New Arrivals Who: Aurin Demarc, Deidre "Dee" Aisli, Alderic Thearre, Noah Durand, Constans Ledaal, Bethen Avilla, Desiderio Ledaal, Ashya Devar, Thais Keigwin, Conlan Delaine, Ordhan Wyland, Hilda Aelricsdottr, Hissra, Karashok and others that will be added when they post Where: Vigil's Keep, Amaranthine When: 9:45 Dragon; Summerday Rating: PG-13 just in case Status: In-Progress Summary:The trek through the Bannorn takes a motley crew of mages, templars, and one adventuress to Amaranthine, a small, coastal town north of Ferelden that is busy with its Summerday preparations.
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The small, coastal town of Amaranthine was cool despite the onset of summer, where the beginnings of Ferelden's usual humidity during the season were prevailing upon the southern marches. Briny gusts from the blue-green ocean rippled through the banners and ribbons that decorated a community determined to celebrate one of the year's five holy days; storefronts were adorned with garlands of summer blossoms and the mood of the local folk seemed particularly cheerful. Children in white robes were busily running around the streets, ranging from ages thirteen to fifteen, about to embark on the traditional rite of passage that took them to the local chantry to be educated in the responsibilities of adulthood. The day's catch, hawked in the areas designated for marketing wares and various goods, disappeared almost as soon as the fishermen reached their stalls and unpacked their crates.
At the very end of the main thoroughfare, Vigil's Keep loomed over its surrounding buildings -- a dour and heavily fortified construct made of mortar and stone which stood in cold defiance of the neighboring revelry. Its amalgamation of local and Tevinter architecture served as a testament to an old fact that most Fereldans liked to ignore; even now, the influence of the blasphemers of the North found itself reflected on the nation's daily life despite every intention otherwise. The Keep, to the trained eye, was easily the newest building in the area though it was certainly not the most decadent. That particular honor fell on Castle Howe, which was still standing and occupied despite its last Arl's exposed treachery fifteen years before.
Smoke from open-air cookfires wafted from the small marketplace, the smells of roasted fish and broiling crabs mingled with the saltiness of the air. While it had been a few years since her last visit, it only served to remind her that the waters of the Amaranthine, in her opinion, produced some of the best seafood available in Ferelden.
A few of the local pubescents darted past her party, laughing all the way as they hoisted up yet another banner in between them while they disappeared in the midday crowds. The brief flashes of their pristine, snowy tunics only served to hook a smile upwards on the corner of Deidre's mouth as she watched. It was a ritual she knew well, had witnessed several times, and participated in once. She was even in attendance when it had been Alderic's turn to walk in Denerim, as chagrined as he was when her scant understanding of such matters propelled her to ask him several embarrassing questions ("Why are you wearing a dress?" and "Are you getting married?" being a few of them -- and all relatively horrifying when posed to a thirteen year old boy).
"Well," she murmured, her lips twitching in memory. To her credit, she managed to refrain herself from glancing at the horses and at Aurin, who knew the story. "I feel nostalgic."
Her eyes swept over their vicinity as they continued to move, her thoughts once more gravitating to the matters at hand. The letter from Queen Anora's representative (a bureaucrat, or one of her arbiters -- she had forgotten his name already) burned a hole in her memory and felt it weigh down the inner pocket of her vest. She wondered whether the mages were relieved to see the end of their journey rising before them; being on foot all the way from Kinloch Hold, when they were so used to its confines, may very well be an alien experience for most of them, though Ashya, Bethen, and a few of the others seemed to take everything in with wide-eyed interest. There was, at least, no shortage of sights along the way...trivial as they could have been to the older sorcerers and Ser Maddock, especially. Regardless as to how many times she had traversed the same routes, Deidre herself could never tire of traveling.
Her gaze moved back to Aurin and Alderic, her lips pressing together in a thoughtful line. To see them together had been a surprise, more so than what mutual friendships usually warranted. While it wasn't too much of an anomaly to see Aurin away from the borders of Lake Calenhad, as she knew him well enough to know he escaped from there as many times as his superiors would allow, to see him with a group was almost unheard of given his preference to work alone. By contrast, Alderic rarely ever left the Tower -- and whenever he did, it was usually for a very important reason...the last of which had been a particularly sorrowful occasion a year ago. Something nagged at her, insistent and irritating, but it was a feeling she couldn't shake the closer they moved to their destination. He wanted to talk back in the wilds of the Bannorn, or at least gave the impression that he did, when the glimpse of a golden ghost had her slipping into the shadows to investigate... a search that was fruitless in the end.
A shout ripped her reverie apart, her head turning to the side. She instinctively thrust her foot out on the street, toeing the rubber ball that bounded in her direction. She bent her knee soon afterward to bump the toy higher into the air, her fingers intercepting it once it achieved the proper height. She might not be much of a warrior, but the life she led forced her to achieve several degrees of athleticism above what was normally expected from a woman such as herself.
"A little help, miss?" cried one of the urchins, his hands out in preparation to catch.
Deidre laughed, slinging her arm backwards. "Go long!" she called in reply, and launched the object once the group had finished running to get in position. The successful snare by the leader of the band resulted in a triumphant whoop from those involved, the initiate moving away with a grin after witnessing a victory dance that looked more akin to a barbarian fire dance than anything else.
It didn't take long to reach the outer gates of Vigil's Keep, Ser Maddock moving ahead to intercept the guards. While the exchange was brief, the inspection of documents that served to vouch for the rest of the party took a longer moment. In many ways, it was understandable -- the Order jealously guarded its secrets (especially while the Warden-Commander wasn't present, as the guards were quick to point out to the senior templar) and those who had no official business there were ultimately going to be denied entry. Once satisfied, the guards in the outer perimeter called for the opening of the gates.
While the rest were free to enter, a heavy hand stopped the sister before she could step inside. Dark eyes scrutinized her sharply.
"You're not a mage," the guard stated gruffly, eyeballing her up and down, glancing at her sword and noting the distinct lack of Circle-issued robes.
Argh. For once, I'd like to get in someplace freely that isn't a tavern. She dug into her pocket and produced her own square of parchment.
"No," she replied simply. "I'm not."
The taller man read the paper and groaned. "Are you kidding?" he sighed, exasperated.
"Sorry." Deidre shrugged and put on her most convincing 'I-don't-like-this-anymore-than-you-do' expression.
He waved her on through after returning the sheet. Putting it away carefully, she pivoted to follow the rest of the group as they ventured further within. As she took a step, the glint of gold caught her attention from her periphery and she paused. Sliding her hands in her pockets, she angled a glance over at the source.
She blinked at the sight of the two Qunari waiting by the gates.... enough of a distance to keep away from others who would enter Vigil's Keep, but not too far away not to be noticed. Her brows furrowed, and while she knew there were accounts of a Qunari warrior that aided the Warden in the last Blight, it was rare even now to find one, let alone two together, so far away from Rivain, or Par Vollen and Seheron. The sight of them earned a puzzled expression, and for a moment she lingered at the outer fringes of the Keep to watch them just as they watched the rest of their caravan.
Were they Tal'Vashoth?
One of the guards caught her look, and gave a quiet grunt, gesturing to the side. "They've been here for days," he supplied. "Always standing, always watching. It's like they're waiting for something, but they never made a move to talk to any of the other wardens. Didn't show a particular interest in knocking, to boot, so whatever they're doing here -- whatever they're trying to intercept, we haven't the foggiest idea. I'm sure the Warden-Commander will deal with it once he gets back."
Deidre inclined her head back to the other man. "Where did he go anyway?" she asked.
He lifted his shoulders. "I'm just a guard, miss. Er....Sister. I stay my post until my watch is over, debrief, and go home. The Griffons don't tell me anything important. If they had it their way, they wouldn't tell anyone anything."
Typical. She took another look at the pair of Qunari again. "Thank you," she said, finally, after a moment's pause. Picking up her feet, she followed the rest of her group within the gates.