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

[perseverances]

If only Cullen didn't look like he was in charge. He might actually get things done then. It's not that he's ignoring her, he's finishing explaining a few things to one of the scouts, using every simple instructions so no one's coming back to him wondering what needs to be done.

Simple usually does the trick until they get things down.

He looks to her when he's done, nodding. "There are plenty of things to be done down here," he starts. Thankfully, he's not adverse to elves. They've been quite useful since more of them have come to the Inquisition. "Where do your skills lie?"

[serannas]

Oh, that is a big question. And one she isn't sure how to answer. Being the third mage in her clan means she will never be a Keeper someday, so she had been left to flitter around the camp, trying to keep occupied and be of use. And so she is familiar with many skills, but a master of none of them.

"Well, I was hearthmistress in the clan. I kept the fires burning and gathered wood. I can..." Her eyes lifted skyward in thought. "I can make baskets and rope. Not well, but they hold together. I can move things." Ellana waves a hand vaguely. "Large things, with my magic. I can organize things, I should think, like items in crates, or written in a ledger. Or look after the animals. Or... clean." The last word comes out a bit softer. She really doesn't want to clean, because it seems to be a stereotype humans have about elves, and she wants to show them she's capable of so much more. But everyone needs to pitch in and do their part here, and she's not going to turn down any reasonable request.

[perseverances]

"Well, we definitely need more help in construction." He's quick to leave the cleaning part out, especially after the way her tone changes. He's not going to make her do anything that she doesn't feel comfortable doing. "Skyhold's defenses won't hold if our walls aren't strong."

"I feel the masonry teams would benefit best from you, if you wish. They can only move so fast with the stones they are excavating from the ruined parts of the walls, and with your magic, they might be able to move a bit faster. How does that sound?"

[serannas]

"That sounds perfect," she says, smiling briefly. But is disappears a moment later as she realizes something else. "Can you be sure they would accept my help? I know that some... might have a problem with me." Either because she's an elf, or because she's a mage. Take your pick, really.