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

[amygdalae]

[Ah, well. He can see where that desire is coming from.

Bruce nods once to show that he understands.] It'll take time for all the growing to come in. But I'm sure that eventually you'll be as big as all the other Qunari around here.

[amygdalae]

We can stay very far away from the edge, if you'd like. But I don't mind any other place you'd suggest.

[It doesn't make a difference to Bruce anyway. Its simply that up on the ramparts, its usually quieter and easier to have conversations without the hustle and bustle of everything else getting in the way.

Finishing with packing up the supplies, Bruce makes sure to close up his containers and bags, putting them aside where he knows people won't really touch. He's established himself here, more or less, and most know better than to take supplies from him anyway. Unless it's another healer, then by all means.]

[amygdalae]

The library, alright. [He will be sure to find her there.

And also since she gave her name, its probably polite to return it with his own.] If I don't turn up, you can find me at the refugee camps - I'm probably working there and forgot about it. Just look for Bruce.

[Who is, of course, him.]

[kremdelacreme]

Krem's hand rests over hers briefly, offering that small comfort before drawing back and giving her a small smile. Close enough.

"Krem's easier to remember," he points out, tone casual. He sits back and puts a hand up, summoning a serving girl with another couple of bottles. He hands one to Pel then leans back again, his heel coming up on the brace of his chair's legs. "Try not to let all of this get under your skin. It's hard, yeah, but not quite the end of the world."

[dalishious]

"I spent a lot of time in my own," he reminds her as he starts to work on the half-finished tent. Granted, this one is a bit more complicated than the one-man shelters he'd made when alone on the hunt. He'd wanted to do this for her, and frowns when he realizes he needs help after all.

"Go hold the other side," he sighs, grudgingly.

[savethecat]

"I most certainly will. I'm good at gettin' animals to listen to me, I'm sure the spiders will steer clear of you once they hear to." Gorse said with a smile. Well, it wouldn't make a damn difference, there was little reasoning to things without a brain, but the placebo effect worked wonders sometimes?

[savethecat]

"Oh, sure. People get cloaks and tunics torn all the time! Gotta be careful around the brambles but I guess when you're in a rush a hole you can patch later don't really matter much. Anythin' in particular or just anythin' I can find?" Gorse offered cheerfully. There was also the occasional fennec or ram cut down for food that was found with cloth on it... sometimes random coins too. Those were weird, but there was surely a good reason for it. The reason was the PCs need loot.

[savethecat]

[Not intentionally!! But look it isn't like Skyhold is used to having to make pants in the size he needs them in, and accidents happen every day.

Zevran would probably like that. Gorse has so far remained oblivious to the attention he can sometimes draw.]

Not the whole cow.

[Gorse grinned as he made his way to the kitchens, keeping his stride slower than normal so Kas wouldn't have to run to keep up with his much longer legs.]

Maybe like... half a cow. And a quarter later for a midnight snack. Dependin' on the size of the cow.

[hugeinorlais]

Varric wasn't sure about these rumors, they were making him a little edgy. Yes, he was used to rumors, they practically made up the foundation of his career, but he didn't like the kind that he hadn't started. Even worse, these were the kind that he didn't know the content of. They were spreading around Skyhold with speed and he was rapidly finding himself on the wrong end of a lot of uncomfortable staring. He wasn't sure what he'd done to spawn this wave of...whatever this was, but he fully intended to kick back and waiting until it all blew over.

Too bad nothing ever just blew over.

So, when the second elf in so many days came up to his table, Varric braced himself for something terrible. True, the last elf had been very nice, but that just meant the odds on this were skewed the other direction. He didn't know for certain that the rumors were bad, but it was always best to assume the worst. Unfortunately, when she finally spoke, it didn't really clear things up. She was fidgety and stammered but, on the plus side, did not appear to be particularly horrified.

"Well, that depends on what they're saying?" Varric replied delicately. It also depended on who was saying it, but anybody who would sling mud at him was either entirely harmless or extremely willing to kill him. It was a toss up, but if this elf worked for the Carta he'd eat his velvety shirt.

[savethecat]

Gorse was already rather enraptured by just the possibility of it.

"Oh, gosh, if you aren't too busy or got other plans, that'd be fantastic!" Of course he'd have to clean up first he was sort of up to his elbows in dirt and all, and he'd have to grab his cleaner shirt, but then...!

[gatheringstorm]

"Anything you can find, both as cover and for stuffing. I don't know if he has enough of the latter." If nothing else, they'd be great for future projects of Krem's. She pauses at the top of the stairs after making room for Gorse in order to enjoy the view for a moment. "I never get tired of seeing all this. We really traded up, didn't we?"

Who ever thought there'd be a random fortress in the middle of nowhere?

[savethecat]

[Gorse is happy to walk and talk, though he's always careful to make sure he's facing Taas and Taas is looking at him when he replies to the other qunari.]

Them's the templars, yeah? I haven't gotten to know any yet but I look forward to it, I'm sure I'll have to run an errand for one of 'em eventually.

[Gorse had no problems with mages and they tended to need a lot of herbs and the like, so that's generally the side of Skyhold his errand-running took him to.]

[serannas]

"I don't blame you for that," she murmurs, getting up at his request to hold the opposite side. Though she couldn't say they necessarily did it for the same reasons. With her, it had been the fact that she'd been stuck, not really knowing where she belonged, and yet being unable to strike out to forge her own path. She was a mage destined to always stay close to the camp, and she'd cherished the times she'd been allowed to go out to gather wood, though it had never been far. She had just wished to be alone to dream of the things her people didn't have that could make their lives easier if they did.

"What do you think of the others being here?"

[equanimiti]

Careful, I just might.

[Alayre says giddily with such a happy grin. Who would've guessed that the Knight-Commander of Pharos is this cheerful after two mugs of mead? No one, absolutely no one. Alayre typically looks so grim usually. Not as grim as Stannis but grim enough.

His stoney façade is nothing but a memory now as he hums along to the melodious ditty that the tavern bard is playing.]

Ah, Taashath, have you ever tried fine wines before? Not that Ferelden nonsense that tastes like water downed ale but real Orlesian wines? If you haven't, I should fetch a bottle or two for you.

[He grins more.]

It will put you in a heavenly mood, trust me. It's likened to ambrosia but twice as smooth.

[ombranera]

"No, this is how I spend my time in the evenings. Playing songs to telling tales. Having an engaged audience for this would be quite lovely." A fine way to spend a night, telling Gorse the tale of the fifth blight.

[samahl]

He chuckles a bit. "Isn't the world enough?" he asks.

Then, after a moment, "I suppose I'd want to have fun while seeing it."

[samahl]

Cyril nods and gets to work doing what Gorse asked. He might not be as strong as the Tal Vashoth, but he is pretty decent at doing work and keeping something balanced as Gorse works on it was easy enough

It also gives him a good view of Gorse's arms. At least that's a plus.

[savethecat]

"Well I'd absolutely love to. ... I should, uh, probably wash up a bit first. Find a clean shirt. Can I meet you somewhere?" Gorse's evening plans had just been work until there was no light left and then sleep and wake up early to see if there was any other work to be done or another scouting mission to go on, the chance to hear about this exciting story that apparently literally everyone else knew was a real treat.

[samahl]

[He comes a little closer then, openly checking Taas out.]

I can see why. I could always take you somewhere more private to let you cool down.

[samahl]

"You have no reason not to be confident. You're strong, beautiful, and funny when you relax and let yourself be."

[ombranera]

"The Herald's Rest. It is where I spend my evenings, unless you wish to walk with me there? We can meet back here if you like after I have taken some time to freshen up." Comb the hair, wear clean clothing, make certain he smells nice.

[samahl]

Cyril chuckled a bit and then settled next to Varric as soon as they both had their drinks. Well, as soon as Varric had his. Cyril was still nursing the one he has ordered a few hours ago. It was mostly still full.

"I suppose I ought to, hm?" he asked. "It is her job, after all."

[samahl]

"You do?" he asked, interested in those books. "I'd love to read them some time." He felt rather grateful that she had offered.

Then he thought about the nickname and smiled a bit. "Daisy is a pretty good nickname though. I can think of far worse things to be called."

[arlathvhen]

Beleth doesn't answer right away--Though it's clear she's thinking on the question. She bites down on her lip and crosses her arms, glancing off to the side. Mostly, she discovered bird's nests and rotting roof tiles. But if she had to make any official observations about it...

"Some parts of it feel like it was forgotten about. It feels unfinished. I don't need the obvious...repair issues. There are these little...nooks and crannies, little rooms and holes. There's this entire area up near the kitchen roof, that looks like it could be...something. It's flat and open and I can't imagine it's just there for design, but to access it, you have to jump down from the ramparts. And that's after crossing a bit of it that's all broken, but that's not in the original design."

She paused, glancing over at Korrin. "Does that make sense...?"

[el_tybs]

Sam smiles and thinks about it. "It sounds like a nice dream. Hopefully you'll get to do it after all this."