A mass of flesh crawling over the entire landscape like a river of slugs.

[dwarfing]

WHO: Shale, NPC guards, you!
WHAT: Shale arrives, drags Shyhold's outer guard with them along the bridge.
WHEN: Today, nighttime
WHERE: Skyhold Gates/Courtyard
NOTES: Most likely threats of violence.

Skyhold Bridge

There's nothing as wonderful as a bit of late night chaos, is there?

The sun had just set behind the many mountain tops near Skyhold when calamity breaks out on the bridge heading from the cliff path towards the fortress. There's yelling and protests echoing over the gorge, accented with a bit of dispassionate grumbling. The night guards from the other side of the bridge are hollering, torches waving around over the bridge as they try to stop someone in the dark from crossing over.

Someone really big, and covered in glowing crystals.

Shale is dragging three guards behind as the struggling men try to stop them from proceeding, the golem mostly uncaring for the flailing of soldiers and torches in their face - all while stubbornly moving forward. There are calls for the gates to be closed and other calls for backup (and the Maker), but thankfully no cries of pain or people falling to their death.

...not that Shale didn't want to throw some of them off the bridge, but that probably wouldn't make a good impression of them as an ally. Still, the one with the greasy hair that was trying to chip them with a dagger was awfully tempting to toss off, just to listen how long it would take for him to reach the bottom.

Courtyard

Hello. There's a golem in Skyhold. They're not impressed, and would like to file a complaint about your hospitality.

Comments

Courtyard

[perseverances]

There's a definite downside to being the Commander - not getting the proper amount of sleep when there's a possibility of an enemy attack. A pounding to his doors woke him up, with a guard alerting him of the massive being coming down the causeway and into Skyhold proper. Cullen was up within moments, boots on and sans armor and the guard is talking of some golem.

He's not even sure what to think at this point.

When he reaches the bottom of the stairs he's greeted with something he hasn't seen since he was a child. He'd recognize that statue anywhere, especially since he grew up around it. "Maker's breath," he lets out in a low tone.

He tells the guards to stand down, only because he's not even sure what it's doing here. File your complaints with him, Shale.

[dwarfing]

Well, Cullen doesn't exactly look like a leader without armor to Shale, but everyone else seemed utterly relieved when the man arrived. The greasy-haired guard even whimpers 'Commander' before he's brushed off Shale's chest like a stray crumb.

He almost chipped them!

Turning towards the blonde, the golem looks masterfully unimpressed with this... wavy-haired man. "It is the commander of these? Its soldiers does not have manners." They eye the shell-shocked soldiers disdainfully.

"I have come to join its Inquisition."

[perseverances]

"I am the Commander, yes." What is he supposed to do, apologize? Frankly he's unimpressed with the fact that his soldiers couldn't take down a golem. "They'll be properly reprimanded.

Join the Inquisition? That's a first. "We would... be honored to have you help. What should we call you?"

The Bridge

[ombranera]

After the battle of Denerim the dwarves, for the most part, took their Golems and left. They did not let them wander about willy nilly without someone directing them. When Zevran hears the commotion he peers over the battlements to a familiar Silhouette- that stride and vague irritation is one has not seen in so long he'd almost forgotten the tromp of their feet.

Giddy he swings down, landing light and silent on the far end of the bridge. "Shale- you are not bothered at all by these fellows- honestly I think you are gong to make them cry."

[dwarfing]

Of all the people in Thedas? Of all the elves? Of all the Warden companions? This one is the person to meet them? Sighing, Shale shakes off a few of the soldiers with a roll of their shoulders.

"The painted elf speaks as if making them cry would not be a better action than throwing soldiers off the bridge." The golem mutters, looking over at Zevran. "Which, incidentally, is what I very much desire to do... but it would make joining its Inquisition difficult."

[ombranera]

"You should listen to them, you know." To the guards, honestly. Zevran wanders that much closer, helping one of them to their feet. "They will throw you from the bridge without batting an eye. Best to let them do as they like. Trust me, it is far simpler to go along with it while smiling and nodding and keeping birds far, far away than it is to argue.

To shale: "I thank you for your patience, my friend. We aren't exactly lousy with skilled guards as it is. Losing these men would be unfortunate."

[eolasemah]

Sina's in the courtyard when the new arrival... arrives, and she is appropriately dumbfounded. There are few at whom she would stand and gape so obviously, but, to be fair, there are few who are made of stone with glowing minerals sticking out of their... flesh?

Incidentally, the shard in her chest is glowing and very visible, perhaps the only thing she and Shale have in common. At least physically.

[dwarfing]

Shale is very used to being stared at, but that doesn't mean they enjoy having people gawk at them for longer sessions. Raising a stony brow, the golem gives Sina an irritated look.

...but that glow is strangely similar to their own, and they've seen hints of it on other people passing by.

Moving to face the elf, Shale narrows their eyes. "It has a crystal, as well. Is this a new magic trick or an affliction?"

[eolasemah]

Sina blanches when the thing approaches her, but doesn't back away. It speaks! This is amazing. She smiles dumbly when it addresses her, then, after a moment or two, realizes what was asked.

"Oh--," she sputters, "...an... affliction, I think." She looks down at the shard. "...perhaps a magic trick, though I can't control it." She touches it, self-consciously, looking at Shale's. "Yours are beautiful."

Courtyard

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin's in the courtyard when Shale arrives on her way to...well, it doesn't matter now. The Vashoth mage comes to a halt as it's impossible not to notice the hulking golem just standing there. She glances around, presumably looking for the person holding the control rod, but of course there's no one.

Her eyes widen at that, and she can't help but stare, confused and amazed. "Andraste's tits...." What the hell is going on?

[dwarfing]

Korrin doesn't immediately scream 'qunari' to Shale, since Sten didn't have horns. Still, there wasn't really anything else the woman could be, unless she was the biggest and stockiest elf the golem had ever seen.

"Why does it always talk about its Maker and Bride's squishy parts? It does not go around screaming about their own." Well, unless you were Zevran or Oghren. Shale could totally see that happening.

[gatheringstorm]

Being called an elf would be a new experience, though as it is the comment snaps Korrin out of her shock. A smirk forms as she approaches, still careful but now amused. "Because talking about those particular squishy parts pisses off the Chantry sisters, of course. Talking about my own isn't nearly as blasphemous."

She tilts her head, taking note of the glowing crystals. "I've seen golems before, but...not here. And not free-willed. What brings you to Skyhold?"

Courtyard!

[amygdalae]

There are really not many things that can surprise Bruce these days, but this? This, even Bruce has to admit that he's a little bit stunned. He's heard of golems, yes, but the most he's ever seen of them are the remains of them in his few trips into the Deep Roads. Seeing one right here in Skyhold, complete and whole and pretty much overnight was--well. It was pretty surprising.

To his own credit Bruce deals with it with as much grace as he can muster. He goes around his daily routine as if a golem hadn't magically appeared, going all around the courtyard left and right and paying no attention to the new addition to the courtyard. It's... probably the best way to go about this. Hopefully.

[dwarfing]

Shale has caused quite a ruckus and people were giving the golem a wide berth, nervously milling around. It was almost refreshing to see someone that didn't seem to give a damn.

Smart man.

Unfortunately, Shale is just as happy to ignore as being ignored, but that doesn't quite help when you're in the way of whatever Bruce needed to get to.

[amygdalae]

Bruce honestly was quite happy to leave the golem to its own devices, as it were, but considering that now it was blocking his way to his next patient it was a bit hard to avoid it entirely.

He tried to go around it left and right, but those options were instantly out as he couldn't fit into those tight spaces. There was a pause as Bruce tried to think of an alternative path, but none came to mind. This was pretty much the only way forward and it didn't look like the golem was willing to budge without being asked.

Would it even do it when asked, though? One way to find out, he supposed.

"...my apologies, but would you mind letting me pass through?"

[sistertohermen]

For that kind of commotion, it's hard not to notice. It's a wonder to Rachette that the whole of Skyhold hasn't woken, but surely all those still awake are going to come see. Is it an attack? If they're closing the gates, it must be--

Though by the time she reaches close enough to the gates to see just what kind of glowing, hulking beast it is...it feels...almost familiar. Like something to put her Stone sense at ease. Something from the Stone, in some aspect. A person of stone. As a little girl, they were just stories, but in the wake of the Blight and beyond, it had become more reality.

"Is this really necessary?" she has to ask of one of the terrified-looking (human) guards who hasn't gone to attack the golem. "Better to let it in and figure out what's happening than to try uselessly to--forget it."

She waits out of the way until the golem makes its way at last through the gates of Skyhold and follows its movements some distance aside, enough room to maneuver if necessary, and enough room to look up without straining.

"Have you been sent from Orzammar?" That's her first question. An important one, depending on if they're suddenly getting support from Bhelen.

[dwarfing]

Shale looks down... and down. A dwarf that wasn't Oghren was a definate plus, but it also reminded them a bit of being a female dwarf. Once. Shale didn't like that memory.

Glaring at Rachette, the golem shakes their head adamantly. "I am not from Orzammar," Shale replies, wanting to make that clear. They hadn't been there in a long time, after all. "I have come to join its Inquisition."

[sistertohermen]

Rachette wracks her brain for whatever tidbits of rumor and gossip and fact she might know of the stone giants. Her eyes squint in concentration. "You alone? Nobody...controlling you?"

Courtyard

[el_tybs]

Well that was certainly new. If his memory served him right that statue was not there the day before. It was an interesting piece, but whomever decided to put it in the middle of the walk way either was trying to be abstract or just rude. Either way it grabs Sam's attention and he moves to come closer to get a better look.

He's tempted to touch it, curious by the stones embedded in the stone, but when it starts moving? "Gah!"

[dwarfing]

Shale glares at Sam with disdain. Really?

"It is very jumpy for a soldier," the golem mutters, crossing their arms.

[el_tybs]

And now it was talking. Oh Maker.

"I-" Did it just call him 'it'? "Guess so? This is kind of a first for me."

courtyard

[aceso]

Christine hears some vague shouting and commotion outside from inside one of the healer's tents, but it dies down and she only wanders out once she's finished with her patient. Only to come face to chest with a stone giant. No, not a giant. A golem. Her face drains of color and she takes a few steps back before looking around. Aren't golems used with a control rod? Whoever is controlling it better be a friend of the Inquisition.

"Uh, beg pardon?" she asks the courtyard at large. "Who is responsible for this?"

[dwarfing]

Everywhere the golem turned, there were new people freaking out. Most often, there were calls for control rods and who was in charge of the golem, and it was annoying enough for the golem to grab the next wailing person and shake them a bit.

Now another one. Shale looks down at Christine with an irritated frown. "I can hear it. I am responsible for myself."

courtyard;

[arcaneadvisor]

When there's a commotion in Skyhold, the best thing to do is actually make sure you're present yourself to get the story before it develops arms and legs, so Morrigan is quick to follow after the soldiers though she hangs back as soon as she realises what's going on. Perhaps best to intervene before anyone gets turned into a fine red mist. If Templars had come running? Well she might have waited for a time.

"Of all I thought I would see here, you were one of the last," she greets, ten years not having changed how the smug set of her smile. "Do you wish to go direct to the rookery by any chance?"

[dwarfing]

Ugh. Her.

Shale shouldn't be surprised, though. Magic, demons and mayhem, the world at risk? Morrigan was honestly less unexpected to find here than Zevran. It was a good thing she intervened, though, because Shale was itching to just crush one of these people. At least a little bit.

Turning to face Morrigan, Shale frowned and clutched their hands into fists. "The swamp witch assumes much. I will not go near a place filled with birds!" Ew. Ew. The golem would do their bird murdering on their own turf, thank you.