Skyhold

[faderifting]

WHO: Anyone & everyone
WHAT: Open post for business as usual around Skyhold
WHEN: The first couple weeks of Harvestmere, 9:41 (aka October)
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Please mark any necessary content warnings in thread subject lines. Also, make sure to check out the other log posts already made!

Far from the glamorous adventurous world-saving people signed up for, most of the hustle and bustle in Skyhold at present is cleaning. The Great Hall is a disaster, and crews are assigned to haul out the cracked and rotting planks fallen from the wide-open roof, and tear down the vines covering the walls. Ivy encrusts the main staircase outside and many of the fortress walls and is cleared in section while other groups assess or begin shoring up the stonework as it's revealed. There are scaffolding to build, materials to sort, crates to unload, tents to stitch together or set-up, and on and on and on, endless mundane chores vital to the survival of the organization.

When not hard at work, people cluster around fires across the courtyards. Many mingle freely, going about their business, running errands and messages, planning scouting missions, tallying up supplies, distributing or playing with the sending crystals that were found in a basement vault and which a group of mages have just today finished preparing for use. Once a good number have been passed around and the first Inquisition-wide transmission made messages start being broadcast; maybe you can help someone out.

The rebel mages and renegade templars mainly keep to themselves at opposite sides of the complex given the choice. Mages assist with healing and research and bicker amongst themselves about their options and their fate. Templars help train recruits in swordforms and basic combat techniques or spar with the more advanced and bicker amongst themselves about their options and their fate. Despite having all pledged themselves to the Inquisition, they still feel like separate factions and tension between them is palpable wherever they cross paths.

Like at meals, or the communal message board in the courtyard, or at the Herald's Rest. The mess hall/tavern is so new it still smells of sawdust, and its stock has been limited to one type of strong ale until today, when a shipment of West Hill brandy has finally arrived. The mood in the place is convivial in celebration of that, but there's still plenty of muttering, especially as the night drags on and the discontented get further into their cups.

Comments

[quietblade]

[He's glad for that decision, not exactly fond of discussing that after going through mage views as well. It wasn't the best of stories for someone who had lost people the same way. Deserting.

He looks at Stannis and nods.]

It's very similar. We see mages as the ultimate sacrifice to the Qun, and the Arvaraad are supposed to care for them just as much as they protect the people. Being a mage is not a sin, but dangerous.

[He pauses, listening to the Knight-Commander with a slight frown. Thoughtful, he looks at the ramparts.]

You think?

[quietblade]

[There's a laugh from the qunari at that, imagining himself tossing glass vials of bees at people.]

I don't think that is my way, Knight-Commander. I prefer a good axe than a bee sting.

[Splitting skulls were a lot more satisfying, too.

With humor like that, Taashath decided Sauveterre was a good drinking partner and orders them both another round.]

[quietblade]

Little bit of this, little bit of that.

[Taas snorts, amused.]

[quietblade]

[He clasps a hand on the younger qunari's shoulder and chuckles.]

Oh, I think I have some time. I may have scared off the other recruits for a while.

[issala]

"Whoaa..." Kas backs off a bit when the weapon starts springing out pieces and looking even cooler. The whirr and the snap and the little sound of something locking into something else... the teen is awestruck. (And also really good at keeping his fingers away, despite his curiosity.)

You didn't touch other people's weapons unless you wanted less fingers. Things you learned early in the streets, where a good shiv was the difference between life and death. His little rusty, sharpened metal shanks were like ants compared to a war horse like that crossbow.

He swallows all the lies easily, because why not? It sounded totally possible that it was some kind of secret that only some Empress had. "Why do you call it a she?" It was just metal and wood, after all. He's heard of people naming their weapons (he just had that discussion with Krem), but not assigning them genders.

[equanimiti]

Ah, there's nothing more satisfying than jamming something sharp into your foes. It's vigorating, no?

[Just as soon as he finished his mug, another is given. Alayre smiles pleasantly at Taashath and sings him a voiceless praise before drowning the second glass.]

It's little wonder why I haven't haunted this tavern sooner. Try as I might, the Baratheon is quite stubborn and I'm not one to drink in my lonesome.

[fleurdesel]

"I would imagine they do?" It shouldn't be a question but this entire conversation has gone slightly to the left of what she expected awhile ago. "As we work together to help people."

See her? It can't be so literal as that, Truly?

[serannas]

"Probably not," she agrees, though she wonders if it's better to prepare for it than have it sprung on her. She won't ask Korrin for examples, though. Ellana will just ask Gavin. He's been out in the world enough that he should know.

"You would think with what's happening out there, that people would stop with all that nonsense." She shakes her head, finishing off her drink. "Though in times such as these, people want to cling to the familiar. Maybe they'll do it twice as much."

[gatheringstorm]

"If they do and give you any trouble, let me know. I'm sure you can hold your own, but if nothing else, watching them scramble after an 'ox' death-glares at them is free entertainment."

And Korrin would do more than that, if need be. She doesn't especially like playing into stereotypes, but tolerating bigotry is worse in her mind. Better stop that at the source.

[gatheringstorm]

That's what I like to hear.

[Korrin smiles and nods firmly, not about to coddle him and certain that Scout Harding won't. They need everyone who can be of use, so Kas will have to learn and learn quickly. That smile fades as she thinks back to that last night. Like everyone else who was there for the destruction, she has a thousand-yard stare when mentioning it.]

It's true. I was there for what happened. I didn't see the Elder One up close, but it's hard to miss that Archdemon when it's burning everything around you. That avalanche was the only thing about that battle that went right.

[el_tybs]

[Sam finds himself giving a small snort of amusement as well.]

Yeah, well. Also convenient. Finish work, head up some stairs and roll into bed.

[ombranera]

"You truly need to stop saying such noble and heroic things, my friend. They will get you in trouble one day." And likely he would be dragged alongside. Which could be terrible or could be marvelous, depending.

[ombranera]

"It is almost like old times. Now all we need are golems marching about to complete the picture." Dalish, mages, and golems oh my. The Inquisition will be well filled with talented and dangerous folk- if they did not kill one another first. Getting the hold into proper shape would do much for the morale he supposed.

"It is a rare thing for one of the people to involve themselves in affair such as this, let alone a group. We are glad to have you."

[serannas]

"That's what people call you?" she asks, sounding shocked. Her eyes lower for a moment, absorbing that. Others in the clan had said the shems called them rabbits or knife-ears. Comparing both qunari and elves to animals was a way to make them seem like animals, instead of intelligent beings.

"Well, I think if I hear any of that kind of talk about your people or mine, that I'll just walk away. What those people want is attention, and to know they've struck a nerve. I'd rather just ignore them."

[lacere]

She does like the way he says that, it's true. A noise of agreement - maybe consideration, maybe not - is all he gets for a few long, laborious seconds, coupled with that same grin.

And then, just like that, she stops leaning forward. "Interesting. Can't say I'd ever use that information, but interesting."

Well, she didn't say no, but she is smirking good and proper.

[lacere]

"It's hard for her to be less of a menace. I think she's nested? That's what dragons do, right, after leaving a long trail of destruction in their wake?" Not that it's stopping her from venturing out occasionally to terrorise Redcliffe and keep the Crossroads awake at night with the roars in the valley.

"Can't say I've gone toe-to-toe with a dragon, but you can count on me for support if you did."

[savethecat]

Lucky for me, then!

[Well, he feels a LITTLE bad for the poor soldiers that got scared off. But just a little, since it means more time with his buddy.]

Have you made any other friends since you got here?

[amygdalae]

[It's hardly formal at all, Bruce would want to protest, but its incredibly hard to do so when the person you're trying to protest to happens to be Varric Tethras. And especially considering everything else that had happened...

Saying that he doesn't really drink probably isn't going to help him here, either.

All Bruce can really do in the end is to just sort of nod to Varric's words, a part of him still caught in the disbelief that this could actually be real. In fact, it all felt very surreal. Bruce was pretty sure he'd continue to feel it for a good while longer.]

I--yes. [He starts, already trying not to feel too tongue tied.] Thank you, again. It was--very nice to meet you.

[Sorry Varric, he's really usually a lot more eloquent than this.]

[amygdalae]

[Bruce can easily guess some people who would take offence to that, but at least none of them are anywhere near here now, so.

At the question, there's a curious expression on his face, though it quickly shifts to contemplative as Bruce ponders over it.]

Well, as much as I try not to sound like the everyday man... meat tends to helps a lot in getting weight. Sugary things, too.

[issala]

I eat a lot of both of that. And bread. How long does it take?

[He frowns again, sounding a bit frustrated. He could eat as much as he wanted now, so why wasn't he a big buff guy yet?]

I wanna grow big like the other qunari, here. I've always been real small but that's 'cuz there was no food.

[issala]

[Have a somewhat fail salute, Korrin.

...then he listens to her words about Haven, and the blue eyes widen a bit. So it was true, and it must have been bad. Those eyes... she looked like some of the Tal-Vasoth back home, thinking about Seheron or other horrible things.]

It could have killed everyone, though. It would have meant the Elder One won!

[ombranera]

...What?


He. What? Usually this is where the flirting becomes more intense, not less. What just happened?

His surprise is fleeting, his smile wide. "It is an offer that stands from now till the end of days."

[ombranera]

"What was what part like? The battle of Denerim was the end of a long, wild adventure." An eager audience, enraptured by his tale? Is someone Zevran is more than pleased to indulge. "It would take quite a while to get through all of it and is best told with a warm meal and full tankard. Perhaps after we are finished her you might join me?"

Smooth, Zevran. There's the smooth.

[hugeinorlais]

"Have you seen Bianca?" Varric asked as he motioned, with the hand not bracing the stock of the crossbow, at the gleaming crossbow.

"She's gorgeous, stunning, and sure, I could have named her Oghren or something," Varric explained. This was only half truths but, who was counting. "But that would be mean."

He did love showing off his crossbow, but even Varric wasn't about to load a bolt or wind her up for firing. Sure, it looked impressive, but he didn't need Curly or the Seeker getting on his case. Maker knew, with his luck, he'd end up spooking someone and they'd knock over some scaffolding. Everything was just holding up as it was, no need to poke at the house of cards.

"She looks like a Bianca, don't you think?" Varric asked and it was only mostly rhetorical.

[kremdelacreme]

"Damned lucky, that," Krem agrees. Well, he felt fortunate at least; there might have been a chance he'd have never met Korrin to begin with, and had nobody to plot flying nugs with. Not a reality he cared to consider too closely, nope.