[Closed] Peeking at the Peak

[justice_is_blond]

WHO: Alistair, Anders, Carver, Loghain, Nate, Teren
WHAT: A happy little field trip out to a happy little place, all in hopes of continuing with a Blight cure.
WHEN: Drakonis 5
WHERE: Soldier's Peak
NOTES: Summarized here.

The Fortress looms before them, cold stone walls protecting cold stone towers, rimmed by cold snowy hills.

It's cold, basically, and somehow manages to look even colder than it feels. The stairs upward are no longer even, crooked and bent as if some giant decided he wanted to romp his way through, and the gates are askew and slightly open.

On the approach there's little noise beyond wind whistling through, until the gate is touched and a flock of ravens bursts upward in a cackling cacophony. Beyond that it's still. Too still, perhaps.

Comments

[justice_is_blond]

"For once, I'm not the one with the gossip," Anders says with a glance around. He sounds a little disappointed - having the gossip is a time-honored tradition from Kinloch Hold and just about the only one he's cared to keep.

"I do care about what it is, and not just because I'd like this to go fairly smoothly before I have more work from it." Anything Avernus has found, if he's found anything, will mean more research and effort from Anders. But it will be worth it. "You can't tell me you didn't find it interesting hearing about any... interpersonal drama that happened within our group in Kirkwall while you were learning how to Warden?"

[unshadowing]

"It might just be from a spat. Seems tense enough for one to have happened, anyway." Disagreements happened, people would get over it. Or not. Who knows with this lot? Though Anders has a point; if things boil over, it could mean a headache for the two of them and whoever else isn't involved. Ugh.

"Not really. It's other people's business. Once you start asking, you inevitably get dragged into it." It likely comes from a place where he'd rather people not butt into his business, so he tries not to do the same.

[justice_is_blond]

"It's a good thing you weren't born a mage. You'd never be right for it," he teases. "Prodding and prying is part of the life. It's a bonus when everyone gets pulled in. How else do you think Marion wound up in the middle of so many things?"

Besides, helping people with their problems meant he could ignore his own. Sometimes they even made his own seem smaller, a definite bonus.

[unshadowing]

It certainly says something that his words don't carry the sting they once might have, or that he doesn't see it as an underpinned insult because of his sisters. There's a slight twitch of his jaw, but nothing more. "Because Marian's an incessant busybody and willingly tosses herself into that. She's a mage, so I suppose by your logic it makes sense." He loves his sister, really he does.

[justice_is_blond]

He grins. "Exactly. Mage equals busybody. We can't help ourselves."

Anders gets up, stretching slowly. "I suppose it's time to go demonstrate this talent and ask directly. Mourn me if I get stabbed to death?"

[unshadowing]

...was that a serious question? Uh.

"I'll... help build your funeral pyre." He shrugs. Hey, at least he's trying? Kind of? "Maybe give a eulogy if I get enough drinks in me."

[justice_is_blond]

The grin widens. Poor Carver, doomed to be the straight man around all the people who joke around. Anders is glad he gets to see a little more of this, though, considering how they'd used to not get along at all.

"Your words warm my heart," he says with a dramatic bow, and then he's heading off.