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

[arlathvhen]

"That's true. And maybe the birds will just find other places to nest on their own. I guess I won't worry about it, unless it becomes a problem." She shrugs, and steps away, once Sam looks more or less how he had before Beleth started pitching things at him. She gave him a sympathetic look when he mentioned washing up. "Yeah...I really am sorry."

Well. That was an interesting combination of skills. Mage and blacksmith. She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, wondering how in the world he came to be both of those. But...she wasn't going to ask. It was probably personal, and she'd just been rude enough already.

"Ah. Well--Listen, next time you're in the tavern, I'll get you a drink, alright? As an apology."

[dalishious]

"I didn't throw it at your head," Merrick says stubbornly. "I threw it next to your head."

[el_tybs]

Oh? Someone who wasn't going to comment about his interesting combination of talents? Well that was a first. "Just a bit dirty, no big deal." He gives a shrug as he stands back up, stretching a bit at having to crouch down.

"You don't have to... but if you're going to insist, that'll be an easy order. I don't drink, but we can probably figure something."

[el_tybs]

"Oh." A blink. "Alright, near my head then. I don't do well with pointy deadly things getting that close in any case." Well wasn't he feisty.

[dalishious]

"If I wanted to kill you you'd be dead." It's a short statement, said with finality.

Merrick curls up then, pulling his knees up toward his chest. The movement makes him smaller, shrinks down the towering presence his anger often took. He takes out another, smaller carving and starts to chip away at it with one of the smaller knives he keeps on his person (he keeps a lot of knives on his person), falling silent.

[el_tybs]

"How reassuring." So far all his interactions with the Dalish had been rather friendly, or overly friendly in a certain case, but this was. He wasn't expecting everyone to be his friend, but the animosity was indeed something. Because he was Human? That could be it.

For a long while Sam stays silent, crossing his legs in front of him, simply watching what the Elf is doing. The fact that he isn't storming off must mean he does want to rest, or at least let the food digest. He also wasn't trying to get as far away from him as possible so he was being tolerated to a point.

Sam gives a sigh, looking around the yard after a while so it doesn't seem like he's just watching - even if he is. Though when his eyes do land back on the Elf he tilts his head, taking note of the mark on his face. Wasn't Cyril tracing that design out for him before? Who was he-

"Are you Merrick?"

[dalishious]

Merrick never lets his attention be caught up on one single thing. He can't; the moment he gets distracted is the moment the animal he's hunting runs off, or the moment someone gets the drop on him. So he's been aware of Sam's presence, conscious of his movements and all the sounds around them-- but only now it's enough for him to actually look over at the human near him.

"How do you know that?" he asks. He's not particularly surprised--after yesterday's spectacle, he's certain people have asked around, but had this human been one of them? He tensed up, prepared for the worst.

[el_tybs]

Ah, so it is him. Now that he knows that he can see what Cyril was talking about. And also what Zevran was talking about - dark haired, dark skinned Dalish who also knew Cyril. Oh. Well better be careful then.

Especially now that he can see Merrick tensing up. Great!

Chuckling nervously Sam raises his hands in a surrender motion. "Cyril mentioned you. He was telling me bit about everyone that came here from your clan. Pointy daggers and the vallaslin? gave it away."

[dalishious]

"Cyril?" Merrick snorted, then went back to his carving. "Why am I not surprised."

[el_tybs]

Well that went well. For the most part.

"Has a strange habit of talking to odd humans?"

[dalishious]

"Sure, if that's what you want to call it," is the nonchalant, faintly amused reply.

[arlathvhen]

Beleth isn't RUDE. Or she tries not to act like it. But at his words, she raises an eyebrow. He doesn't drink? That was weird. But once again, she decides not to question it. Instead, she just shrugs. "I'll get you something that isn't alcoholic--tea, or something like that. Just let me know next time we're both in the tavern." She turns to leave, and only stops as something occurs to her.

"--I'm Beleth. Of Clan Ashara."

[el_tybs]

"Well considering I don't know what else to call it, I'll just keep going with that." At this point Sam vaguely has an idea, but doesn't really dwell on it.

"What are you making this time?" He nods his head towards the new carving.

[el_tybs]

Sam smiles at that. "I actually really like tea. That would be great actually." And just as quickly as she had dropped in she was leaving. Sam chuckles at that.

So she is Beleth.

"Samouel. You can just call me Sam. Hopefully I won't see you at the healers' tents, Beleth. Careful with the climbing."

[dalishious]

Merrick doesn't let him change the subject, rolling his eyes.

"You're a bipedal male with a pulse," he drawls. "I really, really doubt he just talked to you."

[el_tybs]

Maybe going along that path had not been the smartest idea. Good job, Sam, you set your own trap and walked right into it.

He's silent for a long while, contemplating on what he should say. Cyril had specifically told him that if Merrick knew then he'd be wary, but also to not lie about it. Course just not saying anything would probably be just as bad.

"Oh. Well glad you aren't shocked then."

[dalishious]

He huffs out another laugh then, taking a break from carving to sand some of the edges down.

"If I was shocked every single time I found out my brother slept with someone, I'd have died from heart failure a long time ago."

[el_tybs]

Well he knew Cyril had previous experience. Getting an idea of how much experience was a different thing. Just a little weird, considering he was still coming to terms after meeting up with the silver haired Elf again.

At least Merrick was finding this amusing.

"... now are you going to tell me what you're carving?" Because continuing to talk about sleeping with Cyril with Merrick sounds oh so fun. It's sarcasm.

[issala]

[That wince makes him laugh and he even rolls his eyes a bit in a proper teenage bout of affection.]

Riiight. You got two, don't you? That's all you need to bring me bread.

[quietblade]

[Taas is seriously impressed with momma Hissera-Iss. He wants to meet her and congratulate her for making a perfect little fluffball.]

Ah, yes! he must have been Sten back then. Small world, and all that.

[He'd fucked one of the Arishok's war comrades. That's kind of intense.]

It sounds like your kith was very lucky, to only have one attack. I heard it was bad.

[mythalenaste]

We might be working together. [Her geek's heart skips a beat as he speaks. The words start coming on their own.] The trouble with the Dalish is we've only really kept our own history since the days of Halamshiral. Before that, our history is tangled up with Tevinter. I would hope there...could be some manner of cross-pollination, when Elvhenan was conquered. Snatches of magic lore appropriated by Tevinter, the way the words of a language sometimes are.

[And now she's talked a lot and probably sounds completely crazy.]

But...either way, whatever is found, I want to learn more about the ancient magics, Tevinter or elvhen. To bring back to the Dalish. We've lost so much.

[samahl]

"He's the one with Sylaise vallaslin over his eye? He has brown hair? Constantly scowling?" he offered, describing Merrick quickly.

[samahl]

[Cyril seems far too pleased that Taas agreed so easily. He thinks for a moment.]

There are a couple of rooms that haven't been fully renovated yet. If you don't mind using the wall for support.

[samahl]

Cyril finds the fact that the flirtation goes over his head to be just a little too endearing. He's just too precious to be real, honestly.

"I'm new too," he said. "Though I'm a hunter. A group from my Clan arrived recently."

[samahl]

Cyril watches him a bit and leans forward a bit too. "Maybe I'll be allowed to travel now too? I've already seen more of the world than I thought I would."