside them. Would anything less be expected from an Avvar?

She quirks an eyebrow, curious. "So why the change in jobs? What else do you do as emissary?"

[didifuckingstutter]

She smiled, delighted by the invitation. Sparring and bandit hunting? She was liking this woman more and more each passing minute. But, when she questioned after her switching roles, her face fell a little.

She struggled to find the right words to explain the situation. "I was very happy being Captain of the Guard. It was something I felt I was suited for in every way. But, things in Kirkwall being what they are, it was felt that I could better serve it's people by becoming an Emissary." She gestured subtlety to the carts, and to the hollow people they were helping. "We are on the brink. This cold snap has only added to a long list of issues that burden Kirkwall's people. It has not been an easy time since-"

Since Hawke left she almost said, but she swallowed that down. "Since the mage and templar uprising. But, even before that things were never easy for them. I want to help change that. Even though I have no real skills for diplomacy, I can do more for them this way than I ever could as Captain of the Guard. So, here I am."

[iceblade]

Skadi smiles back, though she grows more serious upon listening to Aveline's explanation. She nods, having seen enough of Kirkwall to know that it could certainly use the extra help.

"So you've chosen to do what's right over what's easy. That's something my people would appreciate, I think. And I bet the people here that notice your efforts already do.

It has me thinking, though. I've some furs to spare, and likely more from home will find their way to me. The lowlanders seem to need them more than I do, so they -and you- are welcome to have them. You won't find better than a bear slanket to keep out the chill."

[didifuckingstutter]

Well that did it. She thought herself a fairly good judge of character, and Skadi was seemed like good people.

"Anything you can give would be greatly appreciated. In return, if there's anything I can do for you, I will see that it done."

She extended her hand out to her, smiling warmly. "I happen to love riding. And sparing. And bandit-hunting."

[iceblade]

Skadi meets that hand with a firm grip and a smile. "All good things, aye? I've gotten a bit used to the city and its ways, but the wilderness outside suits me better. It's more fun with company, too."

[didifuckingstutter]

She let out a laugh, and then settled into a more relaxed stance.

"Well, I'm afraid feedback on my company has been somewhat mixed, so I can't promise it will be enjoyable. But, I also like being in the wilderness, although I have had precious little time go out of town lately."

She shrugged, and then let her curiosity get the better of her.

"Where is White Wolf Hold located? I'm afraid I'm not familiar."

[iceblade]

"It's a few days south of Skyhold; had I joined earlier, it would have been easy to go back and forth. But what can I say, my timing was a bit off. By the time I reached it, they were always moving people to Kirkwall. Wasn't much I could do but join in, so I did."

Skadi lifts her left palm with a wry smile, where a telltale faint green flicker is seen. She lowers it almost right after, not wanting to draw attention to that in Lowtown or anywhere else outside the Gallows.

"And hang feedback, I can make up my own damn mind. As long as my hand doesn't bother you, I haven't changed mine."

[didifuckingstutter]

Her eyebrows flew up a little in surprise, but she soon settled and then let out a huff of a laugh. She certainly didn't expect that turn of events, but she wasn't upset or detoured by it.

"If a glowing hand was enough to give me pause, I would have left Kirkwall a long time ago, believe me. I've seen my fair share of oddities, but good people are in short supply."

[iceblade]

The surprise is understandable, but that Aveline doesn't recoil or suddenly regard her with suspicion is a welcome sight, nonetheless. Skadi's smile grows as she takes that into account, chuckling.

"In it for the long haul, aye? If all the other shite hasn't driven you off, nothing will by this point. Kirkwall needs people like that, and I'd be glad to help them as much as I can." If she can overcome the shard, then someday White Wolf Hold will lure her back, but that doesn't mean she won't do everything she can for this city in the meantime.

[didifuckingstutter]

She laughed fully now.

"I tend to dig my heals in when it comes to most things. Stubborn is probably the most polite word for it." She shrugged. "And any help would be greatly appreciated. I hope you have found your time in Kirkwall to be at least a little pleasant. We're up to our eyeballs in shit now, but I'm hoping to fix that little by little."

[iceblade]

"Eh, stubborn can be good; it keeps you going long after others give up. There's a lot worse to be than stubborn." She nods, readily agreeing with the state of affairs. "You take what victories you can, you know? Not all change is fast, and the fast sort isn't always the best. My mum would probably die of shock to hear me say that, but it's true.

And it hasn't been that bad; not what I'm used to, but it'll give me stories to share at the hold when I can see them again."