[ open ] fly high across the sky from here to kingdom come

[shieldwalls]

WHO: Aveline + open
WHAT: arrival + exploring
WHEN: around the time when the Rifters arrived + first few days afterwards
WHERE: all over.
NOTES:  none... that I can think of!

Courtyard.

Skyhold is a marvel, Aveline will give it that. Grand turrets and towers she can see. The first look at the famed Inquisition is the activity going on in the Courtyard, where vendors sell their items, soldiers spar and train. She allows the guard beyond the gate to take her horse and she hefts her pack, so that the battered Templar shield at her back is visible. The air is crisp and cold and there's mud on her boots, caked and dried.

Hadn't missed that much.

She hadn't thought that she'd be setting foot on Ferelden soil once again in her lifetime, but here she is. Aveline only pauses briefly to look around, before stepping in proper, almost immeadiatly turning towards the first individual she sees.

"Excuse me. Can you direct me to Commander Cullen's office?"

The Rookery.

It's difficult to locate, with all it's many staircases and different rooms all over, but the first place she visits is the Rookery, a letter sent off to Donnic and Kirkwall to let him know that she had made it. It's short and non-descriptive, but Donnic would understand the need to keep things vague, with Sebastian and Starkhaven currently backing down against them. Oh sure, they'd likely hear from him again.

She watches the bird with her letter attached grow smaller into the distance until it's but a speck, then gone. Strange to think that she had allowed herself to come this far, travel so long to be somewhere else entirely -- her life back across that sea (and Maker, does she not look forward to the ship ride back). But if her friends needed her, than she would be here.

Training grounds.

Even after the long journey, Aveline doesn't take long to rest, she freshens up and changes from her armor to more casual training attire -- the sword and shield are both still at her back as she makes her way down towards the training grounds. The dummies near the tavern are well worn, and used. There's and edge of nerves to her, a knot of worry that she can't quite push down or shake but it doesn't show on her.

Her strikes are well placed, each swing of her arm is strong and every hit with the flat side of the blade is followed by a second one directly after. After a while, she swaps the sword for her shield, blocking imaginary blows and hitting the dummy with solid hits.

Her hair is falling out of it's tie, by the time she is finished and the sun is beginning to set and finally she feels worn enough to go rest.

Exploration. - everywhere else

From the gardens, to the tavern, to the library -- Skyhold is vast and it takes a matter of hours to walk around it entirely. Aveline prides herself in knowing the long winding streets of Kirkwall -- and even ten years in the city, there are passages and areas that she still discovers, but otherwise, she knows her city.

But she hadn't always, just as she doesn't yet know the layout of the change in scenery. But that is what she's doing. Certain areas are off limits and those are the ones that she doesn't scope out, but she works to familiarize herself with the layout, landmarks -- what is where, and perhaps... she is looking for certain familiar faces in each one of these areas.

Wildcard!

[ If you don't see anything that tickles your fancy here, feel free to come up with your own. Aveline will be all over, exploring. And if you'd like to plot with me personally, you can send me a pm or hit me on plurk
at rabbithearted

Comments

Courtyard

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin's cutting through the courtyard, the Vashoth woman intent on reaching the training grounds. There's no staff on her back this time, but she does have an empty blade hilt at her hip, evidence of a Knight-Enchanter despite the odds her of her being a Circle mage are practically nonexistent. She nearly continues, as few strangers directly approach someone horned and a foot taller than them, but realizes the woman is speaking to her, and...she stops and stares.

The likeness from Varric's book -of which she naturally has a copy- is unmistakable. Given that the author himself is in the area along with several other companions, it's not a huge stretch to realize that this might be the woman herself. "Sure, it's not far. I can show the way.

...you're Aveline, aren't you?"

[shieldwalls]

"I would appreciate that. Thank you."

Korrin happened to be the first individual she happened by -- and isn't walking off in the other direction, Aveline falls into step besides her. Know what she isn't used to needing to do? Look up at someone to speak with them, or take longer strides to keep up with theirs. Not that she's complaining about the help.

Aveline nods. She knew Varric had included her in his book, so it's not a surprise that she's known. Not to mention there was that... other thing he wrote about her. Hopefully she'll be more recognized for the former, and not the later. "Can't say I was expecting to be recognized so early on."

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin's height definitely takes some getting used to, but to her credit she's very used to interacting with the smaller races by now. So it doesn't take much for her to adjust her pace and gaze, ensuring that Aveline needn't do all the work. It helps that Aveline isn't small for a human, so there's less discrepancy.

And if that other thing is on her mind, she doesn't mention it. Korrin can only imagine how strange it must be to have that level of fame, so she'll try her best hold back...even though she found Aveline to be one of the more compelling people from Varric's book. "Blame Varric. Whenever we have game night, it's easy to get him to talk about his misadventures back home." Granted, that hasn't happened in a while because reasons. "Besides, it's always nice to see another Marcher around here. I'm Korrin, by the way. Mercenary mage of the Valo-Kas company, though I'm the only one here at the moment."

training grounds

[embracelight]

Belinda has been spending plenty of time down on the training grounds too, either sparring with others or attacking the dummies. Today she's dressed in normal Inquisition training attire, set up at a dummy a few down the row from Aveline, and she practices her moves that come as easily to her as breathing. If Aveline happens to watch, she may note that Belinda's execution is standard to the way Templars are trained. Yet halfway through, she suddenly changes up her moves to add a few non-traditional ones. She's been learning since arriving at Skyhold. If she's going to be facing off against Red Templars, she needs to have some combat tactics they don't know about.

When she finishes, she sets down her shield and rests a hand along the top, looking towards Aveline as she hits the dummy. When there's a free moment, she calls, "You're very good! Well done!" in her cheery, Starkhaven accent.

[shieldwalls]

From time to time, Aveline stops to catch her breath, have a drink of water and watch the other fighters around her. She's not alone. The woman nearest her is a Templar. Or had been trained by one -- Aveline had sparred with Wesley enough to recognize some of her technique, not to mention working alongside them in Kirkwall, when they had set aside differences to clean up the city.

When she hears the woman call out, she looks up, wiping a strand of hair out of her face. "Thank you. You aren't bad, yourself." She sets her shield down. "Are you a Templar?"

[embracelight]

"I was," she answers, smile dimming just a little. "I left before the war between Templars and mages really took off. But now I serve the Inquisition and can do some good here." She nods towards the dummy. "I thought it would be a good idea to practice new techniques, for when it comes time to face Red Templars."

Training Grounds

[dragoon_pride]

"Impressive shield work," Kain remarks as he's heading over in her direction. He'd noticed her fighting and watched a little as he approached, and now heads over. He has an appreciation of other fighting styles that differ from his, after all, you need plenty of variation when you're out there against the unknown. He can tell she knows what she's doing. Good. Another who'd be a good ally out there someday. "If nothing else, we've no shortage of experienced warriors."

As for Kain, he's fully armored himself, carrying a lance, and looks very much ready to go into battle himself... or at least, stab his way through a dummy or so.

[shieldwalls]

Aveline doesn't look up right away, assuming that this individual is here to work -- concentrating on her work until he speaks. She lowers the shield slightly, finally glancing up. "Thank you. From what I understand, we're going to need as many of those as we can get."

She hits the dummy once more. "You look like you're ready for something."

[dragoon_pride]

He watches, seeing the state of that dummy after she’s finished, his expression overall approving. “Yes, it seems that we’ve got plenty of enemies out there to face…” He pauses, changing grip on his lance and nods agreement. “I was about to start a training session, myself. It seems that I practically live out here, more than anywhere else in Skyhold…”

Speaking of that, he looks at her curiously. “I’m not sure if I’ve seen you around here yet… did you arrive recently?” He leaves that open-ended, because ‘arrive’ could just mean a native coming from elsewhere, as much as a rifter literally arriving in the world.

Exploration

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Maker knew how Aveline found herself down near the Warden camp, but it is Bethany who is carrying a bucket of water back from the river to start dinner, and she calls out to the woman, "Hello, are you lost, the main army camp is -- "

She stops. She stares. She lets out a surprised gasp of pleasure as she drops the bucket and starts running across the way. "Aveline! AVELINE!"

...and then she stops, the blood draining from her face. "Why are you here? Where's Carver? Is he - is Marian -"

[shieldwalls]

Aveline doesn't mean to stray that far, that close to the Warden camps. She runs the risk of running into someone that she isn't sure she's wanting to face, it does not deter her completely however.

As luck should have it, it's another familiar voice that she's hearing, that has her smiling as Bethany recognizes and comes towards her. However the joy is rather short lived, as that fear sets in. She can see why her being here could be considered ill news news, but...

Her hand rests on the other woman's shoulder in a hopefully reassuring gesture. "Bethany. It's alright. I'm not here to bring you bad news. I'm here because Varric asked me to be. Since Starkhaven has backed down, I took him up on it." In truth, she hasn't heard from Carver in some time -- and Marian... it's been even longer since.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

The tension that had been tightening Bethany's shoulders loosened, and the smile that came over her face turned back to brilliant. So whether Aveline likes it or not, she's getting hugged again, pulled in to be squeezed tightly.

"Well, if Varric asked you to be here ... then I know we must be in trouble." She leaned back, giving her friend a warm smile. "How will Kirkwall stand without you?"

courtyard.

[chainlightning]

Merrill, as it turns out, cannot direct anyone to Commander Cullen's office, because if she's been there it has been on accident. Luckily, she isn't who Aveline turns to. She's simply across the courtyard and happens to see a flash of red hair, and when she turns, a familiar shield and the hint of a familiar voice.

That, in turn, cues a loud gasp and then a loud cry of "AVELIIIIIIIINE!" as Merrill darts across the yard. If Aveline doesn't try to stop her, she's going to leap on the woman in order to embrace her. If she does try to stop her, she- may still try to do it anyway.

[shieldwalls]

She hears Merrill before she sees her, the over excited yell that comes from across the yard. Well, it didn't take long to be recognized at all. Aveline has half a mind to try and stop her before she's launching herself at her -- but in the end her efforts of keeping Merrill from doing just that are very half hearted.

With both her and Varric gone, even if only for a few months, Kirkwall has been much quieter. It'd be a lie to say she hadn't missed seeing her, her lack of a presence noted by her guards as well. "Merrill. Hello to you, too."

[chainlightning]

Having successfully barraged Aveline with affection, it's time to barrage her with questions. Not, of course, that doing so will keep her from trying to hang off Aveline like an overly excited dog, but at least she does have to lean back to breathe.

"How are you? How was your trip? How's Kirkwall? How's the alienage doing?" Somewhat emptier, she knows, since Merrill didn't make the trip to Skyhold alone -- but still, she's very fond of those who stayed behind. "How's Donnic? Have you been here long? Do you need help with anything?"

Remember how she used to not quite be able to string together a coherent sentence around humans, Aveline?

The Rookery

[aintwejust]

"Look." This is the sound of a man at the end of his rope. A strained sort of exasperation, tinged with a little desperation.

The man is talking to a bird. Or. Trying to. "I need you to hold still. Just for a li'l while. Long 'nuf to get this on your leg so you can go on your merry and I can get word to my Crew, awright?"

Just as the last few times he's attempted to reach out and connect the message tube- the bird hops away. Or rather takes wing, circling about to land behind Aveline.

[shieldwalls]

Sounds like he's having a good time. Aveline turns from the window as the bird lands behind her, with a squak. She raises a brow, glancing from the bird content to give him trouble, to the obviously exasperated man in front of her. "Need some help with that?" She's already managed to get a bird to take a letter with only one attempt at it biting her hand in the process. Maybe it could happen again.

[aintwejust]

"Please." He only wants to get a single foutu letter to his foutu crew but this damn crow won't hold STILL. Birds. Why is it always birds? Or demons. Or darkspawn.

Why doesn't stuff go smooth? He sighs and looks at the woman, really looks at her and-

Oh.

Shit.

Well they aren't in Kirkwall and he hasn't done anything (technically) so maybe he's in the clear? Odds of her knowing him on sight is pretty slim, he thinks. "I'd appreciate it."

Exploration

[justice_is_blond]

He's stepped out of the healing tent to work a kink out of his neck. The last patient had been a difficult one, infection deep set into the wound, and he needs the air. Anders is not exactly sure that he needs the sight of a certain face, though. If only he could believe he's worked himself so hard that he's hallucinating...

"What, get tired of locking everyone up in Kirkwall and thought there had to be more opportunities elsewhere?" It's more tired than it is biting. He's more tired than anything, and wondering what seeing her here means.

[shieldwalls]

Aveline doesn't need to look up to know who it is speaking. She'd recognize Anders' voice, and familiar claims anywhere. She looks up with a defiant tilt of her chin to meet his gaze. Of course they'd meet somewhere, sometime -- perhaps sooner is better than later.

Maybe he's not looking to pick a fight, and neither is she -- not two days or so days into her stay, but she would be lying if she tried to deny any anger. Kirkwall is still very much a broken city.

"I don't make a habit of locking up the innocent. Or those who happen to be pardoned for heinous crimes, deserving though they might be." Her tone is cool. Aveline pauses. "I was asked to come. By a friend. What are you doing here, Anders?"

[justice_is_blond]

"Healing. You're at the healing tents." There's a half-dozen barbs he can think of to add to that, but he's at the healing tents. It's one of few places he can drop his guard and simply work, and if he lashes out here, he risks alienating the last few healers who are fine with him. The price is too high and so he bites his tongue.

"Who asked?" Most of them, he thought, would have given him some sort of head's up that she'd be around if just in the hope he'd steer clear. Maybe it had been Fenris. "Did you leave Donnic behind, or is he here too?"

[stabsbooks]

There is someone attacking her training dummy.

Cassandra frowns, instinctively, before reminding herself with some reluctance that it is not truly her training dummy, and never was. There are many people in Skyhold now, more every day, and if most offer her the unspoken, unasked-for respect of leaving her favored dummy free for her during her regular training time, that does not mean they are required to, by any means.

Heaving a sigh, she moves forward again, walking closer. If nothing else, perhaps she can at least discover how long this person plans on continuing their exercise. Perhaps they are nearly finished? It is possible, at least.

The new arrival - it must be, she feels almost certain - moves with speed and confidence, and as Cassandra draws near she sees that that confidence is merited. Her aim is true, her hits strong enough to shake the dummy on its post. She changes her stance, her red hair catching the sun and her profile illuminated briefly -

- and Cassandra stops.

She gasps, audibly, her hand flying to her mouth as her eyes open wide. It cannot be. It cannot be, she is not even real, merely a character in a story - but there is no mistaking her. From the circlet resting on her red hair, to the sword and shield in her hand, to the fierce expression on her face, everything matches Varric's descriptions, and the pictures in his book, exactly.

"Knight-Captain!" she calls out, forgetting herself entirely as she rushes forward. Gone is the hard, humorless Seeker prone to stalking Skyhold; her eyes shine with awe, her body near trembling with excitement. She stops just outside the range of Aveline's practice sword, gazing at her with amazement and something very akin to hero-worship. "It is you!"

[shieldwalls]

Aveline isn't aware that she's taken the dummy that in all but name that belongs to Cassandra or that it's her time to practice. She is also, as of this moment, unaware that she's being watched by anyone as she's focused on her movement -- sweeping strikes and charged hits on the post.

With a huff, she brushes hair from her face when it's slipped from her headband, adjusting her stance and hefting her shield. When she hears someone yell nearby, Aveline pays it no need -- they must mean someone else as she's no Knight Captain.

It isn't until she's directly behind her that Aveline looks back towards the woman who's looking at her like she knows her. And is very happy to see her. There's nobody standing besides her, or near her, otherwise. She knows that being recognized for the guard captain of Kirkwall isn't a far off possibility as it's already happened once before.

The realization of what she might be referring to by calling her that, hasn't quite hit her yet.

"I'm sorry, but you must have me confused for someone else."

Training Ground

[easternseaqueen]

Isabela's been watching from the window above the tavern, and eventually strolls out to greet Aveline. Oh yes, she was everything the pirate queen remembered and more.

"Not bad, big girl. Had enough of hitting straw men yet?"

[shieldwalls]

Aveline turns, her lips quirk into a small smile as the pirate saunters towards her.

"I have, actually. But if I'm to understand it correctly, I likely won't have long to wait before I can hit something that poses a real threat." The dummy gets one more hit before she sheathes the blade.

It's after all, what she came here to do.

"Can't say that I'm not surprised to see you here."