We come from the land of the ice and snow

[faderifting]

WHO: Open to all
WHAT: Thedas' strange new guests are delivered to Skyhold
WHEN: 25 Harvestmere (October)
WHERE: Skyhold main gate & courtyard
NOTES: This is Part I of a two-part intro event, Part II will be posted tomorrow.

A long uphill tromp through the snowy mountains ends at Skyhold, the distant fortress finally before them in all its tumble-down glory. There is time to admire the drop into the river gorge far below as they cross the only bridge into the castle; it is briefly backed up with traffic, several carts bearing supplies and visitors stalled as the portcullis is raised. Those coming to help catalog and unload the shipment and greet the guests, or otherwise present near the front courtyard, will find themselves witness to a far more interesting arrival.

Guards at the gate carry the word quickly, and more gather, though they make no move to imprison the strange people who fell out of a rift. They just line the perimeter and keep a close watch. Perhaps this adds a level of tension to this first encounter, but it also reassures the many who are unsettled by the uncertain turn of events and keeps in check those who might attack first and ask questions later. Others will no doubt soften the Inquisition's first impression, offering food, information, and other assistance.

Medical attention is available in the tented-encircled corner of the courtyard where the wounded from Haven are still treated. The quartermaster's assistant is called upon to provide spare odds and ends of clothing to those in need, and to issue blankets for all, though they are left to fend for themselves to find places to sleep.

Any mage willing to help is called in to do so and a cluster forms in one side of the courtyard to examine the rifters. They are objects of curiosity in general, but the marks on their hands are of particular interest, resembling smaller slivers of the Herald's famous mark. Despite their best efforts, no mage will be able to provide any real insight after this initial assessment. What the rifters and their marks are is a question they cannot answer today.

But one question is answered: in the midst of all the commotion, another Inquisition agent arrives from Haven, rushing in red-faced to announce that the Herald's body has finally been found.


OOC

It will be decided (partly for OOC reasons, admittedly) that the rifters will not be imprisoned at this point, but they will be watched carefully, and the guards are on alert for any strange behavior by people with glowing hands or strange attire. And of course, their freedom can be revoked at any time if they're deemed a danger. Though there are some OOC considerations at play here, you're welcome to ICly lobby for more or less freedom for the rifters, and things may change based on IC action/consensus.

Also: Part II, aka the log for the funeral/wake/etc. event, will go up tomorrow!

Comments

Korrin | OTA

[gatheringstorm]

As one of those agents freshly returned from Haven, Korrin remains near the rift-folk initially in hopes of preventing any incidents...from them or others. She keeps glancing at the marks on their hands, unsettled by the echo of the Herald's power and the reminder of its cost still fresh in her mind. At least they seem to be stable, as far as she can tell, but that's not enough to reassure her completely.

The Vashoth mage will linger to answer questions -to point them to someone with the relevant information- and ensure that everyone receives aid, whether medical or otherwise. Whatever she thinks of their arrival, the fact is that they haven't proven hostile, and until ordered otherwise (with a very good reason), she'll treat them as extra refugees. Granted, these refugees will be watched, but she told them to expect as much.

Afterward, she'll make a beeline for the tavern. Bone-tired but needing to relax, Korrin will linger there as long as possible before leaving to crash. If she can vent to someone while paying for their drink, even better.

[ungovernable]

Surely Benevenuta never drank so regularly in Nevarra City as she has done lately in Skyhold - Dorian Pavus is a terrible influence. (That is a thought needs never be repeated aloud, lest some agree too fervently.) Even so - she is fascinated by the qunari, and what better way to become better acquainted with someone than to be bought a drink and lend them a sympathetic ear? Small and grey and smiling, she prefers the brandy to the ale and her fox-shaped face arranges well into an expression of commiseration.

"You have had quite the adventure," she says, contemplative.

[gatheringstorm]

Brandy, it is. Korrin will go with Chasing sack mead, herself. She's tried the brandy and enjoyed it, but right now, her preference is for something strong and a little bitter. Granted, what's strong for humans affects her somewhat less, so she won't be inebriated for some time, if she decides to go that far. It hasn't been decided yet.

She takes a swig before replying with a tired chuckle. "Maker's balls, what an understatement. I knew something was going to happen when we returned to Haven. Stray demons or stray refugees, something like that. I just didn't think it would be both at once, and both from a damn rift, and with all those...marks. Like she had." The Vashoth woman stares into her drink for a moment at that, expression softening as she recalls the news of her earlier.

[ungovernable]

"The herald?" Benevenuta probes, gently. She'd looked in briefly at the rifters, but seen the successes (or lack thereof; the frustration and lack of answers) being had by other mages and judged her input unnecessary, for the time being. She will have time, yet, to learn about these people - why they are here, how they came to be.

It will be interesting to see how they shake out, in Skyhold, but she thinks in the immediate, there is little for her to learn while they are like as not in too much shock at their circumstances. The way they behave as they relax and adapt will be much more interesting.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin nods, not minding the probing as the Herald is doubtless on the minds of many tonight. Not only did those arrive who bear an echo of her mark, but her body had been found. They've barely had time to move on, and now this. It's picking at a wound that hasn't truly begun to heal.

"Right, the Herald. Theirs isn't quite like hers, not as large...or unstable as was hers at first. I watched the rift-folk on the way back, but there wasn't any incident with those things. Still pains them, though." There's a small frown at that, wondering where it will lead.

[ungovernable]

"Troubling," in a murmur, thoughtful. Interesting that the body has been found as these strangers and their echoes arrive - it beggars belief to think them unconnected, but what connection? The obvious is as obvious as it is completely unhelpful, telling them nothing. She is curious - cautious, but curious - but it's early to be frustrated. For now, she can afford a measured patience. "It was uneventful, otherwise?"

It can't have been too mad, if they're all here and not in cells.

[gatheringstorm]

That question makes Korrin laugh, not unkindly. "Yes, I suppose so. Other than a rift spewing out demons and people with familiar marks, it was fine. No enemy forces nearby, and we were able to recover supplies. But no one's thinking about that now, I guarantee it."

No, the murmuring all around the tavern is about those from the rift, and rightly so. "They really had no idea about the Fade when I asked them. None. Or the Chantry or Templars or any of it. Can you imagine? Basic concepts, and they were completely alien."

[ungovernable]

If she had been interested already -

"Truly?" Benevenuta leans back in her seat, her fingertips resting lightly on the edge of her cup. She had been intrigued, to hear of people coming through a rift and not demons, but to think of how far afield they must have come to know nothing of... Korrin doesn't mean it the way Stannis waves aside her foreign perceptions of the same, she knows without asking, the tone is all wrong. But what that means, then...

"What did they know, then? Much of whence they came?"

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin nods, leaning forward a little. "More or less, yes. We didn't get to discussing their origins extensively when they had so many questions, but one girl spoke of mermaids and pistols and magic as something street performers use, rather than as we know it. Poor thing, I think I startled her with all my blasting away, but it really couldn't be helped at that time, not with demons all around us."

[savethecat]

"Got a lot of new folk came in this time, it seemed like?" Gorse said by way of greeting, taking the empty seat next to Korrin. He'd seen her come in with the people who looked especially lost and, well, he was curious. Also he wanted to make sure his friend was okay.

[gatheringstorm]

'Okay' is not a word Korrin would use to describe herself, at the moment. She appears visibly weary, her expression more naturally brooding when not speaking with anyone in particular. There's too much on her mind and she needs to drown it out, either with company or ale.

She'll take the former for now, looking over with a faint smile as Gorse joins her. "Oh, yeah. More refugees, in a sense...only ones who stepped out of a rift with the Herald's mark. That and they don't seem to know the first thing about Thedas."

[savethecat]

"... Huh."

That's really the only thing to be said about that. Gorse stares for a few long moments as he tries to parse how that works before deciding it's beyond his ability to figure out. Then he orders an ale for each of them.

"... Guess I won't be the only one 'round here who doesn't know 'bout the world." That's good, at least? He won't have to feel so much like a country bumpkin.

[gatheringstorm]

Aw, Gorse. Korrin smiles warmly in thanks for the ale, then shakes her head at that last comment. "Believe me, they know less than anyone else here. I had to explain the Fade to them. You know, the place they stepped out of? And rifts and the Chantry and so on. Basic concepts to us, but completely alien to them.

And hey, don't say that. You're getting to see plenty of the world now, with the Inquisition. That'll count for experience."

[savethecat]

It was difficult to imagine having no idea about concepts even the most unlearned in Thedas saw as basic. At the same time, Gorse wondered what kind of knowledge they brought with them, how it might apply to their world in ways they never imagined. Sometimes all you needed was a fresh perspective, and suddenly the Inquisition was flush with perspectives as fresh as they came.

"As long as I know enough to help people out, that's what matters. Maybe some people who don't know what's going on is what we need if they're willing to help."

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin makes a thoughtful grunt at that, taking a sip of her ale. "You might be right. I've been thinking more about their marks, and hoping that they'll be able to seal rifts before long. Or even stun demons, that would help. But bringing disparate people together for a common cause is what the Inquisition's all about, isn't it? If they have a good idea, I'm not going to mind if they came from somewhere else to bring it."

[savethecat]

Gorse sips his own ale as he listens. He'd only seen the rifts from afar, never up close, and he wasn't sure seeing them up close was something he really wanted to do. Like, ever.

He had no fear of mages, but demons were a horse of a different color. It was just smart to be wary. They were not as easy to reason with as an angry druffalo, Gorse was pretty sure.

"Hope they get a chance to be acclimated first 'fore they get thrown at the rifts, yeah?"

[gatheringstorm]

"Oh, I think that's a given. The higher-ups are decent people, as far as I can tell. I doubt they'd be fine with just chucking them at the rifts when we've done everything we can to save people up to this point. Besides, I bet there's going to be time allotted for questioning and a lot of it. People showing up out of nowhere? Yeah, they'll want to get all they can about that."

And then Korrin looks disturbed as a thought occurs to her. "The ones I was closest to were decent at defending themselves, but still...without the Inquisition there, they would have fared a lot worse. And there are far too many unmonitored rifts out there."

[savethecat]

Gorse gives out a low whistle as Korrin says that last part, letting the idea roll around in his head a bit.

"Well, shoot. You think other rifts done spit people out that no one's been 'round to help with?"

[gatheringstorm]

"Well, why not? They spit out demons whether we're there or not, and those rift-folk appeared right along with them. We still don't know as much as we should about the rifts, but it's a fair assumption, isn't it? All the more reason to be back on the field as soon as possible."

That and Korrin's just restless. The trip to Haven alleviated it some, but she needs to visit a place that doesn't provoke bad memories.

[savethecat]

"Well... shoot, you're right about that." the idea visibly unsettles Gorse, that there'd be a bunch of people out there waking up some strange place with no idea how they got there, no one around to help them with that. Even if they could fight, it's not worth a load of beans if they don't have any idea what they're up against.

[gatheringstorm]

Aw, Gorse. Don't look like that, Korrin can't handle it. She reaches over and pats his arm. "I don't like the idea, either, but the Inquisition has a lot of people. If we can spread out, have camps and agents in more places, we'll cover a lot of ground. That will make a difference, I'm certain of it."

[savethecat]

"Right. We just gotta make more camps, more safe places so that there's people around for anyone that gets lost." Gorse says this with the kind of determination that implies he will set up camps across all of Ferelden all by himself if that's what it takes.

Though truthfully he's definitely going to be going with when the whole mess with the Mire happens - he actually is very familiar with the area since it isn't that far from his home.

[gatheringstorm]

That determination is adorable and contagious, bolstering Korrin's resolve on the matter. She knows she needs to be where the action is, thanks to her combat experience. Where better than dealing with the rifts at hand and sparing new people in the process?

"Exactly. More camps, more scouts and more people willing to enter the fray. I hope Kas is getting all the training he needs. We'll need his eyes out there."

[savethecat]

"He'll do great, all he needs is a chance to prove it." Gorse said with the same certainty he managed to have about just about everything - including things he actually had no reason to believe. The kind of faith he had in things turning out okay was enough to make it a little weird that he didn't hold to any religion.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin nods firmly to that, less guided by blind faith and more by what she's seen in the boy up to this point. "He'll get it, and I know he'll do fine. He may not have been given much in the way of chances before, but the Inquisition will change that. Besides, he now knows the right way to use a bow without hurting those horn nubs in the process."

She's smug at that, pleased he took to her advice so quickly.