open: something grabs ahold of me tightly

[faderifting]

WHO: Inquisition Forces
WHAT: Inquisition forces cross the mountains into Orlais to deal with Emprise du Lion
WHEN: Wintermarch 25 onward
WHERE: EMPRISE DU LION
NOTES: This is a mingle-style log for the Inquisition camps, local tavern, and general/open Inquisition work, etc.

This time they hike down to the west, but the trip through the mountains is no easier. The snow is heaped up about the road where wagons have pushed it aside, stomped into slippery pack beneath the feet and hooves that have gone before. Of the main track it is ankle deep at best and in places it drifts, waist-deep on a tall man and enough to bury a dwarf who hasn't come prepared with snowshoes. Everywhere the wind howls, biting cold, and the sky hangs low, a pale flat grey that makes it difficult to judge distances. Those who know winter weather call it a snow sky, and near-daily squalls prove them right.

They set up camp in Sahrnia, across the broad expanse of frozen river that has trapped the villagers here upstream. Tents pop up in rows and in the shells of tumbled-down buildings, fires blazing and thawing the ground to mud. When the supply wagons roll in they re-open the local tavern, brightly lit with flaking paint on the walls that might once have been colorful and patterned tiles on the floor that seems to swim like an optical illusion after too many glasses of the cheap red wine that fills the cellars.

Even deadlier reds hold the hills: Red Templar sightings have been frequent and it is said they are operating in several locations in the region in significant force. Some of these men and women have become hulking, crystalline beasts. Many others are in the earlier stages of corruption: red-veined and -eyed, aggressive and superhumanly strong, but still visibly human and coherent if spoken to. Red lyrium is even easier to find, jutting out of the ground or cliffsides, filling caves-- the Tower of Bone, a fortress that has stood for centuries, now threatens to split from the inside out. The area's wildlife was none too friendly before, but now the wolves and bears have begun to be corrupted by the lyrium and many will attack on sight, without provocation. (The snofleurs that bumble harmlessly around the river seem unaffected.)

Everywhere there are ruins: broken bridges, crumbling colosseums, and the great hulking mass of Suledin's Keep tucked between the distant hills. Scouts reported that Red Templars hold it as well.

RIFTER ARRIVAL - SAHRNIA - THE HILLS - TOWER CAMP - A HANDY MAP

Comments

[kallian_endris]

[She comes and sits on her heels, still not looking entirely comfortable, shy and a little skittish.]

...actually... I'm half. My father was Dalish, or so I'm told. I never met him. To be honest, I don't think he knows I exist."

[chainlightning]

Not all of the clans would accept that. But they don't all consider me Dalish anymore, either.

[ A half-shrug. Kallian is aware of the former, at least, she's sure. To Merrill, it really doesn't matter. ]

Though- I am sorry that you don't know him.

[kallian_endris]

I... I'm not surprised. But the rumors in Denerim were that any clan would accept you, as long as you were an elf. I don't know if his would accept me or not. I don't even know which clan he was from, except that they were in Ferelden 23 years ago...

[A pause.]

...how do you stop being considered Dalish, though?

[chainlightning]

My clan likely would have. And- well, there are a lot of clans that could have been there.

[ But as far as Merrill is concerned, her clan was always special. ]

Oh, ah- I left. I was the First to the Keeper, but that meant I was very secluded, growing up. And I was trying to restore a piece of our history, but my clan thought it was a bad idea for... a variety of reasons.

[kallian_endris]

A First... [She considers this word carefully, trying to remember the things she's learned from the Asharas]

...are you a mage, then?

[chainlightning]

Oh- yes! Er, that's not a problem?

[ There's a little gesture toward her staff, laying on the ground -- much Dalish, very mage. ]

[kallian_endris]

Oh, no, not at all. [The words come out in a bit of a rush.]

I'm fine with mages. I just... know some people aren't.

[chainlightning]

Those people tend to be rather near-sighted, [ Merrill says, shrugging. ]

Fear is more dangerous than magic. That's always been true.

[kallian_endris]

I'm not afraid of magic, I promise.

What's it really like to be a First? I just... I'm curious. I'm sorry if I'm asking things you're not allowed to tell me. I don't mean to. But...

[She shrugs a little helplessly.]

[chainlightning]

I don't mind, don't worry.

[ Another little smile. ]

And- well. I was fairly secluded from the others, studying and practicing. It was... a bit lonely, because of that.

[kallian_endris]

I understand.

[She shifts position, resting her chin on her knees.]

Things were lonely for me a lot too. I'm Ferelden-born, but my mother isn't. She's Orlesian, and... even among elves, those are tensions that run deep. They never let her forget it. Or me.

[chainlightning]

People can be very short-sighted, can't they?

[ A soft sigh, and Merrill reaches over to gently pat Kallian on one of those knees. ]

Good thing they can be so much more than that, too.

[kallian_endris]

They can, and yes.

So... what brings you to the Emprise?

[chainlightning]

I just want to help, really.

[ And she is 100% serious. ]

The people here are scared, hungry. If there's something we can do for them, then I want to do it.

[kallian_endris]

I believe you.

It's why I'm a healer. I wanted to help people. There's a lot of suffering in the world. If I can take away even just a little of it...

That, and this is my first time visiting a part of Orlais.

[chainlightning]

Oh, are you? I've always been terrible at healing. I mean, I can tell you about plants that are helpful, maybe, but with magic? Not so much.

Do you know where your mother was from, then?

[kallian_endris]

I started learning when I was young. How to recognize herbs and use them, how do first aid. We see a lot of people get hurt where I come from.

My mother is from Orlais. Very much Orlesian. I guess she served a house called the du Poivrers. I'm not sure where they're located.

[chainlightning]

We should compare notes, sometimes. I know they say the Dalish know a lot of herbs that others have forgotten, but I'm sure there are also ones we don't know about because they more commonly grow in cities, that sort of thing.

We could probably find out, if you ever wanted to go there.