drowningwarden-blog

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Dorthei Amell had not intended to travel to Kirkwall. In fact, it was pretty low on her list of potential destinations. She'd heard of nothing but bad things coming from that city. Templars and Qunari and maybe blood mages as well, but that might be conjecture.

Still, Kirkwall was where she had ended up. And it wasn't as though she had anywhere else to be in any particular rush.

And maybe, maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

She was quickly roused from this thought when someone... greeted her? That was new. Or maybe not. Maybe it was the custom in the Free Marches. Or something.

What did she know?

Turning to face the person who had spoken, the mage smiled politely. "New, yes. I...did not come for the sights. Though I must say, it is an interesting city. I see now why they call it the 'City of Chains.'"

drowningwarden started following you

[drowningwarden-blog]

{ I've been absent-- a little sicky-- but I'm back now! }

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"Oh, I'm not...worried about Qunari necessarily. I don't know much about them but 'keep to themselves' tends to be the most common descriptor. Um, besides 'scary-looking,' that is." She smiled. "I'll make for Starkhaven, then. Time to hear those supposedly very hot accents for myself. And not getting gutted by templars sounds good, too."

Dorthei nodded. She definitely understood. Not that she had a nephew, but even so. "It's quite all right. I know how it is. Strange... knowing you'll never again see people you once saw all the time..." She frowned. "Sorry."

+ drowningwarden

"I can vouch for the Qunari rumor. There are quite a few of them hanging around in Kirkwall right now." Inara frowned slightly. Her friendship with Sten - if it could be called a friendship, exactly - hadn’t prepared her for just how unnerving the Qunari could be in large groups. “They mostly keep to themselves, though…but I think with your talents Starkhaven would still be a better fit." She winked.

Glancing down into her tankard, Inara shrugged. “I sometimes forget how many of the people I once knew and loved are now long dead. I still half expect my nephew to come running into the Keep, demanding I teach him to use a sword…" She swallowed. “Sorry. Some ghosts never really leave."

[drowningwarden-blog]

"I've heard good enough things about it. Well, I've been told the Free Marches are nice enough, and I've been dying to get out of Ferelden. And apparently Kirkwall's crawling with templars, and maybe also Qunari, but I'm not sure on that one." She sipped her new tankard of ale much more slowly than the first, not wanting to drink herself drunk on this particular night.

She laughed a little. "Yes, I certainly think so. It's...why I risked running." She gave a curt nod. At the other woman's words, however, she paused. Nothing left to go back to.... That was how it was, wasn't it? "I understand that. All my friends were made into abominations or killed. Except Jowan, come to think of it, but... well, he's probably dead as well now. Maleficar and all. The company I'd keep..."

+ drowningwarden

"I’ve only been to Starkhaven once, and from what I saw it was a nice place." Inara nodded, tossing the barkeep a couple of coins as he placed the fresh tankards of ale down before the two women. “Ah, well, when you don’t want to be found, it’s always a safe bet to let your pursuers think you dead." She held her tankard out for a toast. “I’ll drink to that, myself."

She took a long swig, thinking back to how carefully she’d guarded the secret of her name during the Blight––right up until they’d arrived at Redcliffe, and Teagan Guerrin recognized her, of course. She frowned to herself. “It’s especially effective when you’ve nothing left to go back to."

[drowningwarden-blog]

DRAGON AGE CLASSES: mage Mages are capable of manipulating the basic elements, such as conjuring gouts of flame and small localized ice and electrical storms. There are also spells that allow for the temporary reanimation of corpses and the draining of an opponent’s life-force. More altruistic Mages can use their powers to help and heal, or summon benevolent spirits in times of need.

[drowningwarden-blog]

Confusion, then relief washed over Dorthei as the man was surprisingly helpful. She was unused to people helping her like that, and his helping her blend into the crowd, which wasn't hard, she granted, caught her off-guard. When he asked what it was about, it took the woman a moment to find her voice so she could answer.

"I...I set someone on fire?" she tried to say, but it came out much more quietly than she intended. The fear of being caught by guards had worn off, so now there was just the shame of having been so careless with a spell. She repeated herself, louder, so that he could actually hear her, and then proceeded to bite her tongue and look away. "I set a man on fire."

Then she clarified, "I didn't kill him, and my intention wasn't to do it. I saw a little girl and I wanted to show off the spell and the fellow walked into the way and...well, I shouldn't have made such a child's mistake but it's been a while since I used that particular spell, I'm not really the sort of mage who does elemental magic too often and..."

She realised she was sort of rambling, and immediately closed her mouth. "Just...the guards can't know. They'll send me to the templars, and they'll send me back to the tower, if they don't recognise me as the mage who disappeared in the chaos there and kill me for running away," she explained.

A permanent, soft smile clung to Theo’s face as his eyes scanned over the selection before him. He had been in a mood for sweets so some fresh fruit from the market sounded absolutely splendid. Just as he reached to test the firmness of a melon, the elf felt a rough bump against his shoulder. 

Amber eyes fixated on a young, dark-haired woman who had already begun to apologize to him. Her face looked just a tad rosy from exertion and her tone was rushed. Coupled with the shout of a guard and the enclosing sound of armored boots, the rogue quickly put two and two together.

“No trouble, m’lady!" Theo beamed with a wide grin and placed an excessively friendly arm around her, "But while you’re here, I’d like to show you something!" He gave her no time to object, quickly turning her to face the stall he stood at and swiftly picked up a large peach.

“Just look at that! That is a perfect peach, don’t you agree?" His words were delivered just as quickly as her’s. The fruit was grasped firmly in his fist as he held it up for the woman to view. For a brief moment, he looked over his shoulder to spy a confused guard looking in their direction, then the opposite. It seemed he chose to pick the latter and ran off out of sight. It looked as though this woman had successfully given them the slip and the pursuers had spread out to different areas in their blind search.

“Alright…" Theo’s voice suddenly fell flat and he placed the peach back on the display, "What was that all about?" It had become obvious he was simply putting on an act to help her blend into the crowd. Now that the heat on this woman had simmered down, he required a few answers. With a sly smirk, he arched an expectant brow. 

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"I was thinking Starkhaven, actually. You hear nice enough things about the place, and so long as I don't go...flaunting my magic openly, they should have no cause to suspect. The templars think I'm dead, so it's not as if any will be looking." She smiled at the thought. She really hadn't wanted to be chased.

+ drowningwarden

"I can only imagine what an exciting thing it must be." Inara smiled brightly. “If…you can, avoid Kirkwall for a while. Unless you’re up for a risky stay." She glanced toward the barkeep, signaling for a second round for herself and her companion. “The city is crawling with Templars, and they’re not even a little bit nice about it." She grimaced. Last time she was at the Circle Tower, it had been in shambles, and it still had seemed a less oppressive place for mages than Kirkwall.

[drowningwarden-blog]

"I would not know, as I have never taken a boat before, or not for very long. I've crossed the lake to and from the Circle tower a few times, but that is a...short trip. But I thank you for the advice. It can't hurt." Her smile widened, just a touch. "I'm mostly just excited about being able to take a boat somewhere."

+ drowningwarden

Inara chuckled. “If you do take a boat, see if you can find an herbalist to sell you something on the cheap, especially if you’ve a tendency toward motion sickness." She made a face, shuddering. “I don’t do well on the sea, myself. Trips to the Marches are a terror on my stomach."

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She smiled as well, looking somewhat relieved. The other woman could change her mind at any moment, of course, but even so, it calmed her for the moment. "Thank you. I wouldn't cause any trouble anyway. For anyone here. I see no need. I only wish to stay for a few days, maybe get some supplies, and then I will be moving on. Maybe I'll take a boat next."

+ drowningwarden

"Ah, yes, that explains it." Inara nodded, a sympathetic look crossing her features. How many times had she heard Anders speak the word “freedom" with the same level of covetous reverence? Granted, she had not parted with him on the best of terms, but she could understand, in theory, why one would feel the way an apostate would. “Your secret is safe with me. So long as you cause no trouble for me, I’ll cause none for you." She smiled. 

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Dorthei spent a moment too long sipping her ale before speaking. "I've not. Or not since I was a little girl, anyhow. But it's more than I could have hoped for. For so long I was...missing it and I didn't even know just what I was missing." She lowered her voice. "I'm...an apostate." She was fine saying it, to just one person at a time, because if it came to trouble, she could flee before any templars show up.

+ drowningwarden

"Freedom?" Inara eyed the girl curiously, a slight smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. She’d heard the word spoken in the same tone before, by people who knew what it meant to be in chains––whether they were literal or metaphorical. “You say that like you’ve not always had it." 

[drowningwarden-blog]

"A mage who has no idea how to hide from templars. I'm noting some healthy suspicion. Shall I demonstrate a spell to prove I'm not one of them?"

+2

Dorthei nodded. “Please don’t tell me this sounds stupid, but I…heard there was a mage here in darktown hiding from templars."

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"I believe that. I've heard a great deal about the Wardens, and I have no doubts that they are...good at what they do." She smiled as well. "No, nowhere in particular. I...am on no mission. I'm simply enjoying my...freedom."

+ drowningwarden

"Pleasure to meet you, Dorthei." Inara smiled, giving the girl a nod. “It’s…sorted." She frowned a little. “Our troubles are never really gone, but you can rest assured the Wardens are on top of any threats that may appear." She gave Dorthei a reassuring smile. “So, you’re traveling then? Nowhere in particular you’re headed?" Tilting her head, Inara shrugged. “I don’t get much time to simply wander anymore. When I do leave Amaranthine, it’s just directly to my destination and back."

[drowningwarden-blog]

everyone who reblogs this will get a threatening letter in their inbox

[drowningwarden-blog]

The Carrie Diaries || Ellen Wong 

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Dorthei nodded. "Please don't tell me this sounds stupid, but I...heard there was a mage here in darktown hiding from templars."

+2

+drowningwarden

+rythelcousland

"Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t see you two there. Do either of you need anything?"

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"Can't you heal yourself better?" she asked, "Or...does healing magic not work like that? I confess I've never been very good at that particular branch..." She nodded. "I've heard it's not a bad place. Though crawling with Templars like anywhere else. Why did you leave Ferelden?"

  He chuckled and nodded “It is gross..I hate being ill. Especially when I’m usually the one doing the healing." He looked at her “Starkhaven? Ohh, well Kirkwall is a great place to hide.." He tilted his head to the side “This is where I came after…I left Ferelden."

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"I see. Well, I hope I don't feel that same attachment. It's dangerous to stay in one place, no?" she asked. "Especially this place. The Free Marches in general, though, are not known for their openness."

She nodded a little. "Attachment to friends is among the most dangerous of situations, but... not an unpleasant one."

  "It is not the place that I like, the Templars even less so. But the people made it a place that is hard to leave."

Her thoughts wandered to the people she had met. Eris, Theo, Nikita, Sparrow among others. Hawke’s face and her wide eyes when she first saw the city of Val Royeaux were chief among her memories and her lips played at a grin but she fought it back as she tried to get out of her own head.

"I’m very attached to my friends here. Maybe dangerously so."