This isn’t the tumblr I remember.This isn’t the place I originally signed up for. I know I’ve been quiet for a while, but all these changes I keep hearing about have only kept me away longer. Most of the things I want to post are no longer allowed. So this’ll be my last here.
I’m saving what I can, whatever isn’t already backed up elsewhere. I won’t delete any of it, but I don’t know if any of it is still viewable to you.
If I ever finish writing it’ll be over on ao3. Art currently has no place to go.
Thanks for the follows, notes, comments and hearts, thanks for the encouragement and the criticism.
You ever just obsessively write like a thing possessed, every spare moment you can, pages and pages of a story you absolutely know you won’t let see the light of day because everyone who comes across it will know you better than your late night search engine of choice?
One person mowed their lawn today, now literally everyone in the neighborhood is guiltily following suit and I’m just sitting here trying to write and not judge them all because it was winter up until yesterday.
God my notes are all over the place. I am a pack rat for notes. I have so many unreleased chapters, so much to go through. I think I am going to try to finish what I started and hope I haven’t forgotten how to be eloquent.
You ever read something you wrote ages ago and laugh hysterically at your own jokes? So long ago that you forgot the plot, the twists, and were surprised, felt hurt or happy and desperately needed to know what happened next?
Then you remember you’re the one who can finish it.
I wanted to do something of a ‘how far I’ve come in a year’ of doing art again- and since I do my own icons I figured why not this. I hope to make as much progress again this year. And maybe actually be brave enough to draw canon-characters, and post them, and not immediately delete them.
@my-blood-runs-blue I just wanted to say thank you- Truly.
My first reaction was that I didn’t deserve to be mentioned among such lofty company, but then- I was simply glad that you’ve enjoyed the things I done.
Seeing your notes pop up never fails to brighten my day.
Being an herbalist and a good apothecary is one of the few things Nadas’an takes very seriously. The following is correspondence between the Inquisitor and Skyhold’s new ‘certified’ apothecary Elan Ve’mal. “Too many apothecaries spoil the potion.”
[Features a canon codex from this quest, edited but presented in most of it’s entirety- ie. I didn’t write one of these.]
A note crumpled and partially burnt found next to the hearth in the great hall, written in an elegant flowing script-
Elan Ve'mal,
There cannot be both Salubrious and Dark Embrium planted at the same time or they'll cross pollinate and create something far less efficacious at best and clinically dangerous at worst. The Elfroot needs to be at least 10 paces away from both the Rashvine and Rashvine nettle, there have been instances of secondary reactions in sensitive individuals. And one of your apprentices planted Witherstalk with the Felandaris-
You know what? No, I'll just do it myself.
Please make an effort to restrain your apprentices.
-Nadas'an
An official-looking letter from apothecary Elan Ve'Mal, written in a plain hand. Found in the Inquisitor’s quarters, affixed with several critical notes-
Inquisitor Lavellan,
Need I remind you that I have served several important heads of state as well as trained under the best Herbalists in Southern Thedas? I know what I'm doing and I can provide references from the College of Herbalists if you don't believe me.
I planted the Witherstalk with the Felandaris. There are no known adverse reactions between the two.
-Apothecary Elan Ve'mal
A hastily written note left pinned to the door to the gardens by an overly ornate dagger. The script is sharp, hurried, the ink slightly smudged in places-
Apprentice Elan Ve'mal,
References are not necessary. If that's where you learned your mistakes then their word is worth nothing to me.
Oh and by the way- Witherstalk is a beneficial herb, in case you were unaware. Several here at Skyhold take it. It is a delicate matter and planting it with a harmful plant like Felandaris is ill-advised. Just because no 'known' adverse reactions exist is not a challenge to find them. Not to mention the fact that Felandaris is a rather difficult plant to grow considering the veil is not thin here. If it wasn't for Solas it would not grow here at all. –Any- potential for upset needs to be carefully considered. But I am sure you already knew that.
PS: Please stop attempting to bribe the scouts to deliver your letters to Cabot before they attend Inquisition business. He's in the tavern. I am certain your duties are not so taxing as to keep you from visiting him. Have a drink while you're at it, it sounds like you need it.
-Apothecary Nadas'an
A letter found amid refuse in the backroom of the tavern. It is heavily revised, many passages are crossed out and nearly illegible. It is uncertain if the letter reached its intended recipient in this form-
Inquisitor Asshole Lavellan,
I was under the impression that the Dalish were simply stubborn, not outright assholes. I will surely pass on these findings. It is no small wonder that the Orlesians evicted your kind. I was not under the impression that the Dalish were certified Apothecaries. I am well-versed in the various strains of herbs the healers rely on and also their interactions. I am also trained in the proper way to care for these plants. Without a larger garden to work with, the arrangement of plants must be prioritized for the lowest impact to efficiency. We cannot afford to cater to each special case. I now know exactly who these 'sensitive individuals' are. I know you and the Elven apostate meet late at night to smoke up all the Elfroot. Andraste's ass, you're a hypocrite and a liar, 'Herald'. That is selfish and very unprofessional, we need that herb for healing potions and poultices.
And PS: For the record I was not bribing them to deliver my letters first. I was bribing them to make sure they were delivered at all. The last few never made it. Leave my personal life out of this, or yours is fair game. Perhaps you should attend to THAT- it's not as if it looks like YOUR duties are so taxing that you couldn't find someone willing to help you remove that stick up your ass.
Certified Apothecary to the Inquisition,
-Elan Ve'mal
An official letter written on thick pressed paper, in an overly ornate- almost illegible script addressed vaguely and left pinned to the garden door along with copies of damning letters written in a plain hand, marked as 'evidence'-
Certified Asshole to the Inquisition,
I do not prioritize my craft based on cutting corners. Any life accidentally harmed by our trade (and I say 'our' loosely as you do not seem to care for the people you treat) is one too many. We can, in fact, afford to cater to each special case, because I say we can. The coffers that supply the garden are mine. The seeds that supply the garden are mine. I have spent years cultivating the strains I allow you to play with. And I know their unique properties better than you. If I say there is cause for concern, it is from experience.
I may not have some lofty certification from the Dalish, but that is because my 'certification' is that I remain alive to this day. If I was bad at what I do the cost would have been lives, not sovereigns.
You should know better, they should have taught you better. I will be looking into this ‘College’ of Herbalism and their questionable teachings.
Yes, Solas and I smoke. If you truly paid attention you would know we only harvest select leaves on a handful of plants. Leaves that are overwhelmingly useless in healing potions and poultices anyways. Only lazy herbalists grind up the entire plant. I would be remiss indeed if that was our only stock of Elfroot. There are in fact a large number of pots in my quarters set aside for healing potions only, well beyond the reach of your arrogant hands.
I am indeed a hypocrite, and occasionally an excellent liar but if you ever call me selfish again I will make sure you find yourself in need of not only a job, but an entirely new profession.
PS: Did you forget that our spymaster keeps copies of questionable correspondence? Attached are several letters 'certifying' your expertise in hypocrisy.
Also- That "stick up my ass" is what's keeping us all alive. Pray I don't decide to remove it.
-Inquisitor Lavellan
A cleanly written letter from apothecary Elan Ve'Mal, directed only to the Inquisitor-
Inquisitor Lavellan,
I am not, as I am sure you now know and by several estimations of character, a 'nice person.' As they say: 'One must have a past to carve a future.' Do they say that? Perhaps I should clarify that I say that, and for my own reasons, I am still here, and I still wish to serve. I trust that you still see the value in that and would invest in protecting it, despite our differences.
Certain resources of mine are in the hands of another. Said person helped create my recipes. The value of my work is lessened if it is duplicated elsewhere. A matter I am certain concerns you as you have yet to share your recipes with me. It is not a matter of 'recovery' that I am interested in so much as a 'denial.' Who knows who might receive benefit of this brewing doppelganger? Given the location of this thief of my work, I hope you take this matter more seriously than our previous correspondence. Your enemies do not need the added edge. You are free to ignore this situation of course, but would it not be better for the resources of the Inquisition to be unique? If this person were simply ...gone?
-Apothecary Elan Ve'mal
The location of a freehold on the border of Tevinter follows, and the name 'Isthmus Goodson.'
Ambassador Montilyet,
(And you too Leliana I know you read these)
Attached is a letter written from our 'certified' Apothecary-
I have no interest in making this man 'disappear'. Find his price or his weakness- or both. I will pay to have his service, just make sure our enemies have not employed his skills first.
Leliana- keep eyes on our 'apothecary'. I will not suffer someone in our employ who seeks to wield my influence to tie up their own loose ends. That said, I agree. We cannot afford to have our enemies so well supplied.
Though, if he's anything like she is....
-Inquisitor Lavellan
A recently decoded note written in hasty shorthand-
Inquisitor,
We found Goodson. Thrilled to have caught our notice. The rumors were deliberate, but we were not alone in interest. Several Venatori now regret seeking him out. Contingent of scouts protecting fields. Apothecary agreed to the price. Harvest, transport, three weeks at most.
Considering violence on doorstep he agreed to come home.
-Scout Harding
The following appended note is written in a more elegant hand-
Well done Inquisitor. It appears we have gained a valuable asset. Our resident Apothecary will be watched. She will not be happy about this turn of events, but we stand to benefit when they return.
