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

[el_tybs]

[Sam tilts his curiously at the explanations, nodding as he took in the information. At seeing the Qunari gesture to the haft, Sam takes it as an invitation to come closer and get a better look.]

Huh. You'd have to be rather close in order to do that though right? And with equal power?

[quietblade]

[He lets the younger man take a closer look, even putting the axe down a bit so Sam could feel how heavy it was.

The human was bending his head when looking at it, however, and that made it impossible for the big qunari to see what he was saying.]

Gotta look at me when you talk, okay? I'm reading your lips.

[el_tybs]

[Reading his lips. The words make Sam look up from where he's inspecting the weapon. Not quite understanding he tilts his head.]

You're doing- Oh!

[His eyes widen in surprise as he finally gets what's going on. The initial shock is quickly replaced with curiosity.]

Sorry, I didn't realize... You can read my lips? Fascinating. Is it difficult if you don't recognize the language?

[quietblade]

I can.

[He takes the axe again, hoisting it up over his shoulder.]

...but if I don't know the language, it's pretty impossible. I can do it in Trade and Qunlat, though. Keeps me from being useless even if I can't hear.

[el_tybs]

You can't hear anything? At all?

[Sam is trying his best not to smile. He's not glad the Qunari cannot hear, but he is enjoying the conversation.]

How long did that take to learn?

[quietblade]

Nothing.

[Not completely true, but the amount of sound needed to hear something out of the ear that wasn't completely dead would be in the explosion level of loud.]

I knew some before I lost my hearing, and then about five years to get to this level. You either learn or you die in my line of work.

[el_tybs]

Ah. I can see why you had assumed I was coming to challenge you a bit ago.

[That made a bit more sense. His eyes weren't fully open when he approached, and he was probably used to guys only coming up to him for a beating.

Sam extends a hand and smiles.]

Here I'm boring you with questions and I haven't properly introduced myslef. Samouel.

[quietblade]

[Taas takes that hand firmly and grins.]

Nice to meet you, Samouel. I'm Taashath.

[el_tybs]

Taashath...

[The name sounds different when with him saying it. The difference in accents or perhaps he is just not used to Qunari names or words. Sam chuckles at that.]

Hopefully I'm saying it right. It is nice to meet you as well Taashath.

[quietblade]

[His pronunciation of Samouel was a little bit off, so the issue of saying it right went both ways. As long as he could read his name of the man's lips, it was all good.]

It means 'calm'.

[el_tybs]

[Sam blinks at that, tilting his head curiously. Oh! He meant his name. His name meant 'calm'. He smiles.]

Calm. Huh. I'm afraid my name doesn't have any special meaning. People just call me Sam for short.

[quietblade]

Sam is easy to read. I'll call you that, if you don't mind.

[There's a slight grin, and he twirls the axe on the ground by the pommel.]

[el_tybs]

Easier to say, less syllables. I wouldn't mind if you did.

[Sam finds himself grinning back.]

Have you been with us long, Taashath?

[quietblade]

I arrived a few days ago, but I can't say I'm 'with' you. My employer dumped me here.

[He shrugs.]

So I'm sticking around until I find a new contract.

[el_tybs]

[Sam blinks at that.]

They just dumped you here?

[He frowns at that, not at all happy to hear the kind of treatment Taashath has gone through.]

Have you tried the Chargers? Their second-in-command, Krem, mentioned to me that they are looking for people.

[quietblade]

I've read the notice on the board, but I haven't checked them out, yet.

[Taas sighs, not sure what to make of it all.]

Looks like a good gang, but I've never worked well in a group since I can't hear orders, and I don't know if I can trust a 'Vint.

[el_tybs]

They seemed rather accepting... but I've only talked to them briefly.

[Sam wasn't trying to push Taashath into anything. Just figured he'd bring it up.]

Ah, well whatever you're comfortable with. Things are just starting to settle down... so I'm sure something will come up.

[quietblade]

I'll keep that in mind.

[He grins a little again.]

I'm in no hurry to leave.

[el_tybs]

[Sam smiles at seeing the grin returning to Taahath's face]

Good to hear. Have you been able to find accommodations?

[quietblade]

[He nods at that, pointing to one of the towers.]

They got a bunch of folks sleeping in there, so I bought a place in it. Tavern's full.

[No wonder, really.]

[el_tybs]

[Sam blinks. He wasn't aware that they were selling spaces. Though... maybe it made sense?]

Think the tavern was the second place to fill up. Not surprising. Drink your daily cares away then just stumble up the stairs.

[quietblade]

Hah, yeah. I just have to drunkenly wander the ramparts for a while, but at least I haven't fallen off, yet.

[Another laugh.]

[el_tybs]

[Sam gives a snort then breaks into his own laughter.]

Haha, please don't. You're much too handsome to be a splat on the ground.

[quietblade]

I prefer my face in one piece, too.

[It was always surprising to hear all these people finding him attractive or handsome. Usually it was all 'beast' and 'ox-man'.

Maybe it still was, only in the more fascinated kind of sense. At least it kept his bedroll warm.]

[el_tybs]

I'm sure you do. Well if you ever think you're in danger of falling off the ramparts you're more than welcome to take refuge at the forges. I'm the only one that sleeps in there so there's plenty of space. No beds but I keep some extra straw in the corner.

[Sam at that point rubs the back of his head.]

Better than broken faces and such, right?