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

[fleurdesel]

And what you do is not without value. It will have to be enough- because it is all we are able to offer.

[ Worrying about how much, how better, how many more she could see in a day- if she took those weights upon her shoulders her back would break. They are human above all else. They cannot save everyone. ]

[amygdalae]

[Bruce always takes those weights onto himself, because its just how he is. Especially when he knows he could have actually done more, if he just let himself use his magic. But of course he can't. He couldn't, not if it meant risking everyone else. Its a terrible line of thought but he had to do it, and the guilt of that haunts him every time.]

Hopefully, there won't be as many people to take care of once everything is more settled.

[Maybe its foolish and naive, but Bruce wants to hope the best for other people.]

[fleurdesel]

Proper accommodations will do much for the spread of illness. Winter is coming. It will be worse before it becomes better.

[ They will lose more people despite their best efforts. Adelaide is resigned to that. ]

But if we work diligently now- it may not be so much worse.

[amygdalae]

I sincerely hope that will be the case.

[Lives are precious, important, meaningful. Bruce has seen the loss of too many lives by his own hand, directly or indirectly. As much as possible, he would want to prevent more lives to be lost.]

[fleurdesel]

We will manage. It's all we can do.

[ The flap of the tent is tugged up, a little red hair'd elven boy waving to Adelaide before ducking back out. ]

...The line awaits, it seems. Have you had enough time?

[amygdalae]

Ah--yes.

[He has had a lot more time than expected, really, and Bruce is grateful for it. He starts to stand up from his chair, inclining his head in gratitude.]

Thank you, again. I'm grateful for--this. [He gestures to the table before him, indicating what he meant.]

[fleurdesel]

We need to help one another as much as we help the injured. If we burn out? We're of no use.

[ Still, she manages to offer a thin smile. It's brief but sincere. ]

Take care, Bruce.

[amygdalae]

...you as well.

[He manages a small smile on his own end, and then proceeds to make his way out of the tent.

He stops at the flap, however, giving her one more glance, and dips his head again.]

I'll see you around.

[Annnd off he goes, back to work.]