I'm one of few who's left [OPEN]

[failedfirst]

WHO: Velanna and you!
WHAT: Day in the life of a Warden elf-mage
WHEN: End of Drakonis through Cloudreach
WHERE: Skyhold, Warden camp, forests beyond
NOTES: You can check her info post for stuff or hit me up via PM or plurk if you want to hash out anything, OR if you'd like your own personal starter let me know and I'd be happy to do one for you!

⓵ Warden Camp
Velanna isn't a "group mentality" kind of person, so while most of the Warden camp is open season, her tent is pitched deliberately a little further away from the others, and she has her own fire and fortifications that she's built up herself with magic. The tent itself is fairly unremarkable from other Warden tents, but there is an impressive wall of earth and short tree growth keeping the elements at bay.

If someone were to wander close enough they'd find Velanna sitting outside the tent cross-legged with a book in her lap and a few more nearby. Stop at your own risk.

⓶ Warden Camp (outskirts)
The only way to keep your skills sharp is by practicing them, and while Velanna is perfectly aware there's a training ring in Skyhold, there is something unsettling to her about using her magic in a courtyard surrounded by templars and other shemlen. Mostly the templars though.

So instead she finds an unpopulated and semi-secluded spot on the edge of the Warden Camp. She goes through general motions followed by cycling through her spells and even physically beating on a broken tree with her staff to make sure that her abilities don't dull while sitting on her hands waiting for something interesting to happen. It's also a good way to channel some of her frustrations, which are nearly constantly bubbling just under her surface.

⓷ Forests surrounding camp
Walking in the forest is a time of peace for Velanna. She's long felt more comfortable among the trees, and she finds her mind wanders less when she's alone and focused on a task. Normally, she's hunting. Her technique is a little different than most hunters, she doesn't waste her time with a bow and arrow, instead she lets the forest do her work for her. Sometimes a rabbit will get thickly ensnared in roots that it didn't see as it darts away from the sound of a predator, or a bird is crushed under a surprise falling branch.

These may not be the forests she grew up in, but all forests connected to the earth and that is a connection Velanna spent her formative years learning how to adapt and use. Every once in a while she'll take a more direct approach and set up real traps or use offensive magic to quickly take something down, but the smaller game she can carry is easy enough to trick into tiny manipulations.

⓸ Library
The only place in Skyhold Velanna regularly visits is the library. She has always loved books, and her studious nature as a child had only grown as an adult and she gained more access to larger libraries. The selection of books on subjects Velanna is only passingly familiar with in the Skyhold libraries means she spends a surprising amount of time there, tucked in a corner or browsing the shelves, her eyes wide from the possibilities. Even the human stories are interesting to her, because it's new information.

She'll likely avoid talking to anyone, but if approached just right she might be amiable to talking about what she's reading (or sometimes writing, in a well-worn book.)

Comments

Warden Camp

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Honestly, considering how close both Nathaniel and Anders are, and how fondly they speak over some of the other Wardens at Amarantine, Bethany is surprised that Velenna doesn't stay closer to camp. She passes by daily, noting the fortifications, the fire, and the solitary elf studying alone.

She's not sure if she wants to intrude -- but they are Wardens and Maker knows she's done this for everyone else, so why not Velenna as well? Perhaps it will make her feel more welcome amongst the rest of them.

So, while passing by, she puts a satchel down beside Velenna, gives her a smile, and simply says, "For the still chilly weather, Warden Velenna. I hope you enjoy the pattern."

[failedfirst]

It is unusual enough for someone who isn't an old friend already to approach her tent, but someone bearing gifts? The last gift Velanna received was ten years ago, and is sitting in her lap now, the well cared for but worn journal Jonas gave her.

So she frowns at the satchel as if it's about to explode, before looking up at Bethany, not moving to take it, but she does straighten a little and close the book.

"What is it?" Her voice is more cautious than sharp, although Velanna is rarely without a little bite in her voice.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Bethany smiled, but she did take a step back to let Velanna take the satchel if she wanted to without Bethany ... well, looming. Not that she was very good at looming to begin with.

"It's sort of my 'welcome to Skyhold, Warden', care package. Nothing really extravagant -- but it's cold here. So inside there's a packet of tea leaves, a knitted scarf and a knitted blanket. I'm sorry, I don't know you very well so ... they're in Warden blue, with griffons stitched in the middle.

[failedfirst]

"I... see," she replies a little haltingly, before setting her book aside and reaching for the satchel. She opens it almost like she's expecting snakes to spring from it, but instead finds the knitted items and draws them out.

"Green used to be my color, though I suppose we all wear the blue now, don't we?" She smiles slightly, looking up at Bethany. "This is good work, thank you."

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Bethany folded her hands in front of her, waiting to see what her fellow Warden made of the blanket and scarf. She feels slight amusement, as if the woman was unwrapping some sort of soulrot bomb, but smiles back when Velanna smiles at her.

"That we do - although now I know when I next make scarves and socks, to do yours in green." She dipped her head, her smile widening, "It's not a problem - I love to do it. It's.... a comfort, you know? Something small I can do for people."

Library

[sandsofhell]

Martin in the mean time didn't exactly devour books, not that he didn't like reading. But it was more or less the quiet nature that libraries seem to offer from the hustle and bustle of the streets outside. Places that offer tools of learning and recorded knowledge always seem to do so in his eyes.

It was nice, relaxing from what the headaches in his head. It also allowed for him to learn more about the world he lived in.

But he wasn't alone this time, it seemed. Well no matter, he went ahead and sat down across from the woman, placing his own book on the table and opening it up.

[failedfirst]

Velanna usually tries to avoid others when she's absorbed in a book or studying, because she tends to get annoyed easily when she's trying to concentrate. And, you know, any other time. When the human sits down across from her she automatically straightens in her chair a little, practically bristling like a cat. Her experience here is that she's about to be thrown a comment about how elves shouldn't know how to read, or something insulting about her ears.

When he silently starts reading instead, that is frankly a surprise to her. She glances up from her book a few times, before her gaze lingers a little longer, as if she's trying to figure out exactly where he came from. Then, she finally decides to ask.

"You are one of those who has fallen from the rifts, are you not?"

[sandsofhell]

Was she talking to him? He caught those subtle movements out of the corners of his eyes, from over the top of the pages that he had opened up to. She was guarded, wary and did not seem to like the idea of having his presence anywhere near her.

Well that was fine. But still she decided to open up to him... well the nature of her question cleared up his own question.

"Yeah, guess I am." He supposed that she wanted to question him now. "Why?"

[failedfirst]

She does want to question him. She's intensely curious about the experience of falling from one world to another, the rifts themselves, and the residual effects had upon those who came through them. She reels it in, however, because she's learned from her time with humans that sometimes information is better volunteered than extracted. For some reason.

"Most humans would not sit at the same table as an elf, certainly not a Dalish." Even as a Warden, humans were still wary of her more often than not.

[sandsofhell]

He gave her a shrug in response. "According to some I'm not human."

A jab at the idea that some seem to think that most, if not all, Rifters are demons. Not that he seems to have run into anyone who's decided to give him problems based on that idea. Maybe due to him largely keeping to himself or working with the Inquisition forces.

"...I'm Captain Martin Walker, by the way." May as well get introductions out of the way.

1

[pinprick]

She's always been a loner. Always been half-estranged at best. But she needs friends as much as anyone. Nathaniel was always convinced of that.

They haven't had a chance to catch up yet, so he makes his way to her tent with food--roast fennec with black bread and pease porridge--and beer for the both of them. As he approaches, he watches her carefully for any sign that his presence is unwelcome. If he sees it, he'll leave her portion on the ground and settle a ways away, where she can see him but still have her space.

[failedfirst]

Her entire life has been built around the fact that no one ever quite understands her. Even Ilshae, who she looked at like a mother after her own had died, had said Velanna would have destroyed the clan had she been made Keeper. Even Seranni hadn't entirely believed in Velanna, so how could anyone else? So she separates herself, and if people feel like engaging her, well. That's entirely up to them.

She doesn't look up at first when Nathaniel approaches, finishing the paragraph she's jotting down in her book, a concentrated frown on her face. She pauses for a moment once she's done, her quill hovering over the page.

"Are you going to sit down or stand there and wait for me to bite you?" She knows what people say about her.

[pinprick]

"I think I at least know you well enough to know when you're about to bite, my lady." He closes the distance with the shadow of a smile and offers her a cup and a bowl.

[failedfirst]

"Sure about that, are you?" she replies lightly, setting her quill aside with her book. At least she's matured enough that she no longer gets flustered when he addresses her as my lady. Finally she looks up, accepting the bowl and cup from him. "Thank you."

[pinprick]

He knows what it's like not to think you're capable of being liked. Loved. When she hinted at how few people had treated her with respect. His first my lady had been sarcastic. After he'd realized, he'd started saying it seriously. When someone treats her like she's a person instead of a rabid wild animal, she occasionally acts like a person instead of a rabid wild animal.

"You're welcome." The smile reaches his eyes this time as he sits beside her. "Nobody's going to object if you camp a little closer to the rest of us. You can bring your...landscaping with you, even."

forest

[sistertohermen]

Velanna isn't the only one who hunts around in the forest. Although, today, Rachette isn't on the hunt. Today, she's gathering mushrooms and whatever berries she's pretty sure are edible (and if they aren't, someone much more knowledgeable will point it out and not use them).

A rabbit hurries by, or tries to. It tries to hop the gap above her head but doesn't quite make it, clattering on the far side of the ditch and throwing dirt around in a hurry to get back up. It makes Rachette set down her bag of goodies and unsheathe her blades. Something scared that rabbit, and she's not about to get blindsided by a wolf. Or a bear. Or a demon. She waits a moment, two moments, in case something big comes trundling after, then heaves herself up in a roll to ready stance out of the ditch. There's...no wolf to speak of. Nor any bears. No demons, either.

[failedfirst]

Something big, Velanna definitely is not. Her emergence is sudden, however, as she comes from the direction the rabbit fled, holding it dangling limply by it's neck. She's muttering something in Dalish under her breath when she notices the dwarf in front of her, blades drawn.

"There is nothing coming that way, it was only me," she says as clearly and calmly as she can, not wanting to startle the woman into attacking.

[sistertohermen]

She's a fine enough hunter (scavenger), but the surface still surprises her. Had they been underground, surely the elf wouldn't have taken her by surprise. As it is...Rachette takes in her surroundings quickly once more before putting the blades away.

"That was fast," she notes with a nod to the downed prey. "Probably didn't even see you coming. Like me."

[failedfirst]

Velanna smiles slightly at that, taking out some twine to loop around the rabbit's neck.

"That is the point. If I'm hunting, I don't want my prey to know I'm there." This rabbit as it was gave her more of a chase than she usually bothered with. He was a nice fat rabbit, though, one that had clearly been eating well despite some of the skinnier animals she'd come across.

[sistertohermen]

"So long as I'm not the prey." She hops back into the ditch to retrieve her bag of goodies. "I tend to go for the hunt. I'm not very good with a bow and arrow, and traps I'd rather save to catch something a little bigger." Like a darkspawn's leg. Or exploding in a demon's face. Are there hunting parties, do you know? Maybe if a bunch of us hunting types got together we could do something more regularly, fill up the pantries and storehouses in a go."

Warden Camp

[justice_is_blond]

He's not sure he really wants company, but he is sure he doesn't want to be alone. Not and risk another occurrence of the other night. Velanna seems as close as one can get to the middle ground while she's reading, so he grabs a book he's borrowed from the library and takes a seat somewhat near her.

That doesn't mean he's great about reading in silence. He's always had a problem with shutting up.

"Book any good?"

[failedfirst]

She would have been perfectly content sitting quietly and reading together. His presence doesn't annoy her nearly as much as it used to, especially when he's quiet. Of course, then he wouldn't be Anders.

"It's very dry, actually," she responds to his question, looking up from the page she's been reading. "I don't know how some scholars manage to make bloody war seem dull, and yet here it is."

[justice_is_blond]

"I suppose you probably get tired the fourth or fifth time you write about blood gushing forth in an unending stream as the body sags to the ground, and in a fight that happens over and over and over. Losing limbs, lives, it gets repetitive."

His voice is tired, but he sets his book down pretty quickly. Company's better, and she doesn't seem upset by his talking.

"There's a lot that gets repetitive." The same glares day after day, the oppression, the attitudes, so much more.

[failedfirst]

As someone who is extremely used to the repetition of old prejudice as well as being largely misunderstood, she can guess Anders means more than just old books. Anyone else she might have ignored, but she's acutely aware of what Anders has been going through.

"Sometimes... I find it easier to focus on the things that aren't repetitive," she ventures after a moment of trying to figure out how to string the thought together. It's difficult putting certain things into words, when she's never been expected to, before.

[justice_is_blond]

It's not easy to seek help. It's never been easy. He's laughed things off and run, generally, and he can't anymore. Anders takes a breath as he looks at her. She's been rejected by her people. She's been scorned and insulted in front of others. He'd been one of the others. If anyone knows how this feels, it's her.

"What sort of things?" It sounds like maybe they're on the same page, but he's not certain yet.