In Peace, Vigilance.

an affiliated with isola radiale blog for the grey warden from dragon age: origins and awakening | not indie friendly

[oldgodssong]

Forgot to do this when she got in but since Andrale's here now, I'm going to make a starter call! I am capping at 3 for right now. Might open it back up if I get the starters out quick enough.

[annihilationtype]

His eyes flick down to the minute movement of her body tensing, ready for a fight. His own movements are unnaturally controlled, not a breath more than he needed at any time. He does keep his gaze ahead, to keep her at ease.

"I suppose we can follow whatever entices us most. I'm curious to see what you might pick. I have heard tale that you can find food from your home on this trail, but you have to look carefully for it."

He's sure the foods from his place of origin were simple to find, as easy as they were to make. He'd be happy with grilled fish over a bed of still warm rice, truthfully.

He gestures forward, not so keen on putting his back to a stranger.

"Lead the way?"

[oldgodssong]

"I am not certain you'd want food from my home," the elf laughs a little. "Plenty of people complain of the smell of wet dog, let alone the stews."

Andrale is cautious about putting her back to a stranger, too, but she thinks she can handle herself. Besides, with the way the stalls and people crowd the streets... it wouldn't be ideal for a fight anyways.

She acquiesces. "I believe I will trust your home's foods if we find it first." He didn't seem like he was interested in her outside of the conversation she just started and the company in trying food she is providing now.

[annihilationtype]

He had dully noted her approach when she stopped beside him, though the lack of speech hadn't drawn his attention until she clears her throat. His shoulders jump only a little, his head turned to peek over at her.

He has to tilt his head down to meet her eyes. His own reflect the light strangely, like broken glass.

"No, I - haven't. I'm new here. I haven't yet wandered down this path."

He turns back to the stalls, the people hawking their wares.

"It smells...good, though. I don't know where to start."

[oldgodssong]

She blinks, realizing that the other has... very interesting eyes. Andrale has to remind herself that this is not the Fade, and she's not in danger. But the way her shoulders tense ever so briefly wouldn't be hard to miss for anyone with a trained eye.

Instead the Warden turns her head back to the trail before the both of them. "I don't either. It smells way better than the camp food I had to deal with. Which makes this a difficult decision for both of us."

[annihilationtype]

He's staring at a line of food stalls on the Star Trail like it's his first time seeing them. In truth, it's the first time in a century he's been faced with human food without the smell turning his stomach. It smells good, spiced meats and baking bread.

He doesn't feel hungry, but his mouth is watering.....

[oldgodssong]

Another stands next to him, a hand over her mouth as if she's pondering something. She's never seen a market like this since Denerim...

Andrale clears her throat and looks over at the stranger. "I don't suppose you've... had anything from here before?" She asks.

[wolftccth]

"elder??" Bewildered by her comment Edward was grabbed once more, letting her drag him around. He did put himself in that hole.

"Wait, how old are you??" Edward comments, he may be old, but there is lot of others here who are just as old and or older.

"Where are you even dragging me to, anyways. Dont tell me youre putting me under the sun on a bench."

[oldgodssong]

"Thirty-one," the Dalish Elf says as she drags Ed outside. "Also, no, that's not a wise decision to plop an elder on a bench in the direct sun. I'm dragging you under a tree."

She had, more or less, done the same with Wynne on days with the bright sun beating down on them as they traveled over Ferelden during the Blight, but her neighbor didn't need to hear any old war story.

[wolftccth]

"first off, what the hell is Hahren??? And secondly, I dont need sleep!" Edward merely side step away from her, giving off his meanest of pouts.

"Besides, I'll sleep when I'm dead." There he goes again, although hes really bad at taking care of his own body.

[oldgodssong]

"It means elder in my language," Andrale's grabbing at his elbow again. "A more respectful way of calling you grandfather."

"And that is very concerning." The Warden doesn't seem all that phased or concerned though.

"Fine, if you won't be escorted to bed let us at least get you out of the hallway, Hahren."

[heraldmade]

unstrapping it from his belt, he readily hands over the gathered firewood. in his brief silence, he tilts his head.

andrale. it's eerily similar to andraste.

' we came across clan sabrae a handful of times during our time in the free marches. ' he doesn't recognize her face. he wonders if it's a trick of the powers here, or simply happenstance. she does wear ferelden armour— that's where she must have been whenever his clan met hers.

he moves to the middle of the small clearing to pull his backpack from his shoulder and start rifling through it, slowly collecting each bit of meat he's brought with him. it's his stockpile that was meant to last a few more days should he have no success hunting, but he doesn't mind using it all for the both of them this evening.

' you'll have to tell me what you were doing in ferelden. ' he nods to her breastplate. ' i live near the hinterlands now. i haven't been with my clan in some time. '

[oldgodssong]

Andrale bites the inside of her cheek. She knows that tilt of the head like the back of her hand.

Her father had some humor suggesting her name to her mother.

She sets up clearing a space for the fire ring not too far from Iloren as he speaks. Her hands move with practiced ease as she answers.

"Sabrae was in Ferelden at the time I was recruited into the Grey Wardens. They had to shortly leave, and so we parted ways. I haven't spoken to them since."

Andrale says it with ease, though the hurt bites at her heart. "I am sorry to hear you're also separated from your clan... though the Hinterlands..." She pauses, looking at Iloren.

"Are you within the Arling of Redcliffe? Or are you more towards Ostagar?"

[heraldmade]

to hear the tongue of his people is a comfort. she calls him a friend and that's enough for iloren to think that they are— kindred people from the same place, carrying their history. she isn't from his clan. and she doesn't recognize him as inquisitor. it's a rare thing, but not unsurprising for a dalish elf. they wander so far and so frequently that word may not have reached her.

' i'm iloren from clan lavellan. it's a relief to see another dalish here. i was the only one. '

it's an isolation unfamiliar to him. he was always iloren lavellan. he'd always had his clan, his keeper, people of dedication and companionship. to be in a world where there are suddenly none, not even any letters … it had been an adjustment he's happy to rid himself of.

he's curious, immediately, about the clan she's from and the reason for her armour. but the call of home is louder. iloren takes a few steps towards her, closing the large distance between them.

' you must have many questions. would you like to camp together? i have dried meats, and i've gathered firewood for the evening. ' he gestures to the wood strapped to his hip, gives her a soft smile. ' it's been a while since i've broken bread together. '

[oldgodssong]

"Clan Lavellan?" Andrale finds herself asking. She thinks for a moment.

"I am sorry, I am unfamiliar with your clan's name." The warden says as Iloren approaches. "I am Andrale from Clan Sabrae."

He seems to not recognize her as a Grey Warden or the Hero of Ferelden. Iloren just sees another Dalish. She finds it odd, but also welcome. She didn't have to worry about expectations.

"Making camp would be wise," Andrale says, "since the hour grows late." She moves around from the bush and approaches Iloren, holding out her hands.

"I'll make the fire if you prep the food, Iloren. It is the least I can do."

[corvisque]

everything is black. he does not know how much time passes until his vision returns, blurry and indistinct. the outline of someone bending over him. red, but it isn't blood.

"this is a dream," he wheezes, his throat dry. a dream. it must be, or else the blow that had just felled him had felled him and he had truly died. here, dying is naught more than darkness and waking up in one's own bed after some time has passed. no memories of the in-between.

no ghosts of his past.

no andrale, with her hair wild and unbound as it rarely ever was, looking ethereal and radiant. looking like the day he had parted ways with her so long ago. all of this time and the powers that be had never thought to bring her to him — why now?

he cannot look away from her, transfixed as he is.

"my warden..."

[oldgodssong]

His eyes open, and she feels her heart almost stop. Even confused and transfixed, he's still breath-taking. Andrale will have to apologize to Zevran about taking him out. One of her hands is resting against his cheek.

Andrale feels her throat close when he speaks. If she hadn't been kneeling for as long as it took Zevran to wake, Andrale would believe him that this must be a dream.

Instead, she feels tears start the second he calls her his warden.

"Ara sal'shiral," his Warden says instead, aware her voice is thick with the tears she has yet to shed. "It is not a dream."

If it was one, how cruel of a dream would it be to do this to them both.

[wolftccth]

"bed? Its 12 in the afternoon, why the hell do i need to sleep???" And he just got outside to observe the new surroundings.

[oldgodssong]

"It's alright, Hahren." She's grabbing Ed by the elbow. "C'mon, you need sleep."

Does he really or is she trying to keep him from saying weird shit again...

The world may never know

[wolftccth]

"I'm old enough to be some of your grandfather." He's not sure how he feels about this.

[oldgodssong]

"Alright, Hahren, let's get you to bed." What a nice neighbor coming to check on him!

[wolftccth]

"Eh, not many worlds have unicorns. Where im from its normal to see these things and many other creatures. Just not around humans." Usually in his world it was forbidden to talk about it, since they're all hidden.

But here, thankfully, he doesn't have to worry about such informations being leaked.

[oldgodssong]

Andrale, once again, finds herself at a loss for words. She sips her hot dirt water.

"Are there any organizations where you're from that might be unhappy you are just sharing all this information unprompted?" The Warden inquires.

She doesn't ask if they're here, too, in case her neighbor confirms an existence of such people.

[heraldmade]

@oldgodssong

the forest is silent. the inquisitor is not.

he's been in this corner of the woods a lot of times since his arrival. it's gotten familiar, his steps trudging through greenery and landmarks he recognizes. even with the sun slowly starting to set, he's clearly comfortable in his gait.

moreso because his greataxe is at his side again. strapped to his back, its weight is a reassurance— whatever threat he may come across, he'll be able to handle it.

he intends to do so, stumbling over andrale.

the inquisitor notices her a moment too late to be sneaky about it. stepping into a smaller clearing, he spots her closer to the bushes at its edge. for a moment he tenses, reaches for the hilt of his weapon, heavy armour clinking with each movement.

then he sees her vallaslin.

it's been too long since he's seen another dalish elf. even with the inquisition, it's always too long, never enough time to stop and breathe between the things to do. he misses his home and his clan. and now, on this strange island, he finds another of his own in the middle of the forest.

his grip loosens, goes back to his side. he has no intention of fighting her. ' aneth ara, ' he greets softly. as he bows his head slightly, he spots the emblem of ferelden on her armour.

she truly is from home.

' i'm sorry if i startled you. nobody else is usually around these parts. '

[oldgodssong]

These woods are still unfamiliar to her, Andrale laments. There is nothing she can clearly see as her usual agents for her poison coatings.

Her attention is drawn from the bush she is studying to the clink of heavy armor and a great axe. A warrior approaches.

Andrale steels herself to sprint. Despite the armor, she is not equipped to handle such a foe here.

Then he stops, and recognition dawns on her, too. He's another Elf. Another Elf like her. The symbol on his armor is foreign to her, but the vallaslin on his face is not.

Nor his greeting. Andrale feels her throat tighten - the last Dalish Elves she spoke to were the clan that supported her in the Blight after she had dealt with their Keeper and the Werewolf Curse he caused. Her head dips in a small bow, too, on reflex.

"Aneth ara," Andrale echoes. It feels foreign to speak the tongue of her people after so long. "It is alright, lethallen. I am still trying to figure these woods out. You did not startle me."

You were just too loud to not notice anyways - the thought stays off her tongue. She has no need to snark at such a stranger.

[rpmusings-galore]

                                   ‘ do you forgive yourself? ‘ 

                                                        no. next question. 

[oldgodssong]

lift

NONVERBAL PROMPTS : [ LIFT ]: sender lifts receiver's chin to look at them.

It has been some time since Andrale felt Zevran's touch like this. The way his fingers curl under her chin, his thumb just almost barely touching her bottom lip - between the two lines of her vallaslin on each side of her chin. Andrale isn't sure what prompted such a touch from the Antivan. Did she do something wrong? Or was it...?

She swallows, aware of just how wide her eyes must be as she's directed to look into his.

"Yes, da'mi?" She asks, trying not to fidget under such weight of his gaze.

[kingsmemes]

「   RP MEME :   NONVERBAL PROMPTS.  mix of violent, caring, touching and non-touching prompts.  」     SEND PROMPT '+ REVERSE' for the inverse to happen. for example 'bandage + reverse' for the receiver to bandage wounds on the sender.

[ BANDAGE ] : sender bandages a wound on receiver.

[ GUIDE ] : sender puts a hand on he receiver's back to guide them somewhere.

[ WAVE ]: sender waves down receiver to get their attention.

[ SIGN ]: sender raises their hand to sign to receiver. what follows can be anything the sender desires.

[ LIFT ]: sender lifts receiver's chin to look at them.

[ LIGHT ]: sender lights receiver's cigarette/candle/etc.

[ FIND ] : sender finds receiver beaten and/or bloodied.

[ PIN ]: sender pins receiver against the wall during combat/sparring.

[ GET DOWN ]: sender tackles receiver out of the way of danger.

[ TAKE ]: sender takes a hit meant for receiver.

[ CAUGHT ]: sender finds receiver somewhere they aren't supposed to be.

[ TRAP ]: sender traps the receiver somewhere they don't want to be.

[ DARLING ]: sender touches receiver's cheek.

[ SNATCH ]: sender snatches receiver's wrist as they turn to go.

[ STAB ]: sender stabs receiver.

[ DRAG ]: sender drags receiver from point a to point b.

[ SIT ]: sender sits on receiver's lap.

[ EN GARDE ]: sender and receiver get into some kind of fight.

[ DRUNK ]: sender finds receiver drunk.

[ BLOOD ]: sender walks into receiver's room covered in blood.

[ FLOWER ]: sender offers a flower to receiver.

[ HOLD ]: sender reaches to hold receiver's hand.

[ BRUSH ]: sender brushes a strand of hair out of receiver's face.

[ NOTE: ] sender writes a note for receiver. the contents are whatever the sender decides.

[ EYES ]: sender notices receiver looking at them.

[ STOP ]: sender raises hand to signal the receiver to stop in place.

[ TAP ]: sender taps receiver on the shoulder to get their attention.

[ WAKE ]: sender gently wakes receiver from a nap or otherwise.

[ MORNING AFTER ]: sender and receiver wake up together for the first time after a night of passion.

[ BLANKET ]: sender drapes a blanket over receiver's shoulders.

[ HUDDLE ]: sender and receiver huddle together in an effort to stay warm.

[ TUG ]: sender pulls receiver away from them.

[ PUSH ]: sender pushes receiver away from them.

[ BULLET ]: sender shoots receiver in a non-lethal area.

[corvisque]

zevran takes sight of the mysterious figure flitting through the streets as though she is being chased — and for all he knows, that could very well be case. he wouldn't have cared, normally, except that there is something about the woman that seems... familiar. and then he hears someone nearby mention the strange tattoo on the woman's face. his chest tightens, although he cannot say with certainty why.

all he knows is that his feet are now swiftly taking him in the same direction.

she is faster than he, or at the very least has a very good head start, so it is no surprise he loses track of her among the trees. the assassin is a little less confident here in the forest than he would be within the comfort of the city itself, but he presses onward.

he does not get far before the wind is struck from him and he is knocked to the ground.

there is a flash of red hair before his eyes blur and shut involuntarily.

[oldgodssong]

She should feel proud she managed it. That recognition doesn't come as she clearly sees now who - or what - she hit.

Her chest is tight. Not from the run, but from seeing their face. Gold hair and a deep skin tone could be easy to replicate, but not those three distinct tattoos on his cheek.

Andrale drops her makeshift weapon and forces herself to breathe. She doesn't care about the state of her chemise as she feels herself drop to her knees.

Andrale just knocked Zevran out cold. Even if it turns out it's still a fade spirit...

She's still a woman with a weakness.

"Da'mi," the Warden finds herself croaking out as she brushes strands of his golden hair out of his face. It is Zevran. She won't accept different. Andrale stays like that, on her knees, hovering over the unconscious assassin.

Something tells her she needs to tie him up. What if it's a ruse to retaliate? Still, Andrale stays frozen, her red hair almost making a curtain over the both of them.