May the Dread Wolf take you!

Roleplay blog for Merrill Sabrae from Dragon Age Part of 'The World of Thedas' Roleplay Group

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Keeping Safe ll Samson & Merrill

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“Listen - the Gallows weren’t out of control: because no one tried to control the situation at all. Mages were made tranquil or killed t even the slightest hint of suspicion.” If there was no reason for suspicion - something always could be found as long as someone important enough wanted to see someone gone… One way or another. What some of the templars did was too gross even for him to say aloud in front of someone like Merrill. It has been a tyranny - and now, it was over. For the time being, until the Chantry re-established its control here, and until they found a new ruler for Kirkwall. Not only the Senechal who ran this place in lack of better candidates. Until then, all they could do was watch each others’ backs. “It was bound to happen. Someone would have snapped under the pressure: don’t tell me anyone is surprised by this.”

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Merrill let out a deep sigh, shaking her head slowly. “I don’t think it was a surprise, it’s more disbelief. The mages were treated so poorly, but I don’t think anyone really thought anyone would try and physically fight back. It was a shock that it happened through an explosion.” 

Merrill really thought it was a necessary evil if she was being honest. Was what Anders did extreme? Yes, without a doubt. But it finally helped, it let people fight. And that was what Anders wanted, what they all really needed. Otherwise people probably would still have been tortured in the Gallows.

She let out another soft sigh. “At least now there’s some chance of freedom for some of them. Their chances of surviving somewhere else are probably far higher than if they try to in Kirkwall.”

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Keeping Safe ll Samson & Merrill

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“Some things you can only know once you’ve lived for a long time.” Samson wasn’t, by any means, an old man just yet, but incredibly exhausted and tired of this world. Going through hell and back could teach you wisdom you would not acquire otherwise. Merrill did not look like the type who had gone through any lesson that could possibly have served as truly cruel lesson. One she would never forget, nevertheless. Hawke… A small smile appeared on his face. Hawke… probably stirring up shit again, somewhere else. Always prying into everyone else’s business. Even if they never really had contact… Hawke tried to get him back into the order, that he would always be grateful for. “No, I haven’t been with the city guard. I was a templar… briefly reinstated thanks to your friend Hawke, but I deserted when Meredith went batshit.” After everything that had happened, he could not bring himself to raise his sword against her. “That’s a long and ugly story, but to put it short: I’ve known Maddox from before he was tranquil. The poor lad deserves better than being forgotten in the rubble that the gallows are now.”

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Merrill nodded at the comment. There were many things she’d had to learn over the years, from the adaptation of living in a city to trying to learn how to take care of the people in the Alienage. Even then, she suspected it would be many years before she completely understood any of this, before any of this actually came naturally to her.

Merrill tried to hide her surprise at the fact he’d been a templar, her expression settling to concern as she listened. The fall of the gallows had resulted in so much loss of life, and there were very little that actually cared for it’s residents. It was good that at least one of the tranquil had gotten away.

“Meredith was insane, and from what I heard she was cruel. I had a friend who tried to help some mages escape from the gallows. He said as the years went by she became more and more focussed on trying to find blood mages, that more people were being made tranquil. It sounded horrifying.”

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Keeping Safe ll Samson & Merrill

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An observant man - templars had to be. Recognize liars, fear, despair, they had to see it all and be prepared for the worst, especially in a hellhole like Kirkwall. When her facial expression hardened, jaw going tense, he noticed. A painful subject? Bound to be - you were friends with someone for so long and then they went ahead and left. Being dropped was never easy- “But you are not alone,” he blurted out without second thought. People needed her. Maybe her friends cast her aside - but she was not alone, the way he had been back then.

“Listen - this is none of my business, but just know this: as genuine as friendhsips may be, ways part. People change, things happen, and sometimes people just break away, it happens all the time. And almost always there’s nothing we can do about people leaving. Nothing but hoping that they will be alright wherever they go.”

Wise words, so peaceful and so far away from the horrible curses he’d spat into the darkness of his own despair when he found himself alone. Oh no, he had wished no good to a single one of them. Cursed the templars who were his friends once, cursed the mages who got him soft, cursed Meredith, cursed her and her and her and her forever.

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Merrill’s expression went from mild surprise at the kind words to a soft, gentle smile of gratitude. She knew she was an easy person to read (it was why she’d always lost at Wicked Grace), but even then she didn’t expect any sympathy from the strange warrior who’d agreed to help the Alienage.

“Thank you for your advice, Samson. It’s not often people here tend to give me any, it’s more often they come to me. Creators, it’s silly really, I’m the least qualified for that.” She let out a slight chuckle before shaking that train of thought away. “It’s kind of you to say, and it definitely rings true. It’s not just Hawke who left Kirkwall after all, although I daresay they’re doing alright wherever they are. Most likely causing trouble.” A small huff of amusement at the thought left her and she pushed off the wall, rolling her shoulders to loosen them.

She flashed Samson a friendly smile. “So, what did you do before all this? Were you one of the guards? Although, I probably would’ve met you through Aveline if you had been. She’s stayed but the guards don’t always make it to the Alienage. We don’t get the same priority as the humans who live in Hightown, unfortunately.”

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Keeping Safe ll Samson & Merrill

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Much time was spent on preparing sensible defenses for the alienage - with the Gallows abandoned, he could get his hands on much lyrium (he’d been one of the first to have the idea of pillaging it for whatever the Knight-Captain and his soldiers forgot) and his head was clear enough to strategize properly. Already now did he dread the time when he would no longer think of anything but his next fix.

Only when all of their ideas were exhausted did he come to rest, and he sat on a crate of Maker knows what (he sat right on the writing, and could not be bothered to move just to have a look). Instead, he eyed the elven girl who had asked for his help in the first place. “You’re that elf-gal who’s been hanging around Hawke a lot,” he noted quietly. Yes, that’s where he knew her from, though if he remembered right, she has not been by the Champion’s side the last time - at the Storm Coast, surrouned by templars and renegade blood mages. Maybe it was better that way - such cowardly betrayal really was a far shot from his peak as human being.

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Merrill helped with strategizing, where she could at least. It wasn’t her area of expertise, all thinks considered. Still, she helped with most of the work, making an effort to lighten the load on others, to help with materials where she could.

When it came time for a brief rest, she settled leaning against a wall near Samson as she took in the bustle of the Alienage, hurrying around to try and get things in working order. An eyebrow raised in surprise at the mention of Hawke, and she glanced over at Samson, before her expression hardened slightly and she nodded. She supposed she had hung around Hawke enough she was bound to be recognised sooner or later. She let out a small sigh before meeting his gaze. “I did used to hang around Hawke,before they left the city. I don’t know exactly where they went, but I couldn’t go. The people of the Alienage needed help and no one else would have done anything. Hawke understood, in the end. I hope wherever they are, they’re safe.” She looked back out across the Alienage, her gaze slightly wistful. It wasn’t just Hawke who’d left, it was most of the others. In the end, she was here alone.

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Wicked, Wicked Grace ll Merrill and Isabela

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There was a small part of Isabela that idly wondered if this was a good idea. Of course Merrill dominated her own part of Isabela’s shriveled little heart, and she would sooner rip out her lip piercing than even consider hurting her, but would the Dalish even want what she was offering? Oh, she found her attractive and they had become friends; nor was she precisely an innocent (Bela assumed, anyway) in every little regard … Still, Isabela did have her reservations. Tiny ones. On occasion.

Oh, who was she kidding; one look at the look on Merrill’s face had the corners of her mouth turning up into a wide, wry smirk, and Bela sat forward to learn her elbows against the table, face cradled in her palms. “Hush, you,” she shot at Varric, winking at him.

Isabela turned to Merrill with a flourish, chin still held in her palms, and tried her best to go from grinning madly to smiling gently at her. “Yes, the kitten is you,” she said plainly. Sure, dancing around the situation was always fun, and indeed part of the game tonight; but who had time for being coy, anyway? She was half naked already; two more hands lost and she’d be in naught be her jewelry. And the way Merrill’s face lit up like a beacon was just so damned endearing, Isabela wasnt sure she’d be able to keep her ever-wandering hands to herself much longer.

Clearing her throat, she turned her body slightly to face Merrill, still smiling at her. “In short, I’m losing so many rounds in order to strategically lose my clothes, in an attempt to see what your reaction is as I get slowly more naked. Wondered what, exactly, you thought of me. Oh, I could have just asked, of course, but this is so much more fun, dont you think?”

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Merrill’s jaw dropped involuntarily at that, her eyes darting up quickly to meet Isabela’s as they widened in shock. At her explanation, her brows pulled together slightly in confusion. Isabela had been teasing her? It made no sense.

Surrounding them they had Aveline, the fantastic warrior, Fenris, who Merrill knew Isabela was at least mildly interested in because of the tattoos, Anders, who was scruffy and some women seemed to like that, and Varric with the amazing chest hair that Isabela always teased him about. Out of their whole circle of friends, Merrill was the smallest, the silliest and the plainest. It made no sense. Isabela, the beautiful piratess who stole and flirted and could drink anyone under the table, wouldn’t be interested in her? She was so boring. 

“But why? I mean, I don’t mind. Well, I mean, I kind of do, it’s a little embarrassing and I’m a little drunk, but I don’t really? But, what I mean is, why would you care about what I thought of you? I mean, I’m just me. I’m so boring compared to you. And plain. And annoying. And you’re you. Why would you want me? I mean, um...” She tapered off, looking down at the ground again with a small shrug of her shoulders.

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Keeping Safe ll Samson & Merrill

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A reassuring nod, then Samson watched the elf leave with the tranquil mage - eyes slightly narrowed, as if reluctant to even let the young man go. By now, he’d grown used to the mostly silent company. As difficult as it was, as much effort as it took to face the obscene methods the templars sometimes used to keep their charges in check… Maddox was easier to bear as company than most people these days.

Samson did not point out that this was no place to be surrounded. Whether this place was lost or not depended on how well its sole entrance was defended, then. A blessing and a curse indeed. “I think I have an idea.” Besides his mere physical strength, the former templar always has been quite the resourceful sort. If it came down to protecting a single point… that was feasible. “Traps. With good traps we need less people to actually hold the position.”

Of course, that was a popular tactic. Might fend off troublemakers at best, and slow them down at worst. Still, more time for him (and whoever else was capable of putting up a fight) to get ready. “Do you have anyone here who’s crafty with that? Maddox knows how to make gear, but not how to make traps. Or chemicals.”

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Merrill frowned in thought, mulling the question over. “We have a few people who’ve come from Dalish clans, some of them know the basics for traps for small game. It’s mostly hunters who learn anything more than that though and they tend to stick with their clans.”

Her frown deepened as she thought it over further. “We could probably find someone who could make bear traps, they’re relatively uncomplicated. The trouble lies in the materials though, I’m not entirely sure where we’d get the metal. We could also set up a trip wire, but I don’t really see a way to make that work without endangering any of the people who live here and have to travel in and out. As for chemicals, I think Tomwise is still around. He came up here from Lowtown and he knows how to make a few poisons. I think most of them only really work if you stab someone with one though.”

A thought occurred to Merrill and her ears twitched slightly as she glanced at Samson curiously. “Do you think we could do something with runes at all? Carve a few into some of the stones to take anyone unaware by surprise? That might be slightly safer than a tripwire or something similar.”

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Wicked, Wicked Grace ll Merrill and Isabela

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Isabela sighed contentedly at pulling apart the ties of her corset, stretching out her back as she completely removed the offending garment. She felt freed of all constraints, and leaned back into her chair with a small smile. Looking down at herself, she realized her tunic was now loosely falling about her, her cleavage more pronounced and one sleeve falling gently off her shoulder. Bela shrugged, not much caring what state her friends saw her in; most had seen her naked -by accident, mostly- anyway.

Looking to Merrill, her brows furrowed slightly at the elf’s frown. Her smirk kept playing at her lips, however, and she was just about to ask what was wrong when Merrill spoke. Isabela had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from grinning, and she shook her head softly. “Sweetness, if Anders wanted what I was playing for, I’d break his fingers. He can get his own cat if he wants; I want a kitten,” she said pointedly, inclining her head towards Merrill herself.

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Merrill had mostly given up trying to look away now. She still occasionally made the concentrated effort to look away at things like her cards or her drink or the table, but she just found her gaze drifting back. It was generally very annoying and she really shouldn’t be behaving like this towards one of her friends.

At Isabela’s first comment, she looked up with a deep frown. She was going to object, surely there wasn’t that much competition for cats. She’d seen some the other day when she was on a walk, and they were absolutely adorable and she was sure they wouldn’t mind a new owner. Breaking someone’s fingers over it really didn’t seem like a very nice thing to do.

Of course, that entire train of thought was cut off with Isabela’s gesture to her. Merrill’s alcohol muddled brain sorted through it for a moment. Isabela wanted a kitten. Isabela would not like Anders to have that particular kitten. Isabela had gestured to her. Isabela called her kitten. What if... What if she was the kitten? At the thought, her cheeks immediately became the brightest red they’d been all night as she floundered for thoughts. It was ridiculous of course, Isabela was Isabela, there was no way she’d be talking about Merrill, was there?

Merrill hadn’t been this quiet for this long for a good while. Normally she was a relatively talkative drunk, after all. That combined with the bright red face made Varric frown from somewhere across the table. “I think you broke Daisy”, he teased.

The comment helped Merrill’s brain actually kick back into gear again, as she looked up at Isabela rather shyly. “Do you mean.. That is to say, the kitten, is that, um, am I? The kitten? I mean, if I’m not that’s fine, that makes more sense actually, I really probably am reading this wrong, I always do, don’t I?” She let out a nervous laugh before casting her eyes to the ground. She’d made a fool out of herself in front of the group, of course Isabela wouldn’t be interested in her. She was so boring and plain and ridiculous!

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Wicked, Wicked Grace ll Merrill and Isabela

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Isabela snorted out a laugh, shaking her head. She reached to put an arm around Merrill’s shoulders, pulling her in closer for a quick hug. “Oh, kitten, you’re too cute,” she said, still chuckling quietly. She booped the elf’s nose with the tip of her finger, before reaching to throw in her cards to the center of the table. “I fold,” she said, ignoring the eyerolls and the groans. Her hands fell to the ties of her corset, pulling apart the ties with deft fingers, winking at Merrill.

“It’s … sort of a secret, yeah. My own little secret game. The prize is a kitten, that I can pet all I want,” she said with a smirk, reaching to take a drink from her tankard.

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Merrill brightened momentarily at the hug, before her frown deepened at being called cute. It wasn’t that she objected to being cute, she’d just much rather be beautiful or curvy or pretty like Isabela.

As Isabela folded, Merrill caught her wink and blushed a deeper shade of red, fighting a losing battle to not look as the corset was tugged away. Isabela was her friend, she shouldn’t be thinking about how nice and soft and cruvy she looked and how nice her breasts were and-

Remembering herself and where she was, she looked away quickly, blushing again and taking a long drink from her tankard. The alcohol probably wasn’t helping but it wasn’t too disgusting so she might as well drink it.

At Isabela’s explanation, her frown deepened slightly, before she looked up at Isabela curiously. “Is Anders playing? He likes kittens, and they’d probably brighten up his clinic a fair bit.”

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actual visual representation of me and @bloodmagicandstring right now:

Originally posted by sofiavergara

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Originally posted by omyheadmyheart

The baby is me because you’re back and I am much excite!

[sparklexoats]

Reblog if you're a multishipping whore.

[sweetaspuddin]

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Wicked, Wicked Grace ll Merrill and Isabela

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Isabela watched in fascination as the flush high on Merrill’s delicate cheeks combined with the slim lines of her facial tattoos, having the sudden urge to trace the twining vallaslin, with the tip of her finger. Or tongue. Both? Probably both. Her smirk widened as Merrill fiddled with both her tankard and her hair, and Bela wondered if she was pushing the elf a bit too hard.

Leaning back in her own chair, Bela tapped her nails rhythmically against the top of the table, cards facedown in her lap as she watched Aveline mutter over her hand. “The plan, kitten, is to win. Always,” she said, amber eyes shooting back to Merrill. “But which game am I playing, hmm? One with cards,” she gestured to the table in front of them, fighting the urge to grin, “- or one more personal,” she added with a wink.

As her turn approached, Bela picked up her cards and decided to forgo the Knight of Dawn. Looking over her hand, she sighed over-dramatically and put her head in her hands. “Damn …” She whispered to herself, ignoring Fenris’ pointed scoff and trying her best not to smile.

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Merrill felt herself become confused as well as flustered. Or maybe she was just confused? Or flustered? She didn’t know anymore. The mention of another game brought so many more questions. Puzzling over them seem slightly more important for the moment than the cards in her hand, sitting mostly untouched on the table. She only briefly remembered looking at them, and they were all different which she was pretty sure was bad. Or maybe it was good? She couldn’t remember anymore.

Shaking off her train of thought, she turned back to Isabela with a small frown, her cheeks still warm with embarrassment. “What’s the other game? I didn’t know we were playing another game. Is it a secret? Am I losing?” At that thought she felt her lips purse slightly in a small pout. She probably was losing this one too, it would make sense. She was no good at any of these games, after all.

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Kaitlyn had a vague idea of what it might have been. “Well, you know, electricity is very conductive with certain… liquids.” And if the spell was controlled just right… well….

A sudden grin was stretching across Kait’s face as she spaced off for a moment with the implications of that dancing through her mind. Oh that would be a very neat trick.

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Merrill’s frown deepend further. “So it’s a trick with water? I suppose it could be very pretty in water, but that seems like a lot of trouble to go to for a small trick.” Merrill shrugged, resuming her cheery expression. “I might figure it out one day. Or maybe I can convince Anders to teach me it! He always kinda frowns at me and tells me to go away when I ask. Then again, he does that anyway.”

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Outsider

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Shaking her head at her on inadequacy, Josephine confessed her destination. Merrill seemed kind, not the archetype of the “Krikwall thugs” the guards had warned her about. 

“I’m trying to get to the Keep. How I managed to lose it is beyond me.”

She pursed her lips, looking up at the sky as if commanding the sun to remain out.“ I would greatly appreciate your help, if you are offering it, Merrill. I fear I should only get more lost should it get any darker.” 

For better or for worse. the Ambassador would accept Merrill’s help. It was better than wandering around alone. She smiled as well, relieved to have at least found help if not her way. 

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Merrill nodded with a wide grin. “I know how to get there. Hawke’s always running up there. Well, not always, that would get rather annoying with all the steps, especially if Hawke did always run up the steps.”

Smiling, she turned towards the entrance to Lowtown and started walking, gesturing for Josephine to follow her with a smile. “It shouldn’t take us too long. I think? It doesn’t always seem like a very long journey.” She flashed a smile at the woman before continuing to walk.

“So where are you from if not Kirkwall? You don’t sound like you’re from Starkhaven. Or at least, not like anyone I’ve met from Starkhaven. Then again, I haven’t met many people from Starkhaven, only one. For all I know, he has a really weird accent.”

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Keeping Safe ll Samson & Merrill

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Before Samson could even reply, the tranquil has raised his voice on his own, cadence as monotonous as ever. He could no longer care about the city burning, the mages being slaughtered, yet even this most passive kind found solace in that which was familiar. „Yes. A workbench will do,“ he said with calm voice. „If you provide me materials, I can repair items,“ he added, not out of amiability, or a sense of gratitude towards their hosts, but a strive for usefulness that was the most desirable trait in a tranquil. That which made a tranquil mage preferable to a dead mage, in the eyes of the chantry. Samson suddenly felt a deep disgust rising up. Thus, Samson took up speech again to keep his mind from thinking: „Have you set up sensible guard duties?“

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Merrill flashed he Tranquil Mage a grateful smile. “That’s kind of you, thank you. Samuel, would you show him there while I talk to Samson about our guard duties? If that’s all right with you, of course”, she said with a reassuring smile at both men.

Focussing her attention back on the matter at hand, she frowned slightly. “We don’t have many that could be considered warriors in the Alienage. Most can try to defend themselves but for the most part those that lived here worked as servants or tradespeople and don’t know much about fighting, so while we do have people on watch, it isn’t what I’d call a guard system. They mostly let me know if they see anything that looks like trouble.”

She indicated the steps leading into the Alienage, her frown deepening. “We only have the one entrance and exit here, which is both a blessing and a curse. It’s definitely a handy choke point, but it does mean we’re easily surrounded and there is the potential to be overwhelmed. A few of us have been trying to come up with an escape route in case someone tries to block the entrance, but that requires more resources than we really have.”

She turned back to Samson, grimacing slightly. “Unfortunately, that’s about all we have.”

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Keeping Safe ll Samson & Merrill

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“I am sure I won’t,” he assured half-heartedly. Truth is, you can never know for sure. A bit later the same day, he came down to the Alienage, in his old armor before returning to the order for a brief time. With him, a young man, carrying his few belongings which were mainly tools taken from the Gallows. The Sun on his forehead, eyes gentle and placid. A tranquil, following the warrior quietly.     He stopped in front of the two elves who have taken contact with him first. “This is Maddox. He won’t cause you any issues, but if you have anything like a smithy… He prefers spending his time by the forge.” Samson was not sure whether idleness had any negative effects on a tranquil or not, but he felt a task might be good. 

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Merrill smiled in greeting at the two men as they came into the Alienage. At her introduction to Maddox, she couldn’t help the slight bit of pity she felt as she took in the sun emblazoned on his forehead. She couldn’t imagine a life without magic.

Shaking the thought away, she flashed a bright smile at the both of them. “Welcome, to the both of you. Unfortunately we don’t really have a forge, it increases the risk of a fire.” She frowned in thought momentarily, before perking up slightly as she had an idea. “One of the hahren has a workbench where he often carves things though, would that be of any interest?”

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Outsider

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“Varric?” She didn’t know why she asked, really. It was just odd for one to bring up the name of an acquaintance that both parties did not know. The again, at least this woman was friendly. Josephine had almost grown accustomed to the heads-down-eyes-forward nature of many of Kirkwall’s residents. 

Whether or not the elf seemed strange, Lady Montilyet never refused a handshake. She met the smaller hand with her own, surprised at how warm it was. She mustn’t have been outside for long. “Josephine. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” 

She looked Merrill over once more. Scatterbrained? Maybe but she did seem kind and trustworthy enough that the Antivan had no qualms with asking for help. “Merrill, do you happen to know the city well?”

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Merrill nodded at the question. “Yes, Varric Tethras. Sorry, I forget some people don’t know him. The way he talks, you’d think all of Kirkwall did!”

Merrill’s smile widened as the woman shook her hand, nodding as she committed the name to memory.

At the question Merrill frowned a little in thought. Most people she knew tended to agree she had a habit of getting lost. Varric had even given her string to help her navigate the city. That was a while ago now though, and she found it a fair bit easier now that she’d been living there for a while. With a friendly grin, she nodded. “I know where most things are from here. Were you lost? Did you need some help at all?”

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Keeping Safe ll Samson & Merrill

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“It’s alright, we can manage.” Right now, the situation was somewhat quiet, and he wondered just how long until it went shit again. Hopefully, the guard would soon manage to get at least some semblance of a hold on the situation soon. “I’ve been to the alienage before,” he added and finished the beer in front of him. Maddox sure was waiting, and he did not like leaving the kid along for more than necessary. Tranquil were not very good at looking after themselves, after all. Thus, he rose from the chair.  “We will join you there soon.” There weren’t many things to take, after all. Surprisingly, mostly tools Maddox had just taken with him from the gallows’ workshop. He hadn’t protested. 

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Merrill nodded, a thoughtful crease in her brow. She certainly hoped it stayed reasonably quiet while they were travelling. It’d be awfully inconvenient if the person she’d just found to help the Alienage died in a fight trying to get there. “We’ll head up to the Alienage and finish up preparing where you’ll be staying”, she sad with a definitive nod.

She rose from her chair, offering the man her hand to shake. “Thank you for this. We will make sure you won’t regret it.”