faderift | OPEN: this will be a better year

OPEN: this will be a better year

WHO: Everyone
WHAT: First Day
WHEN: Wintermarch 1 (forward-dated)
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Scouts from both the Western Approach and Emprise du Lion are welcome (but not required) to have returned to Skyhold in time for this event.

There have been better First Day feasts, and less crowded ones, and cheerier ones. It isn't a good year for many to look back on, and this one isn't starting any better. Reports from both Eastern and Western Orlais are grim. Many in the Inquisition can't afford to take more than a few hours away from their work, if that.

But for those who can, the ambassador does her best. At lunchtime some tables, hot food, and finery are reserved for visiting nobility and wealthy pilgrims--cause for grumbling in some quarters, perhaps, but they're the people filling the Inquisition's coffers, and allowances must be made--but there's plenty of stew, bread, and ale for everyone, even with the soldiers and refugees who stay outside the fortress invited inside for the holiday. The recently repaired garden and its carefully tended plants aren't off limits, but anyone noisy and holding a drink will be stopped at the door; the battlements, with their potential for deadly falls, are blocked by Inquisition guards. But the courtyards brim with people, most of them happy despite the possibility that the world might end before another First Day arrives.

If the courtyards are too full of tipsy visitors for comfort, there's also the valley beyond the fortress, expansive, barren, and covered in snow. By the river the soldiers help the refugees make a bonfire larger than would ever be allowed inside Skyhold's walls, and some lend their shields to use as sleds down the embankments. A group of scouts start the most intense game of hide and seek Thedas has ever seen, with snowballs to the face for whoever is found first. In the camp, a refugee girl with her hand wrapped in a green scarf chases other children around the tents, shouting raaar, I'm from the rifts!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"You will find fewer more difficult, outside of darkspawn and abominations. Most demons that make it through the rifts, fortunately, are not the most intelligent of creatures. That continues to be our advantage." Norrington stepped back, offering his hand to help the young man up.

Confusion flickered over his face, "Pardon me, but did you say the air?"

It’s a relief to hear that demons are mindlessly stupid, in a way that helps a great deal. That means they have the advantage in planning and strategizing… Kain will keep that in mind. There’s something terrifying about their powers, but at least knowing they do have weaknesses is a good thing.

“Yes… I did.” Kain is still used to thinking nothing of it, really, and hadn’t considered how strange it might sound to someone from this world. “It’s a capability of mine, my main fighting style… I’m able to jump and soar into the air.”

Now there was another lesson plan Norrington would have to put together for the masses of Skyhold. 'Demons - strengths and weaknesses'. Honestly he could not think of a worthier way for the Templars to help Skyhold than to teach them how to fight the horrors that Templars had their entire lives. It would save hundreds, perhaps thousands, of lives.

Norrington's eyebrows rose a little further, "Ah! You are from the Rifts, then?"

Was he that obvious? Then again, Kain realizes that he's never really hidden that fact or seen any reason to. He's seeing why some might choose to, given the strange beliefs of this world... but he personally wouldn't. He nods.

"That's right, I am... and it's a power of mine, although I'm no mage." He's learned he has to make that distinction around here for certain.

"There's no offense meant. Just ... no one in Thedas can fly, outside of birds and dragons." Norrington shrugged, before looking back down at the other man. "So what do you think of our First Night celebrations? Do you have anything like this back home?"

"It's not quite flying... I wish, though." Anything to be more like a dragon, though Kain keeps that quiet. He's already gotten the idea that people don't generally take too well to dragons around here. They certainly don't have the admiration for them that he does.

He looks toward the shield and then back up the hill. "These are certainly more spirited celebrations than the ones we have back home. Most of the ones I'm used to are dull affairs in the castle."

"Aaaaah ... so you ... float?" He's not entirely sure what is flying, but not flying. All he can think of are leaves on the wind, in that case.

His lips quirk up at the corners, "Fereldans are known for more wild parties. We from the Free Marches tend to be slightly less wild - but only slightly and it depends on whether or not we've had enough good wine in us. Orlaisian parties are probably more what you are used to."

"Somewhat. I jump and soar through the air... I suppose it's similar to flying given how high I end up, but it's not for sustained distances like flight. It's more of a combat skill." Though if he could literally fly, he'd gladly take that opportunity.

Even if some part of him almost misses home, he doesn't miss that aspect. "Remind me not to go to any Orlesian parties, in that case. So where are the Free Marches?" He's definitely still learning about this world's locations.

"Aaaaaahhhh... that is ... slightly less terrifying. I have often seen those trained with two weapons able to have the same dexterity and strength of movement." Clearly, trained to move lightly and well.

Now Norrington is curious, have they not shown these people a map? It is Northeast from here. Warmer, certainly, and we have city-states as opposed to one central empire or kingdom. We like it better that way."

"I'd be interested to see them in action... to see whether or not they could jump as well as dragoons. Perhaps they'd have it in them." This world's powers have seemed strange, even the mages aren't anything like the ones he's used to... but it's interesting to hear of fighting styles that may be similar to his own.

"Ah, I understand... I'm still getting my bearings, there's a lot to get used to." A lot of names and places he's never heard of or seen, people and customs that are nothing like home. Including this now about not having a proper kingdom. Interesting, he can hardly imagine what that might be like... not that it's such a bad idea. They have a good king now and have in the past, back home, but there was at least one bad thing happening in between. "Hm... interesting. I suppose that would eliminate the problems that come with a single king or ruler... I've seen what happens when that goes wrong."

"I have seem them do some truly amazing things. Move like lightening, curve their bodies around the air and slide in to slash people as if they are moving across ice instead of rough turf."

"Welcome to Thedas where we all take turns, getting knocked about." James smirked faintly, before he looked thoughtful. "We bicker amongst ourselves, true, but we come together when our freedoms are altogether threatened. Templars, however, take a more universal view."

"Fascinating combat skills... I wouldn't mind sparring against someone like that." He'd have to keep that in mind, after all it's a good strategy in general to find out more about how this world's combatants generally fight. It may not tell him everything, but a decent sense of what to expect, at least.

He's definitely interested in what he has to say about the Templars. He's not really picking sides in all of this, but almost right away it became apparent that this is a huge concern in Thedas, this whole Templar and Mage... thing. "A universal view? How so?"

"Well, we have enough of them about. Some of them are in fact, infamous. I believe someone mentioned that the famed Pirate Captain Isabella was here. I do not know if that is true, but she is considered one of the best duelists of our age."

How did Norrington know that? He's something of a combat ... affectionado. However, best to talk about the order. "Templars are common in almost every country in Thedas - outside of the Qunari lands and of course, Tevinter."

That's something Kain can respect of course... maybe not the pirate thing, but the fighting thing. Anyone who's got skills gets some kind of respect points. "I'm glad to hear there are infamous duelists like that on our side."

"How can the Templars manage to keep control across so many nations? Is it because you're connected closely to this world's main religion? The Chantry?" He's still new enough that he only has a vague sense of the world and so forth, but he gathers that it's pretty vast... A lot of places to keep an eye on.

"There are many. My brother in arms, Alayre, is in fact such a duelist. Of course he is a Templar, so his martial training is a little ... more practical instead of flashy. When he wants it to be." Is James's dry response.

He nods his head once at that question, "That is correct. Where-ever the Chantry is, Templars are usually a presence as well, and we have Chantries all over Thedas."

"Practical is usually more effective, when it comes down to it." Of course, he can't talk since his skills are rather flashy by their very nature. But they're not just for show, as exciting as they look.

It's helpful to learn more about all of this, the Templars have such a huge presence in this world after all. "And... what is your true purpose? You say you keep order... but there seems to be more to it than that." Especially if they're tied to some mighty religion and everything. Mages seem to hold one view, he's seen that, but what do the templars actually think on their side?

"I could not agree more - but then again - I do not own a magical blade." Norrington stated with a faint smile.

He frowns at that statement, before he sighed, "I will be honest with you - I am not sure anymore. The Chantry wishes us to do one thing, the Lord Seeker another and all I can think is -- this is what you wish us to do? This is not the will of the Maker or Andraste. It cannot be. So my people and I, we look for the old ways, to forge a new one forward."

No, magical weapons are probably hard to come by, he'd think. But hm, now he has to wonder... because he himself is no mage, and does no magic, despite having an unusual ability. He's honestly curious. "No magic for me, either... So, do you Templars have any sort of combat powers?"

He gathers it's not usual for the Templars and Mages to be working together quite in the way that they are here, and that this is completely new to everyone involved. Hopefully it doesn't fall apart under the sides' distrust, but then things seem pretty stable as far as he can tell. "Is that why you've joined with the Inquisition? Because it's a new way?"

"We do, actually. Powers that we gain through vigorous training and long hours of study -- as well as augmenting them with lyrium." He paused, then added quietly, "Although we still have the powers, without the lyrium. Just not as effective."

Something that may, in fact, become an issue later on. He did not wish to think what would happen if they were cut off from lyrium now -- the recovery time alone would cripple the Templars beyond reason.

"I joined the Inquisition because it is the new way - and the only sane way left to us." He was grim, again. "Because I want to show all of Thedas that the Templar Order is not just a bunch of murdering hoodlums. I did not dedicate my life to a band of brigands, I gave my life to Andraste and the Maker. So ... I will do whatever I have to, to forge us on a new path."

He gestured to the icy landscape around them. "This ... is our new path."

“Lyrium…” Kain trails off, remembering what he had seen with the red variety… but, no, there’s another kind too, and it presumably doesn’t have the same dangers. “It doesn’t have the same effects as the red, though, right? You’re able to keep your minds intact with this variety?”

Understanding what he’s saying, Kain nods. “I just came from a war where fighters were pulled together from a variety of different worlds… In times like these, it’s important to put behind the past and forge ahead.” Sometimes he really did think it may have been for the best that they’d lost their memories at the time. No dwelling on the past, then. “It seems you’ve already started walking down that new path.” At least, from an outsider perspective.

"...For the most part, although if you take it long enough, your state of mind does deteriorate over time. And it does not drive you to violence. Just .... vagueness." He stood up a little more straight.

"One can only hope -- but tat you came from such a war gives me hope that the others who come with you or after you, will have the same kind of experience." Or at least to know how to hold a sword the right way.

"Vagueness? Sounds like it must be... taken with caution, though." Not something to just use without knowing what you're doing anyway. It does make Kain wonder what happens to the Templars taking it longterm, but well... they've been an organization on this world for a while, they must be used to it, more or less.

He nods slowly. "I have yet to see anyone else here from that war, but... it wouldn't surprise me. All this time, I thought we'd return home, but now... more battles lie ahead." For him, at least. He does want to see the others, of course, so perhaps they also will face this next challenge with him.

"Absolutely with caution. Many have become dangerously addicted." A pause, and a rueful. "Although with all of us, there is always the problem of just ... normal addiction. You can be weaned off of it, but it takes time and patience." And a will of iron.

He sighed softly, "There always seemes to be another war, doesn't there? No matter where you are."

It sounds awful, subjecting one's self to that sort of substance, for the sake of gaining some more power, but... then again, perhaps the trade off is worth it? To some? Kain is just really unsettled by anything that can mess with the mind.

"Always," he says grimly. "No matter the world, there's no avoiding conflict. Unfortunate, perhaps, but inevitable. It seems the worst of it is yet to come here... what with that demonic figure out there..." Any of the other conflicts this world might have seem small in comparison to the likes of that.

The trade-off is worth it to templars who have to deal with the more dangerous elements of magic. Norrington, for example, dealt with blood magic. If he didn't have that extra edge, Maker knew he would have been dead long ago. Or at least, that is what he believed.

"He is truly an evil the likes we have not seen in Thedas for a long, long time." Norrington admitted quietly.

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