[OPEN] I will need to face what I've done

[mactears]

WHO: Loghain, various starters + OPEN
WHAT: Loghain has been granted a temporary reprieve from his exile in order to attend King Maric's funeral in Denerim. Once he returns, various other situations require his attention.
WHEN: Early April-ish.
WHERE: Throughout Kirkwall, and outside Denerim in Ferelden.
NOTES: Prompts 1 and 2 take place in Ferelden and predate all the Kirkwall prompts. 

I. A rural inn outside Denerim; the night before the funeral (closed to Teren and Anders)


Loghain was advised by the Crown (also known as his daughter) that his presence in the city of Denerim was likely to cause a stir, stoking the fires of arguments left dormant for nearly a decade after the blight and the civil war. It was not an explicit instruction for him to make his entrance into the capitol as discreet and quiet as possible, but that is how Loghain has chosen to interpret it. This is explanation enough for why he's opted for his small travel party to stay at a nondescript roadside in a few miles away from the city gates; he'll ride in on his own tomorrow, dressed as simply as possible, and make a nondescript entrance into the palace through a prearranged meeting with one of Anora's confidantes.

It all feels unnecessarily cloak-and-dagger for his tastes, but the indisputable fact of the matter is there are a number of people in this country that would see his head on a spike if left to their own devices. This is the safest, least politically incendiary route for him to take, while still getting to say his final farewells to his king.

The inn has a small common area near a lit hearthfire; aside from them, and the innkeeper who is keeping to herself, they don't seem to have much other company. To keep himself occupied, Loghain has taken to polishing his boots.



II. The inn; after the funeral, in the evening (closed to Teren)


The funeral is over, and so is Loghain's business in Ferelden. Whatever feeling he had expected on the heels of completing this journey, this isn't it.

After passing some time at the palace with Anora, Loghain arrives back at the inn late enough at night that he fully expects both Teren and Anders to be asleep so that they can be well rested for their journey back to Kirkwall in the morning. Rather than rousing the stablehand to see to Sooty's needs, Loghain leads his tired mare into the stables himself and takes the time to feed and water her while removing her tack. He brushes her down while she grazes, speaking softly to her under his breath. Outside the stall, Primrose dozes with her chin on her paws.



III. The Gallows library; at night (closed to Vandelin)


Once he has returned to Kirkwall, Loghain does not need very long to revert to his usual habit of staying up late into the night pouring over maps and tomes related to the blight and darkspawn, though admittedly some of his work is almost of a penitent nature; reviewing the old routes he took during the years he devoted to searching for Maric, wondering whether the present might look very different for Ferelden had he simply made this choice, rather than that one. It's a completely unproductive use of his time, yet it is difficult for his thoughts not to tend in that direction.

More often than not, these nightly visits to the library are solitary. This night in particular, however, when he steps into the library, he discovers there is already a lamp lit on one of the tables.

"Someone else is here burning the midnight oil, I see," he greets the enchanter with a smile that could easily be mistaken for a grimace.



IV. Wildcard scenarios (OPEN)


(OOC:  Loghain can be found working in the Warden offices, on the training grounds delivering basic combat and self defence training to those who require it, in the stables seeing to his horse Sooty, or wandering around Sundermount with his wolf-dog Primrose! Feel free to set up a scenario of your own choosing if you prefer.)

Comments

IV

[swordproof]

The Gallows are a common place for Six these days; she spends more time there than she does in her room, swinging her blade and practicing how to fight without the powers she had been accustomed to in her own world. The loss of Sarenrae was still affecting her deeply and she was pushing herself harder and harder each day - to prove herself, to find what strength she needed to bridge the gap, to try and ignore the hurt in her chest. Whatever she could do to keep herself going was important.

She waits until Loghain is done with the people he's been training before she approaches, her sword swung over her back and her hair tied up and out of her face. She would bow, but she's not entirely sure of the proper protocol in this world compared to her own.

"Sir. You train people here?"

[mactears]

A bow would almost certainly not be well received by Loghain Mac Tir, the Traitor Teyrn.

The training grounds have mostly cleared out by the time Six makes her approach, and Loghain is in the process of putting away some of the equipment when he hears the voice behind him. He glances over his shoulder, and then has to consider Six a little more closely.

"Sir. You train people here?"

The resemblance is uncanny, he decides, but perhaps it is just a coincidence--

"In the event they require it, yes," he replies, his tone naturally gruffer than he intends for it to be. He turns to face the young woman properly; it's easy enough to discern at a glance that training is not something she requires from him--at least, not the basics. "Can I help you with something?"

[swordproof]

There is, at least, some vague resemblance to Adalia - almost as if they have the same nose, the same shape of face, but what is different between them is most obvious. Six is taller, peaking over six feet tall, with ears that look far more human than her elven heritage might suggest. The greatsword strapped across her shoulders betray her as a warrior before she has any inkling of introducing herself, and the tilt of her head and the way her eyes flick over Loghain show her as someone who prepares for a fight even if there might never be one.

She's cagey, unsure, not as trusting as she might be, but at least she approached first. There's more important things than her own dislike of this place and distrust in strangers.

"I would like to help." She's not offended by his tone, considering that hers is likely something similar when she's caught off guard. She tilts her head up, just a little, crossing her arms over her chest. "I know how to use a blade and there are many who do not. It seems best to make sure that anyone unprepared is given some means of protecting themselves."

[mactears]

"...It seems best to make sure that anyone unprepared is given some means of protecting themselves."

Whatever similarities to Adalia Loghain notices in this young woman's appearance, he sets them aside for now. Instead he considers the offer she's brought to him--a magnanimous one which seems to run counter to her instincts. It's not a critical observation; on the contrary, he finds it admirable.

"On that, you and I are in agreement," he tells her with the beginnings of a smile appearing at the corners of his mouth. He surveys the training grounds around them, then gestures towards where the practice swords have been placed. "I would like to see a demonstration of your skills, if you don't mind."

[swordproof]

Six nods her head, shifting and tilting herself up to stand as tall as she can manage. She matches most men in height and towers over others, looking more than a little intimidating when her arms are crossed and her attention is focussed entirely on the man before her. She doesn't expect him to be put off, not given the fact that she's here to train with him and help others, but anyone who might be watching... They're a different story.

"I'm glad to hear it." Looking around, she takes in the people filtering in and out before she nods herself, moving over and putting her actual sword to one side. While her greatsword is the weapon she's most comfortable with, all martial weapons are familiar to her now; picking up a simple longsword is easy enough, and she turns back to Loghain with a nod of her head before she walks over.

"Rules?"

[mactears]

Loghain is not a man easily intimidated in any regard. But Six's posture is formidable, and he makes note enough of that; something to discuss with Ser Coupe in the future, perhaps.

"Rules?"

A pragmatic inquiry. Loghain reaches for one of the sheathed practice swords as well, hefting it into his right hand before he turns to face her again. He carries the weapon with the ease and familiarity of a veteran. "Let us aim to disarm each other, for now," he suggests to her. Maintaining one objective will better enable him to take her measure--and vice versa.

He adopts a ready stance, and taps the foil of the practice blade against hers. "When you are ready."

[swordproof]

The practice blade is almost as heavy as a real one but nothing compared to the weight of a true greatsword in her hand; she twists it, judging the shape of it, how she might move, how her reactions are going to be changed with a new weapon and a new target. Clearly, Loghain is a man familiar with combat - this isn't going to be an easy fight.

It reminds her, sharply, of the taste of iron in her mouth, the laughter ringing in her ears, the sing of a blade and the twist of her body. It echoes with the sound of dice being rolled and the prayers, a glowing touch around her hands, and she has to force herself to focus, to bring herself back to the present with a sharp intensity.

"Until we are disarmed, then." Six is prepared for a good bout, no matter who's going to be the victor, and she watches as Loghain settles his weight and prepares himself, ready to move. She's going to have to try to use speed, she thinks, rather than attempting to overpower him - for all that she knows she is strong and powerful she's also well aware that he may well outmatch her.

Moving forward, Six grips the blade in her hand and darts to the side, aiming a swift cut up that'll sting just along his elbow, up towards the underside of his arm, unless he moves.