[ 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

[gatheringstorm]

"One of my friends has a job burning his mail. I'm serious. If it's from the Merchant's Guild or that guy from Starkhaven, into the fire it goes." Korrin's lips twitch, having seen that at work often enough. She makes a right, nudging the door open for Aveline as she heads into the rotunda. There are no new frescoes lately, but she still takes a moment to look around and up. "Above this is the library and the rookery. Don't stand too close to the railings; I've had trouble with falling elves." Yes, plural.

[shieldwalls]

"Well, if he runs out of work or happens to want more, I can gladly add to his pile." Aveline sighs, there are about five letters -- complaints from the current Viscount of Kirkwall. And likely to be others, she's sure.

She finds herself looking at the paintings. "Someone's an artist. Didn't come with the fortress, I take it?" And then at Korrin's words, she's glancing upwards as if expecting someone to drop right there. "Well. That's one way to get down. Maybe you need signs up there, and down here, pictures, maybe-- urging caution... and inviting all to take the stairs instead."

Perhaps less fallees, or perhaps not.

[gatheringstorm]

"Or perhaps a giant net to catch them. Not everyone can read, and some are devoid of common sense anyway. Doesn't mean I'd want to see their splattered remains anywhere." Pleasant thought, isn't it? At mention of the paintings, Korrin pauses and shakes her head. "No, that's Solas' work. He wanted to display the events that brought the Inquisition together, like the Breach and the battle of Haven. I knew he was a capable mage, but the artistry was a pleasant surprise."