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

[serannas]

"Oh, I do plan of taking advantage of these circumstances for as long as I'm able." For someone as interested in other cultures as she is? She would be a fool not to.

"I can only guess at what misconceptions people hold on the Dalish."

[gatheringstorm]

That makes Korrin wince in sympathy. People are never kind to the elves, especially the Dalish. "I could tell you, but it's nothing you would enjoy hearing. Let's just say that we're in competition for the most savage races in Thedas. It's better here, I won't deny that, but you can be any visiting folk will be muttering the same stupid rumors."

[serannas]

"Probably not," she agrees, though she wonders if it's better to prepare for it than have it sprung on her. She won't ask Korrin for examples, though. Ellana will just ask Gavin. He's been out in the world enough that he should know.

"You would think with what's happening out there, that people would stop with all that nonsense." She shakes her head, finishing off her drink. "Though in times such as these, people want to cling to the familiar. Maybe they'll do it twice as much."

[gatheringstorm]

"If they do and give you any trouble, let me know. I'm sure you can hold your own, but if nothing else, watching them scramble after an 'ox' death-glares at them is free entertainment."

And Korrin would do more than that, if need be. She doesn't especially like playing into stereotypes, but tolerating bigotry is worse in her mind. Better stop that at the source.

[serannas]

"That's what people call you?" she asks, sounding shocked. Her eyes lower for a moment, absorbing that. Others in the clan had said the shems called them rabbits or knife-ears. Comparing both qunari and elves to animals was a way to make them seem like animals, instead of intelligent beings.

"Well, I think if I hear any of that kind of talk about your people or mine, that I'll just walk away. What those people want is attention, and to know they've struck a nerve. I'd rather just ignore them."

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin raises an eyebrow at Ellana's shock, but nods. "You have more patience and willpower than I do, I'll give you that. I've never been able to let that crap go without at least a good glare. And yes, that's a common slur. I've heard worse, though not directly. Bigoted humans tend to be just smart enough not to say that crap to my face."

[serannas]

Well, she has been rather sheltered until now, so the shock shouldn't be surprising.

"I've had to have patience over the years, I guess." Or a better way of putting it would be that she has the illusion of patience while feeling restless on the inside.

"I think if they want to be a part of the Inquisition, they'll have to learn better."