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]

[When Taas had arrived in Skyhold, he had been staying at the heels of his charge, being the scary qunari bodyguard as always. Then he had been dismissed, as the noble left with Inquisition scouts. It wasn't disappointing as much as inconvenient - as it meant being stuck in this place until he could find something better to do.

At least he had been paid well, but he didn't have a home to get back to or anyone waiting for him. Skyhold was good enough for now - and there seemed to be less of a stigma here about being qunari. Apparently some mercenary was around with a band, which explained some of it.

So the warrior could be found in the courtyard most of the time, studying the trainees and helping with some heavy lifts now and then.

Eventually he had been invited for a spar, which ended up sweaty and messy. Walking over to the stables, Taas dipped his head in one of the water troughs and stood up again, smoothing water from his eyes with a pleased grin.]

[ombranera]

[ Well that had been...fascinating. Qunari move like forces of nature, this he knew, and he had faced some mercenaries years ago but seeing it this close without being distracted by having to survive? Zevran almost feels sorry for whoever is sparring with the great horned marvel. Afterward he cannot help but comment. ]

I do not think I have seen anyone quite that viciously efficient in combat for...well. Roughly a decade to be perfectly honest. [ Sten had been many things- but frivolous in combat? Never. ] Its marvelous.

[quietblade]

[Taas had noticed the blonde elf coming over, but he missed some of the man's words while finishing cooling off. It was enough to catch the gist of it, however.

Guy was impressed and liked what he saw.

Eyes on the tattooed man's lips, the qunari smirked again and hefted his two-handed axe over a shoulder.]

I've been doing this for a while. The other guy wasn't bad, either.

[ombranera]

[ Oh, how that made the muscles in his chest ripple. Zevran was, to his credit, only momentarily distracted but- it was quite the distraction indeed. ]

It shows. That last barrage? A thing of beauty. Vicious, brutal beauty.

[gatheringstorm]

[It's difficult not to notice of one the very few people around who's actually taller than Korrin, naturally. It's a surprise to see him around, without someone to guard, but not an unwelcome one. In one of her rare breaks between energizing debris for various Skyhold workers, she pauses to watch the sparring because why not? It's something to do that isn't listen to more stories of heartbreak or the Herald. Afterward, she nods over to him with a small smile.]

Not bad. You made it a little more interesting than it usually is, at least.

[quietblade]

[He's still a bit wary around her because unbound mage, but there's still a slight smile on his lips as he reads hers.]

It was a good fight. Looks like a lot of people want to work their aggression out, and I'm the largest and scariest thing around that isn't darkspawn or dragon.

[gatheringstorm]

[At least she's an unbound mage making herself useful around here, since there isn't a short of things that need to be done around the area. She chuckles at that, nodding.]

Yeah, that'll make you popular around here. I've had a few offers, which I might take on later. We'll see.

So are you sticking around, then? Still guarding someone, or are you solo?

[equanimiti]

[A hint of familiarity lingers within the Knight-Commanders gaze as he watched the spar from afar. Sauveterre was on route to the stables to check upon his horse when he first caught a glimpse of the qunari. He hasn't expected the towering bodyguard to have made his way to the Skyhold. After all, most cuthroats and brigands tend to venture away from the hold and the Inquisition entirely. Though today seems to be quite the opposite.

Still lingering nearby when Taashath walks away as the unoffical victor of that spar, Sauveterre greets the quanri with a polite nod. He's uncertain if Taashath remembers him and his fellow Templar but he doesn't plan to leave here without proper acknowledgement.

That would be plain rude.]

That was a vigorous spar. Quite a feat to behold.

[quietblade]

[He does remember him and Stannis alike, as well as the new scars on his chest he'd gotten from the rogue templars he'd fought. It had been one of the best fights he'd had in years, and Taas grins down at the man.]

Knight-Commander Sauveterre. It's been a while.

[equanimiti]

[One would have to be blind not to notice those angry looking scars. They look fresh and quite familiar to Alayre. It doesn't take him long to figure out how such scars came to be considering the dangerous errand he tasked Taashath with. A pensive gleam lingers within his grey gaze as he stares up the qunari.]

Quite the while indeed. I had hoped to see you sooner but as the Maker willed it, I was whisked to Skyhold. [The Knight-Commander smiles briefly.]

Is it safe to assume that the renegades have me their end?

stables

[mythalenaste]

Oh.

[The elf falters at the sight of the huge, sweaty qunari dripping with water. A cup is in her hand.]

I suppose I shouldn't drink from that.

[quietblade]

[He doesn't actually notice her at first and almost walks into her as he turns around. Missing everything she said, the context is still easy enough to figure out.]

Oh. I'm sorry.

[Taas feels a little bad. It's easy for him to go use the well for a drink, but perhaps it was easier for the tiny elves to use the horses' water troughs.]

...I'll get you some clean water.

[mythalenaste]

[When you're ninety pounds soaking wet, yes, sometimes repeatedly lifting buckets becomes a task you want to deem unnecessary. She looks hesitant.]

You suppose people have been doing that, in that water, all day?

[el_tybs]

[He was supposed to be working, not standing there leaning over the fence watching the soldiers spar. Sam just lumped it up to that he was taking a break since he been hauling hay for the better part of the hour. Breaks were alright, right?

Well either way, he couldn't think about getting back to work. Not with seeing the Qunari suddenly walking into the sparring ring. Depending on who asked him, he might or might not confess to gawking. It was hard not to. Sam hadn't seen many Qunari in his life, and the only one he had seen for a while was the Iron Bull. But here in Skyhold there was now a few of them. And they were quite the sight.

And then the fight was over - it was quite the sparring match - and the Qunari was heading to the stables.

Not one to curb his curiosity, Sam followed, sticking to poking his head out from behind a wall, and then eventually walking over to the trough.

Okay, Qunari were not JUST a sight. They were massive. This guy was even taller than he, and Sam wasn't short by no means. Guess he understood how some people felt around him.]

That was a pretty impressive display. Over there. The sparring I mean.

[Sam mentally slapped himself at that. Great introduction, Sam.]

[quietblade]

[It had been a good fight that ended with a broken shield for his challenger, but nobody had been hurt and it was an amiable crowd he had left behind, contrary to other spars in his life.

When another human strode up to him, Taas missed most of what Sam said thanks to the water in his eyes. Not a fool, however, the massive warrior could guess what the man wanted.]

I'll take you on too, if you let me cool off a bit.

[el_tybs]

[What?]

What?

[Sam stands there in confusion, watching as the Qunari wipes at his face to get the water out of his eyes. Did he miss something?]

[savethecat]

Taas!

[Gorse's boots were still caked with snow from the climb up the path to Skyhold, having not even been inside the warmed enclosure from the underground hotsprings enough to melt it off yet. He'd seen the other Qunari and was so happy to see his friend (because beers + talk meant eternal friendship of course) that he came jogging right over. Remembering the way the other was careful to read his lips, he waved his arms along with calling out his name - a wave of hello, sure, but also to make sure the movement caught his attention if the sound couldn't.]

You're here! It's great to see you again!

[quietblade]

[There was an odd spark of relief inside him when he noticed Gorse (and thank you, kid, for the waving. It helped.) The younger qunari was in one piece, it seemed!

Walking over to meet him, he clasped Gorse's arm in greeting.]

It's good to see you! Looks like you managed to stomp through all that snow without disappearing.

[savethecat]

[Gorse laughed, he was not one to vanish under the snow, dark gray skin and being tall enough to stick out even under the worse snow drifts kind of made him the pack horse replacement that lead the way through some of the worst parts for the smaller Inquisition scouts. Poor elves would have just sunk straight down. Dwarves were tiny as well but they were solid, Gorse was pretty sure one with them could have punched a hole straight through the mountain. He returned the friendly gesture - normally Gorse was a hug for a greeting type of person but he knew around soldiers you had to be more careful. Some needed more space than others when it came to touching.]

I will have you know that I love the snow. Your employer here? Or didja join up with the Inquisition? [He rather fails at hiding the excitement at the possibility of the second, because then it means that his friend will stick around for longer while the first means he might leave as soon as his employer does.]

[theonly]

[ He rests his hand against his stallion's side before giving a single pat. There is a glare that he shares with the ones who are tending the rest in the stable, but he leaves without saying anything more.

Stannis only pauses at the sight of a familiar face. Who would think that he would meet the sellword here, too? If he believed in anything, this would be where people would speak of fate and guidance of showing friendship? But he speaks in the words of coincidence and rationality; the world is still in a chaotic state -- where else can someone find coin from the willing past the safest place in Thedas? ]

Killed any more rebel Templar, Taashath? Or was the job that the Knight-Commander put us on enough?

[quietblade]

Knight-Commander Baratheon.

[Have a polite nod, Stannis. Taas rubs the water out of his face to see properly, and then grins as he reads the words. He traces one of the still red scars on his naked torso.]

I wish. Took me a while to heal up after that big guy sliced by side, but that was a good fight.

[He might be entirely too pleased to murder people and getting hurt, but fighting was what he was good at and that alone made it fun. Made him feel like he was doing what he was built for.]

My last employer terminated my contract for an Inquisition escort instead, so I'm looking for new work.

[theonly]

It was good to see that you did not die. Knight-Commander Sauveterre would not forgive himself if you had.

[ What he said about the annoying trait that the Orlesian taught his Templar is true. Fighting with two swords has more than its own troubles, but at least the vermin have been cleansed of the world. He takes a breath in as he gives a nod to the reason why the Qunari is present. ]

You will find it here. Certainly enough that need a good sword even if it comes with a price. [ But if the Chargers are present, why not more of the same? ] You are worth more than what you had initially given yourself. You proved that even with your ears as they are. So price yourself up some, or you'll have us Knight-Commanders look as though we are fools.

[samahl]

[Cyril had been near the stables delivering some supplies when he notices Taas. He stopped on his path away from the stables and let himself take in the sight of the dripping Qunari.

It was incredibly distracting and for a moment, Cyril just enjoyed the view.]

You know, if you need to cool down, it helps to undress as well.

[quietblade]

[This place had a surplus of really attractive elves, and Taas is a bit dumbstruck at the sight of Cyril. Definitely enjoying the view, himself.

Dalish weren't really his thing, they all seemed too innocent and and easily spooked. Not this one, from what he could read from those lips. That was almost saucy, and the qunari grins.]

If I took off any more, I'd cause a commotion.

[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.