faderift | We come from the land of the ice and snow

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Yes and no," Christine began, releasing her hand. "There is a Veil between this world and the Fade, but there are ways of accessing it. Humans, elves, and qunari dream in the Fade. Our unconscious minds travel there. And mages feel the Fade's energy flow through them, giving us the energy to cast spells. But physically being in the Fade?" She shook her head no. "No person is meant to go there. The last time it occurred, the Maker cast them out, as their presence turned the Golden City black, and He made them the first darkspawn."

The corners of her lips lifted in a smile. "At least, that is what the religious texts say. Whether they are true, or a warning not to try, I cannot say." There are some things she doesn't agree with when it comes to her religion, because interpretation has caused people to use the texts to hold mages down.

"A Veil...? Between this world and where your magic lies?" Lenneth couldn't keep the incredulity from her voice, but even as she spoke the words things started making sense. The barrier she had felt when she'd attempted to wield her power during the battle by the rifts; that must have been this Veil. And yet their sorcerers--or mages, as they called them--were still able to call upon this source. Perhaps her magic wasn't entirely lost to her after all. It was not her that was ensorcelled, it was this entire world. Whether it had always been this way or if some spell had been cast long ago, it was clearly the way the world existed now, and had for some time, if religious texts mentioned it.

Suddenly, she wondered if the gods of this world were anything like the Aesir. Perhaps there was a Valkyrie here as well, or something like it. Gods of hearth, home--where did their mortal souls go when they died in their war?

"Your gods--do they care for you?" She held up her hand quickly and shook her head, what a question to ask! "That sounded cold. I mean to ask... are they involved in your lives? Is it known where you go upon death?"

She felt her hunger for the familiar, for answers, pushing her to ask things that should not be asked. It was not as if any human on Midgard would have answered such things without discomfort. Chagrin washed over her, and she moved backwards a step and bowed her head. "Forgive me, healer. I do not even know your name, and here I am, asking questions too large even for friends. You need not answer me."

"I expect you're full of questions," Christine answered, looking sympathetic. "And we don't have to be friends for me to give you information to help you. There is the one who created us: the Maker. His Holy bride is Andraste, a human woman who after death traveled to his side. The dwarves underground and the Dalish elves have different beliefs and do not worship the Maker." And who knew what the qunari believed? She certainly didn't.

"The Maker supposedly turned his gaze from us when Tevinter magisters assaulted the Fade and broke into his Golden City. He threw them out, and it is said that He will only return to us when the Chant of Light is sung from one corner of Thedas to the other." There was a pause as she considered whether or not to bring up more recent events. If this women didn't remember going through the Fade at all, was it worth it? But surely she would hear of the Herald of Andraste if she hadn't already.

"It's believed that the Herald of Andraste, who bore a mark as you do, was guided out of the Fade by Andraste herself. Speculation to be sure, but wildly believed. If it's true, I thought perhaps she did the same for all of you, but you say you cannot remember your time in the Fade."

"No... I cannot," she affirmed, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

If it were possible to get to the Fade, but it was disallowed by their gods, perhaps it was a separate world not unlike Asgard--but closer. The dynamics of worlds, how they touched, unfamiliar gods, unfamiliar places... it was making her head spin. She needed to sit down somewhere and think.

"I do not mean to be rude, but--is your examination finished? I find myself in need of a walk."

Christine nodded, taking a step back. "I am. Your mark is something I cannot do anything about, I am afraid. And we have precious little information about these rifts to begin with. But I'm sure, with time, the Inquisition will gather information to share with all of you."

Lenneth nodded, flexing her hand experimentally. It still throbbed with a deep ache, but was nothing like the sharp barbed agony she had felt when she first found herself in this world. "My thanks, healer. I regret that I have nothing to offer towards understanding. I hope the rest of the day finds you well."

And then, with a soldier's clipped movement, the Valkyrie turned on her heel and strode off purposefully--although she did not truly know where she went. Only that she needed to think.

We come from the land of the ice and snow

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