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.

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.

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]

"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."

[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."

[failedfirst]

She does appreciate his civilized way of treating her, even if she may never say it aloud. He makes her think that maybe not all human nobles are horrible creatures.

"I'm fine here," she replies to his comment, picking at the food in the bowl like she's disinterested although she's just organizing a plan of attack. Warden constitution, food is food. "I have a decent view, and I'm far enough away that I don't hear any noises at night." Not that anyone in the Warden camp is resting particularly easily with the false Calling, but she'd block out whatever excessive noises she could.

[pinprick]

A fair point, which he acknowledges with a bob of his head in her direction. "Gives you a little space to yourself, I suppose. Everyone needs a little of that." He manipulates a bit of meat into his spoon. "So long as you know you can come to us when you've had enough of it."

[failedfirst]

Frowning as she's tearing into the bread she glances over at Nathaniel, chewing before she speaks again.

"I've never been good at the... camaraderie. You know that." Sooner or later she says something weird and then it's like growing up the odd one out with the Dalish all over again.

[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."

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]

"That is admirable," Velanna replies, her fingers absently spreading over the fabric of the blanket in her lap. The selfless act of just making something for others without thinking about what you'd get in return, it's something Seranni would have done.

"Most would not be concerned with the comfort of others."

[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?"

[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.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"Oh, I wouldn't say that ... but kindness is always something that ought to be shared as well." One corner of Bethany's mouth twitches, before she looks out to the refugee camp. She sighs in memory, before she says quietly.

"Most haven't lost everything, except the clothes on their backs. You learn to appreciate the simple things, when you don't have them anymore. Like blankets and scarves."

[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."

[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?"

[pinprick]

"We're not asking anything of you, Velanna. I'm just telling you we're there for you."

[failedfirst]

She doesn't reply to that for a moment, focusing instead on the food, a somewhat dour expression on her face (what else is new.)

"I'm sorry I left," she finally says, after a length of time, although she's pointedly not looking at Nathaniel. "I know it was foolish, but I truly did see Seranni."

[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.

[pinprick]

"Never said you leaving was foolish," Nathaniel says mildly. "If it was my sister, I would have left if I had a lead."

He doesn't look at her, granting her a freedom from the scrutiny that she asks for by not looking at him.

"Where did you find her?"