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

ALL GOOD WITH ME SUGARBUTT

[apostasia]

( martel straightens, his hands flat on the barrel, and there's a moment where he sets his shoulders and exhales and decides how to respond to this interruption. a man like a caged animal, he can be unpredictable and unpleasant, but bruce's hesitant approach gives him pause enough that when he turns, though he couldn't be called friendly, whatever impulse he had to dismiss him at once has been quashed.

at least he sounds as if he has a purpose. )

It seems I've nothing but time. What do you want?

( it could've been worse. )

\o/

[amygdalae]

[Well it doesn't seem like he's going to do anything terrible, but the brusqueness of his voice does have Bruce feeling uncertain for a moment.

He gets over it quickly, though, putting on what he hopes is an encouraging smile.]

I know that your wounds had been looked over, but I'd like to give it a check, if you don't mind. [A pause.] Most of the other healers tend to rely on magic, so I want to make sure that everything is alright.

[apostasia]

( he doesn't quite bare his teeth, but the slight curl of his lip is a near thing, and unlikely to reassure bruce that his intervention is in any way welcome. )

I am standing, am I not?

( this is not a good measure of a man who has always had trouble accepting when it's time to let his body rest - they don't know him well, here, but that he is unlikely to be the best of patients is probably not something it takes a great deal of acquaintance to divine. he's nothing if not stubborn as a damn mule. )

The wound is healed enough.

[amygdalae]

[Yes, well. Bruce may be unsure, but he's not afraid. He's had to deal with worse things than an unwelcoming stranger... no matter how much of a stranger he may be.]

The mark on your hand could be interfering with your recovery. [He tries to be as reasonable as possible, since that's usually the best way. Hopefully the same applied to these rifters.] I just want to be sure you're healing up well.

[apostasia]

A man put a broadsword through my chest and I died.

( --is perhaps unnecessarily blunt, if a perfectly accurate (so far as it goes) accounting of what had happened immediately before he was hurled through a rift and spat out bleeding. his tone is flatly matter of fact, and there is little sense of patience to him.

people waste less of his time if he cultivates an air of having very little of it to give, he has found. )

For reasons I can only guess at, a woman here healed what your rift had not and now, I am healing quite well, I assure you. I have no need for any further assistance, presently, I will hasten to your side if that should change.

[amygdalae]

[Oh.

Well.

To Bruce's own credit, the only way his surprise is evident is with a blink. He gets over it quickly, though, doing his best to not let it faze him.

(He wonders how intrusive it would be to ask how death felt like, how it was like to lose yourself from a life you didn't want to live anymore.)]

If the wound had been so fatal, its probably all the more important that I should check it out. [He says it quietly, insistent but not wanting to push. If he really is so insistent, then Bruce will leave him be.]