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

[samahl]

He nods a bit at that, thinking it over. "Did you know the one they called the Herald at all?"

[el_tybs]

"I know OF her. And I've seen her. I just didn't know her personally. She was from the Free Marches I believe." From afar she seemed like a decent person. Pretty. But that was all.

[samahl]

"So I've heard. I don't know much about human families there. I wonder if hers misses her?" he says it thoughtfully, wondering exactly how much human nobles care for one another.

[el_tybs]

Sam shakes his head and leans back a bit. "I would hope so? I can't say for sure. I don't know how nobility works." Come to think of it he should probably see when things settled down if he could send a raven out.

[samahl]

Cyril is quiet as he thinks for a moment. He leans back a bit as well and looks up. "There may not be people let to remember her if we fail," he says after a moment. There is something very raw and honest in his voice as he says it. "It puts things into perspective, doesn't it?"

[el_tybs]

Sam looks to Cyril for a moment. Shaking his head he looks up at the stars, taking in a deep breath then letting it go in a quick huff. "Nothing like your own mortality staring you in the face."

[samahl]

"Nothing like facing your mortality to make you realize that right now, in this moment, you are alive. Not everyone can say that," Cyril points out. He looks back at Sam and gives him a smile. "Best to make the most of it."

[el_tybs]

"Yeah... I suppose..." his words are a bit distant as he lets his eyes continue to trace the stars mentally. There's a joke... or something he could say, but it feels too soon. Titling his head a bit to look at Cyril from the corner of his eye, he smiles too.

[samahl]

Cyril widens his smile a bit. "So what's something you've wanted to do before your death?"

[el_tybs]

Sam snorts at that and makes a face. "Well think I hit some of the major ones. And the Inquisition keeps bringing new surprises with it. I'm afraid to think of anything more extreme."

[samahl]

"Afraid that it might happen?" he asks, tilting his head a bit to the side. "But that seems like something worthwhile doesn't it?"

[el_tybs]

"Honestly? Yes." He's smiling but also giving Cyril an odd look. "The Conclave blowing up. A blighted Magister? WITH a pet dragon. There's been giant bears. Demons pouring out of rifts... I'd rather see some normalcy about now."

[samahl]

Cyril raises his brow a bit. "Those are good points. I was mostly thinking of something more personal, like always wanting to see Rivain."

[el_tybs]

It is Sam's turn to raise his brows. "You want to go see Rivain?"

[samahl]

"I'd love to see the whole world," Cyril pointed out casually, as if that wasn't impossible for an elf.

[el_tybs]

Cyril certainly dreamt big. "Is travel the only thing you're interested in doing?"

[samahl]

He chuckles a bit. "Isn't the world enough?" he asks.

Then, after a moment, "I suppose I'd want to have fun while seeing it."

[el_tybs]

Sam smiles and thinks about it. "It sounds like a nice dream. Hopefully you'll get to do it after all this."

[samahl]

"Perhaps. I suppose it depends on how much of he world is left, after all of this."

[el_tybs]

"Oof. Yeah ain't that the truth." Sighing, Sam leans forward on his knees. "There will be."

[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."

[el_tybs]

Sam raises a brow at that and looks at Cyril. "Why wouldn't you be allowed to travel?"

[samahl]

"Hm... Poor choice of words I suppose. I meant... being tied to my clan limited where I could go. Now that I'm on on my own, or at least with the Inquisition and a smaller group of my family, I have more chance to wander."

[el_tybs]

"Ah." Well that made a lot more sense. "... Is it going to be hard to go back to your clan after being able to roam a bit more freely?"

[samahl]

Cyril pressed his lips together. "Most Dalish... don't return after they leave."