Project Haven: Kirkwall Outreach [open]

[venenifer]

WHO: Brother Gideon, everyone who signed up, anyone who wants to join without signing up
WHAT: A mobile Chantry service in Lowtown. (FREE FOOD)
WHEN: end of Cloudreach
WHERE: the Lowtown market square
NOTES:

I. READINGS

A small podium has been set up for speakers, who have been given passages from the Canticle of Andraste (keeping it simple) to read aloud to the slowly gathering crowd. They rotate through, starting with Brother Gideon on the first verse, then Wysteria, then Warden Adrasteia, then Seeker Tiffany, followed by any other volunteers who happened to show up at the last minute.

There are a fair number of listeners, but it's also safe to say many are simply here for the food.

II. PANCAKES

When not reading, Tiffany is in charge of making and doling out pancakes, with Maud (and anyone else) assisting her. They have brought down a single brazier that she can use for cooking more, as long as the dough holds out. This is far and away the most popular section of the gathering, and no doubt struggle to keep up with the clamoring hands.

Security are asked to keep a particular eye on them, and to help maintain order.

III. DONATIONS

Lazar will, perhaps, disappointed to find that most donations come in the form of used clothing, toys, and equipment; it's Lowtown, after all, and there isn't a lot of coin to spare.
At least one street urchin, perhaps misunderstanding the purpose of the collection, tries to make off with an item that is, at least in theory, completely available to them. Whether someone decides to do anything about it is their choices.

IV. OTHER

Brother Gideon himself is looking rather on the overwhelmed side, but is keeping it together well enough. Anyone approaching him to ask for direction or delegation is at risk of being snapped at, but this is likely only because he's quite invested in the event running smoothly.

V. AFTER

After the crowd has dispersed and the cleanup is done, Brother Gideon exhaustedly beckons everyone toward one of many hole in the wall dining establishments with the promise of reward in the form of free dinner.
Free for them, at least.

He still doesn't look that enthusiastic, but it's safe to say he never does.

Comments

[fairforce]

"I guessed as much. She had very good taste--I love your name."

In the mouth of anyone else, the words might read funny, or false. Tiffany means them genuinely. What could be better than to be named after Andraste herself?

"The Canticle of Andraste was my first book, too--the first I read through on my own, I mean. I was obsessed with it after that. I think my parents thought I'd end up as a Sister of the Chantry. I suppose my skill with pancakes would have come in just as useful, had that been my fate. Instead I'm here." She flips the pancake. Its underside is perfectly browned. "A very good place to be, I think."

[kantikoy]

Adrasteia smiles warmly; she doesn't often tell people the source of her name, because she figures they'll either pull it together themselves or judge her, an Alienage elf, for being named after the Bride of the Maker. She took a small personal risk in saying so to Tiffany and feels good that her worries were ill-founded. "Thank you."

Tiffany's prowess with the pancake flipper doesn't go unnoticed either. A small round of applause follows. "I agree. Here is a very good place to be." Here being Riftwatch, Kirkwall, Lowtown, or their respective orders, either way. "If you don't mind my asking, how old were you when you became a Seeker?"

[fairforce]

Tiffany acknowledges the applause with a little salute of the pancake flipper. Her vigilance doesn't allow for much more than that. She is determined not to let a single one burn.

Fortunately, she can still converse while she's minding the pan. "I started my training at six years of age. That's common, for Seekers. But the Order is a wonderful place to grow up, in its way--and I came with some simple training besides, which was to my advantage. My brothers and sisters are all knights and soldiers. My father saw to our training when we were all quite young. If I'd not been chosen by the Order, I would have joined them. I completed my training maybe--six years ago?" She squints at the sky, trying to count backwards. "Something like that. But I don't think any of us ever truly complete our training, in whatever we've chosen to pursue. There is always something to learn."

[kantikoy]

"My goodness, I had no idea that Seekers trained for so long. It makes sense," she's certain to add, "because your skills are so... well, specialized might be a good word for it. Personally? At six I was learning sewing and fishing." Adrasteia gives a little shrug. "Oh, and throwing knives. My father and my uncle were hoping I'd be a rogue-ish type, I think. But you're not wrong, about learning new things." She pulls a face, puffing out her cheeks. "I need to improve my alchemy, it's gotten very rusty."

Anyway. Adrasteia shakes her head a little to escape the pervading sense of nostalgia in thinking about her parents and her uncle and aunt, all of whom died in the Blight. Was it really so long ago? "How many siblings do you have?" Brothers and sisters? This only child is fascinated by the idea, even now.

[fairforce]

"I wish I was better at sewing. I can only do the basics, enough to mend tears and things like that. And alchemy--" Tiffany scrapes up the pancake and flips it over again, checking the underside. Still a pleasant pale brown, good enough, but not quite done. She flips it back. "Far beyond me. To answer your question, though--I have thirteen siblings. Three older brothers, six younger sisters, and another four younger brothers. My parents say they were trying to make themselves their own army, and they more or less succeeded."

Well. She pats at the pancake with the flipper. It makes a soft sound, a little like a pillow being struck.

"I suppose we aren't all knights and soldiers. One of my younger brothers is a mage. He would have been a knight otherwise. Rather rare to find a mage who is an accomplished jouster. Nestor was unseating the rest of us when he was nine."

[kantikoy]

"Alchemy usually requires at least a little magical aptitude, so I wouldn't feel too bad about not having a grasp on it." Thirteen siblings though, Adrasteia shakes her head as she can't even begin to imagine that many people under one roof. Though she supposes that specific number may not have actually happened at any given point, depending on the spread of ages there.

She also can't imagine going through childbirth thirteen times. Her respect for Tiffany's mother is beyond the pale right now. "Goodness that's quite something. You must miss them terribly." How could she not? But then again, she probably guesses that Tiffany is glad to have her own rooms in a crowded tower, too.