(OPEN) and the dark fills the skies in

[ichaer]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Ciri(lla)
RECIPIENT: E V E R Y O N E
WHAT: Get your lances and heavily padded butts in gear, its time for mounted combat lessons.
WHEN: Now.
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: None, as of now but will be updated if anything comes up.

Inquisition, and those quite not Inquisition: ( have one, tired Ferelden-born Warden who seems to be eating something? probably apples. its apples )

I'll be putting together training exercises designed to teach the basics of mounted combat within the coming weeks. If this is something you are interested in then you are welcomed to join, if not then perhaps you can still learn something to take into the coming battles we may face in the future. No sense in learning your mount isn't fond of sharp pieces of metal, explosions and a crazed grin when they drop you on your ass while bolting in the opposite direction.

I have talent with a sword, bow and bombs but sadly lack that magic spark to be of much help there. I am sure we might think of something together, and that you mages do not accidentally scare your own mounts with your colorful displays of power.

Ah... my name is Ciri, Grey Warden. You can't miss me between the grey hair, facial scar and sharing the company of only the best horse in Thedas. Her name is Kelpie, if she likes you then I certainly hope you enjoy apples. She likes to spoil her friends.

Comments

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin. So, have you worked with mounts other than horses? Because I have a nuggalope, and we might as well have more bonding time.

[ichaer]

I worked in a circus with a druffalo once. ( a beat. )

Horses are what I am best with. I can't pretend to understand other mounts but I imagine there is a lot of the same workings: respect, care and most importantly: food.

[gatheringstorm]

[A soft chuckle, at that.]

Yeah, especially food. He'll take bribes, I know that. And while he hasn't shown himself to be skittish, we're still getting used to each other. I haven't needed to fight atop him yet, but that day could come.

[ichaer]

Sounds like my Kelpie, the traitor. Most mount will follow who they trust but its still hard to tell how they'll react in the middle of a battle field.

[gatheringstorm]

Especially one with magic in it. [Because, yeah, mage.] The last time I tried anything while mounted...well, that's how I got some of these facial scars. Not complaining about them, but I'd just as soon not repeat it.

[ichaer]

Magic and demons, at that. ( because, yeah, the world sucks. ) Can't blame you there that's why I hope we can worked it out before anyone gets any new facial scars. There's not room in this Inquisition for anymore of us.

[justice_is_blond]

I've never ridden into combat, actually. I'm curious. I'll be there, so long as they don't send me off on some other errand or no one stabs themselves before making it out to the class.

[ichaer]

Damn, shame. You're missing out but good, maybe you'll learn a thing or two to take into the sky with you. But you are asking a lot with that last one.

[justice_is_blond]

As long as lessons aren't held on Tuesday we've a slightly better chance of intact limbs. If it's on a Tuesday all bets are off.

Of course, it's entirely possible someone will manage to get themselves trampled while stabbing themselves in your class so my presence could be crucial.

[ichaer]

Lucky for you, Tuesdays are my off days. ( and by off day, she means days spent throwing knives at a terribly painted picture of the First Warden. )

Probably. We're not exactly known for things going utterly right.

[justice_is_blond]

In fact, some of our lives are stories of the opposite. I may doom your class just by showing up.

[His voice is teasing.]

I'll do my best to help and not make it an absolute disaster.

[nonsibi]

You think mounted combat's something that's going to come up a lot?

[ichaer]

Hard to tell, that one. Even if we're not facing down a mounted enemy force, there are still advantages to be had over foot soldiers if you can manage to fight and stay in the saddle.

[nonsibi]

Yeah. That's true. A lot of what I've fought with the Inquisition has been weird demons. Which, that's not exactly surprising, but--I'd rather fight foot soldiers, mounted or unmounted.

[ichaer]

See, I've mostly dealt with Red Templars myself. We also have the Wardens to worry about. Any advantage over those two groups is a plus, in my mind.

[nonsibi]

Red Templars aren't so bad. That's what I was doing before Skyhold. [Wait: discretion is the word here. Don't say too much or people start asking questions.] Can't you Inquisition Wardens give us some tips for fighting your own?

[ichaer]

That's all well and good but I can't imagine some, or even most, have been fighting them. ( if there was a question, she doesn't speak it and instead gives a tired laugh. )

Doesn't really work that way. We don't got some Warden school where we all learn how to fight the same way. Only thing all of us got in common is sensing darkspawn and our tendency for short lifespans.

[alankazam]

The horses don’t like me. Do you think you could fix that?

[ichaer]

What did you do to make them not like you?

[alankazam]

I've no idea.

[ smell like a wolf, make a habit of appearing from nowhere, generally be an ass ]

Are you ever worried? To fight with her?

[ichaer]

Hmm. I can try to help, there are a few exercises that I remember from breaking wild horses.

( or stealing ones that belonged to others, generally. )

Worried? Sometimes because I do not want to lose her but I know, more than anything else, that Kelpie is capable of doing what needs to be done. I have the utmost trust and respect for her.

[alankazam]

That's good. It'd be a bad thing, to die knowing someone doubted you.

[ silence, a moment. he seems to realize, belatedly, that this is not the thing to say — ]

Or to live that way.

[ nailed it ]