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

[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.

[savethecat]

Gorse gave a little sympathetic wince at that. The less hurt Kas got while training the better, though he understood that sometimes some pain was necessary for the learning. He didn't have to like it, though.

"He's got down survivn' alright. It's the living part that's difficult. Always is though, innit?"

[gatheringstorm]

Sometimes pain is necessary, Korrin won't deny that. However, she's all for eliminating it when needless. The poor kid can learn how to be a better archer without slicing himself up in the process.

"I...suppose? I honestly never thought it was, but I admit I've been lucky. I grew up with a the support and training I could ever need. I'm not sure who I would have been without it."