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

Gorse Hissera-Iss | Starting in Prose can switch to brackets if that's how you roll

[savethecat]

1.
The plan was, eventually, that Skyhold would have a garden in which to grow the herbs the mages and healers needed. Gorse had been gathering seeds every time he went out for just such an occasion, but as it stood there was still a lot of work to do. The walls around the chosen area needed much repair, the pathways overgrown with weeds and vines and brambles. Until that got cleared away they still relied on the scouts to bring back what was needed, so as Gorse returned to Skyhold from one such a mission he had about fifteen lists in his hand from requests various agents had made - putting to use that Gorse was literate which was apparently not a common thing in the big wide world - and a full pack of resources that needed delivering.

Problem, he was still new enough to this place - well they all were, really - that he knew he was going to get turned around.

"Alright, let's see here... these from the healers, these from ... mage tower probably... ah shoot which one was the mage tower?"

2.
Speaking of that Garden, it wasn't going to weed itself.

Having returned to Skyhold late enough that there wouldn't be another mission out until at least daybreak the next day, Gorse made his way to the area that must have been some kind of garden in better days.

'Better days' being the nebulous time possibly an age ago when there was last someone to take care of it.

It was hard work, and the sun would be setting soon to leave Gorse without light to work with, but while it was still there he could be found stripped to the waist dragging fallen branches into a pile of debris and wrangling thistles under control. And swearing. Well, Gorse's version of swearing, which seemed to involve a mix of qunlat and common and no actual swear words in either language. Boy does he make 'blackberry' sound severe when he says it the right way, though.

2

[ombranera]

Finding seeds and herbs for poison was never this intensive before-nor so frustrating. Being limited in the use of one arm makes picking a patch clean of brambles and weeds to start a proper stock- hidden where no one else might stumble across it accidentally, was taking far longer than it ought. Thought he had to admit the show was well worth the trouble.

Something to be said of the Qunari in all their stoic grace- or not so stoic in this instance- they were finely made and the language quite beautiful, if severe. "Perhaps a rest would be in order once you have shown that branch the folly of it's ways?"

omg Zevran

[savethecat]

The branch was being extremely difficult, alright. It had fallen probably a few months before anyone arrived at Skyhold so it was in that awful state of difficult to move but not yet decomposed enough to just leave be. Crab apple from the looks of it, some still gone bad on the branch itself adding to the weight. With a final heave Gorse managed to get the whole thing up and onto the pile of other branches and yard waste that was on the way to being a damn fine compost heap. Surveying his work, then with slightly more dismay at all he had left, and then at the quickly fading daylight, Gorse had to give a sigh.

"Probably right, don't see much else gettin' done once I've taken a breather and I need one." He was getting a stitch in his side from working too hard and not drinking enough water, that was for sure. Picking up his shed shirt, he used the hem of it to wipe the sweat off his face. He'd put it back on later when he wasn't so overheated.

"How about you - you need any help with that?" Gorse wasn't sure exactly what Zevran was doing except maybe helping clear out the weeds and brambles as well, but unlike Zevran, Gorse had two good arms at the moment.

yes, best response

[ombranera]

Oh. Rippling muscles and a show of strength. Were Zevran not already kneeling, his knees would likely feel weak. For a moment he was elsewhere- a realm of broad shoulders and strong hands and warm lips. Then- well. Talking. Words- right. Back to the present. He cleared his throat and offered over his waterskin, not at all attempting to hide his admiring gaze.

There was so much to admire! Why should he not?

"Clearing the weeds? They are not so laden as the branches you have been battling- but I would appreciate the help, yes." A chance to see all those muscles up close? Yes. Yes please.

THAT ICON.

[savethecat]

It wasn't like Gorse missed the admiring gaze, exactly, he was very observant when it came to people. He just ... had no idea what it meant, having no context to file it under from previous experience. Sooner or later he'd learn.

He took the offered waterskin with a disarmingly friendly smile and a "Thank you kindly," before he took a long drink from it and passed it back to Zevran. Work was always better when you had a friend to do it with, and the important thing was Zevran didn't seem to have an instant wariness at seeing Gorse's horns. He didn't look scared at all, actually, and while Gorse was good at calming fears it was pleasant to not have to open every meeting with that.

"I'm always glad to help," Gorse said, stretching out sore muscles for a moment before getting onto his knees next to where Zevran was working, careful to give enough space that he wouldn't accidentally smack the elf with his horns. That'd be a sore way for a hello to go. "'Sides, little extra dirt never hurt no one. The name's Gorse, what's yours?"

glad you like!

[ombranera]

"oh maker..." So many muscles. So many gorgeous muscles. And that smile. Zevran suddenly has an appreciation for what everyone that meets him must endure. Truly there is no preparing for this much gorgeousness. It is truly awe inspiring- where to begin? The jaw? The throat?

Needless to say Zevran very much wants to climb this Qunari like a tree but- alas- it would probably have to wait until after his arm has mended.

How sad. He may cry.

"Zevran Aranai." He manages to recover his composure enough to smile, grimacing a bit at the tension in his bad shoulder. He'll need to massage it later. "At your service, Gorse."

1

[gatheringstorm]

Of course Gorse didn't go unnoticed by Korrin, as there weren't enough fellow Vashoth around to blend in to Skyhold, nor did she think that would ever change. Having decided a moment ago to take a much-needed break from a long stretch of energizing debris, she couldn't help but smile at both the timing and seeing a familiar, friendly face. Striding over, she didn't think twice about interrupting his thought process since he seemed to be lost.

"I know where it is. Follow me and I'll get you there, it's easier than explaining where to go when everything's still a mess. You'd think magic would make this go faster, but that to-do list keeps expanding."

[savethecat]

Gorse grinned at the sight of Korrin, pleased as punch to see a familiar face.

"I'd be very much appreciative. Thank you kindly." stowing his lists back into his pack for safekeeping, Gorse cheerfully followed along with the other Vashoth to see where the mage tower was. Of course, she would know. "I imagine it seems like it ain't helping much because it's helping so much we can keep finding other ways for it to help, you think?"

Chronic optimist, this one was.

[gatheringstorm]

That makes her chuckle. Yep, he's still as she remembers him, not that it's been very long since that last time. Korrin leads the way, past the tents holding refugees and wounded. "I suppose you can look at it that way. I'm not saying it's noting, but I suppose I am getting restless. This is the longest I've been somewhere that didn't involve the typical mercenary jobs. That will change soon enough, though."

Hence one more reason why she isn't going anywhere without her staff, even in Skyhold. Haven's still too fresh in her mind and she can't relax anywhere, even in a place far more secure than that isolated town. "So how is it out there? Where did you go this time?"

[savethecat]

"Nowhere too wild, just 'round the Hinterlands." Gorse said, opening his pack to show it filled with the standards of elfroot, spindleweed and blood lotus as well as no small amount of royal elfroot and crystal grace among other sundry herbs. He sighed, clicking his tongue a bit. "Still lotta fighting going on seems like, but others said it was mostly cleanup. Kinda glad I missed the worst of the fighting in that case."

[gatheringstorm]

That's...quite a lot of herbs. Korrin's eyebrows raise briefly, reminded that she ought to replenish her own at some point. Potions are something she's always running short of, thanks to stubbornly charging on even when she shouldn't.

"I'm glad you missed it too. You're not exactly a combatant, after all." A fact which is endlessly puzzling to her. "Some of those can't have grown in safe places, from what I remember. If you need some backup, just say so. I think I've fixed or moved most of what's needed it, so at this point I'm pretty much waiting for the next assignment."

2

[dreadinquisitor]

Maxwell has carved away a space for himself in the garden, a bed roll tucked away between a few trees, so it wasn't surprising to find he spent what free time he had helping efforts there. Down in the dirt, he weeded and tilled, tossing stones and way-begone plants and roots aside in piles to be swept and removed later.

It was an easy rhythm, one that he enjoyed. But unfortunately also one easy to loose oneself in.

Without looking, he tossed a weed over his shoulder, catching the Qunari as he passed.

[savethecat]

Gorse's own bedroll was moved on the regular, thrown down wherever he'd sleep that night and packed up to go again in the morning. He spent more time out in the field, often as not, so it didn't make sense for him to take up prime sleeping real estate in Skyhold when those that were there more often might need it more.

He did like the gardens though - the place that would eventually be a garden - and the hard work was enjoyable there. Real progress to be made.

Nevermind that he sputtered a bit when he got a faceful of weeds from apparently out of nowhere. That was a surprise to be sure.

[dreadinquisitor]

That... was the familiar and oddly satisfying sound of root and leaf hitting the pile. He twisted quickly, an apology quick when he realized what he'd done.

"Maker's balls." He looked - and up - to meet the Qunari's eyes, offering a small but handsomely crooked smile. Hopefully that he wasn't about to be planted in his freshly plucked herb bed. "I wasn't looking, I apologize."

[savethecat]

Up indeed. While Gorse was leaner than most Qunari he was still a fairly solid wall of muscle, almost all of which was currently on display along with the busted horn and gnarly scar over one eye that must have been painful when it first came to be. Just barely missed his eye.

Gorse returned the smile, his own disarmingly friendly.

"Aw shucks, no worries, I shoulda been watchin' where I was goin to be sure." Gorse said with an easy laugh, picking some plant matter from his hair and tossing it to its rightful home in the pile. "My name's Gorse, I just joined up with the Inquisition."

[dreadinquisitor]

Maxwell was tall for many. He now understand how they must have feel, head having to tip back just to meet his eye.

Thankfully for him, Gorse seemed to take his root bath well.

"As have I," he replied, ducking his head politely. (You could take the noble out of Ostwick...) "Maxwell Trevean, and I promise throwing things is not how I typically introduce myself."

2

[issala]

[Shit. He knew that qunari. He had bloody robbed that qunari on the road and eaten his trail mix before running off like a startled hare.

Why had he opened the door to the garden, of all places?

Kas tried to back out again before he was seen, but the teen tripped over a couple of pots and hit the dirt with an 'oof'. So graceful.]

[savethecat]

[Gorse of course notices the 'oof', and when he turns to look you're damn right he remembers that kid. Gorse has an exceptionally good eye for names and faces.

While there is recognition there, there's no anger - only concern and a slight bit of relief. He was worried the kid who was actually only 5 years younger than him was still out there on the road somewhere. So Gorse goes over and offers a hand up to Kas.]

Y'alright? That was a bad tumble.

[issala]

[He glares at the offered hand like it's about to bite him, but finally reaches up and pulls himself on his feet.]

...m'fine. [Kas mutters, dusting off his knees.]

You gonna tell the soldiers I robbed you? I'm trying to be a scout, they gave me clothes and everything.

[There's a bit of desperation, there. Don't ruin this.]

[savethecat]

[Gorse lets go and steps back as soon as Kas is to his feet - the kid seems touchy so he gives the younger boy his space, not just so Gorse is out of Kas's reach, but Kas is out of Gorse's.]

I'm glad - I was so worried when you rabbited off like that.

[And well, giving chase did not seem like something that would calm the kid's nerves. Gorse just had to hope for the best.]

Don't see why I should bother to bring it up - y'ain't take nothing I couldn't spare and wouldn't'a given if you'd have asked.

[Everything was ultimately replaceable except a life - even the knit scarf from his little sister that was made from scrap yarn and fabric and looked it, she was still around, surely she could make another if someone needed it more as much as it had sentimental value.]

[issala]

[He's grateful for that space, awkwardly rubbing an arm and not quite looking at Gorse. He's kind of ashamed, having pulled a knife on this guy.]

Thanks. For... the food. It helped.

[It was weird to thank someone, but Gorse was just ridiculously nice to him and Kas knew he didn't really deserve that.]

You don't want anything to keep it quiet? I mean... they'd probably toss me out if they knew, and I'm finally worth something, here. I don't wanna leave.

[samahl]

Cyril had come to the garden to enjoy nature when he sees Gorse. He notices the chest first, then the rest of his form and face. That face. Gorse is gorgeous.

That is what prompts Cyril to come over. "Do you need help, big guy?"

[savethecat]

The strange thing was, Gorse never particularly thought of himself as attractive. He didn't think of his appearance at all except 'make sure you smile and be soft spoken, everyone's scared of Vashoth.' Everyone he spent time with were either his parents or an aunt or uncle, then later a little brother, little sister, or cousin.

When Cyril calls out to him Gorse looks over his shoulder at the much smaller elf. Well, probably average size for an elf? He's seen some with the face tattoos but he has no idea what they signify. Pretty.

"I mostly got this-" this being a particularly stubborn branch that seems more like half a damn tree "-but if you could grab the other end of it to keep it balanced and make sure I don't accidentally chuck it over into the fightin' pit down below that'd be a huge help."

Heavy he could do, but no amount of strength can help things that don't want to balance right.

[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]

Arm and back muscles, both of which he has in spades thanks to good qunari genetics and hard work from farm life.

With Gorse's lift and Cyril's balance, the branch that could really be a small tree if we're being honest here is easily moved into the compost pile in progress and NOT over the edge and into the fighting pit. Success all around. Gorse pats the dirt off his hands onto his pants before he holds one out to Cyril for a shake with a friendly smile.

"Thank you kindly for the help, I'm Gorse, I don't think we've met yet?"