[ OPEN ] Well I can't stand to be with myself, this liberation's seemingly rare

[ombranera]

WHO: Zevran and Various
WHAT: Zevran sparring and dealing
WHEN: Throughout Drakonis
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Violence, swearing, usual Zevran Content Warnings Apply. Open prompt below, poke me on plurk for a closed starter. Prose or actionspam welcome!

As much as he'd protested Alistair running off on some mission in the west- the time apart gives him that much more chance to train. He'd been doing so privately in the barn, occasionally squaring off against Settimo when they both had the time and patience for Settimo's paranoia and Zevran's over-adjustments for the blind side. Learning to fight with only one good eye is slowly driving Zevran to frustration. Settimo could not come at him hard enough to be a challenge, he could not learn his new limitations without a solid effort on both their parts.

Setting aside his vanity he takes to the training grounds- but working on stuffed dummies is only good for so much. Soon enough he is picking out soldiers and rogues to come at him in the dirt circle. Day to day it goes much the same. Zevran stands with bad eye covered and his swords, with his hands, with a single short sword and calls any that would step up to help him regain his awareness. It is, to be honest, slow going. More often than not if his opponent has any manner of skill he ends up on his ass. But he grits his teeth, stands, and goes at it again. And again. Afterward he recovers with the highlight of his training- a bucket of water to sluice off the sweat and grit of the day. Whether it's the relief the cold brings or the appreciative looks it tends to earn? He doesn't say. But thus he spends his days, training himself or wrestling with the fledglings, who will offer their own commentary and catcalling in Antivan during his other matches.

Comments

[sistertohermen]

"But you're the last of the house," she points out, hopping up on a nearby table laden with traps and swinging her legs off the edge. "So are you going to try and start a family or adopt people who want to take your name?"

[ombranera]

"Houses of Assassins in Antiva work a little differently than noble houses in other countries. It is more a communal loyalty than it is blood or legal relation. This is the house to which you belong, these are the masters you obey, this is who you defend. It is not a terrible system."

[sistertohermen]

"So anyone could be part of your House so long as you let them? If they work for you?" That's not a bad system at all. Could get kicked out just as easily, but honestly, that's family for you.

[ombranera]

"If they swear an oath of loyalty to the house, to me and those that live under the name. I hope to have better incentive to offer than 'do this or you die' which is the usual way of such things with the Crows." Gold and security is often reason enough.

[sistertohermen]

"Would you be another house of Antivan assassins? Playing a game of good assassin versus bad assassin? Or would you try to do other things?" Merchant guilds are big with the surface dwarves. Could be pirates. She's heard things about Antiva and Rivain and the sea (something something big big puddle of water???) and boats (to cross big puddles of water) and pirates? "If it's a fresh start you're looking for, you could do anything while also keeping your infamous name."