therookery | sending crystal;

Entry tags:

sending crystal;

FORM: Sending crystal
SENDER: Morrigan
RECIPIENT: Everyone
WHAT: Chasind shamans are cryptic so Morrigan requires assistance and she's moving out of the Gallows
WHEN: Post-Korcari Wilds return
WHERE: Sundermount
NOTES: Refers back to this post about Flemeth with all previous links and specifically this thread;
this is a multi-stage plot so this is testing the waters for the next stage

If you ever wish to truly wrap your mind around vagaries, I would suggest that should you be able to find them, that you might seek out out a Chasind shaman. [To ask for help isn't an easy thing for Morrigan, she's asked enough already of late and now she must ask again. It galls her.] To that end, I have a wonder; are there those among us who consider themselves to know a great deal about the constellations and their histories? The names they had once before Tevinter came along and changed not only many of the names but even what a person might seen upon looking up? Tis...tis a thing I have been told to think upon.

What we call silence was not silence long ago, and 'twas not a horn and wand held aloft by a man in the sky but a scale. There was indeed a great deal about scales. The Age of this world. The sky splitting itself as an egg might. [For all that Morrigan might wish to sound unaffected or annoyed...she can't. It's stuck with her, burrowed under her ribs.] Flemeth was not there, for those of you who hope to catch a glimpse of a tale made flesh, there is no Hero, no Champion, she is not come again yet but tis clear we look in the wrong place and there is Chasind wildwine on offer for those willing to offer aid in such clues. Oghren I procured a separate supply for you.

[Which brings her to something more exciting at least.]

For those who do wish to assist in this or should you require me for any matter, you will find me in the Gallows only for the hours I shall be working. I will be moving to live outside Kirkwall, by Sundermount, 'twould be wise to announce your intention prior to arriving.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What the fuck're you on about, then.

[ a horn?? a wand?? is this a riddle — scales and eggs, and which came first? (don't count your drakes before they hatch) ]

Ain't Sundermount the ghost mountain?

[Deep breaths. Deep breaths Morrigan.]

These are the words that the Chasind shaman gave to me when I asked after my mother. There was something in those words, how they were said...a thing that said listen close. When they call her Mother of Vengeance and she is old as mine, you do not discount their wisdom.

[What else might you expect from gods with animal heads, shall she mention that next.]

There are no ghosts of Sundermount.

There's plenty of ghost stories.

[ she says, as though this is perfect evidence. really, it depends how much common sense you've got — and what side of belief you consider sensible. a little caution's always served her well in the wild. ]

If you're supposed t'be Vengeance, hope you shorten it down some. Knew a girl called Kindness and it sure weren't one from her folks. But if you're talking on dragons, [ a tail made flesh ] Probably ain't no good in none of it anyway. Reckon there's easier ways to write home, or whatever you're after.

Yet how little truth of them is recalled, one wonders what things still lurk the higher paths of Sundermount waiting for masters long dead.

[Raised by a thing from a story where the worst thing was just the raising, well it skews you.

Seeing an archdemon rage and belch purple flame as the horde attacks, beneath sky turned the colour of an aching bruise that all serves to skew your sense of what might frighten you.]

Me? [Morrigan's never considered it that way and would laugh if not for how close it sits to everything.] No, her vengeance and name came long before I ever did, are there truly parents afflicting their children with such names? I seek to find her. Twice she has meddled before, that she has not now when so much is at stake, I find it hard to imagine what keeps her from reaching out her hand.

Right: Ghosts, then.

[ lurking for masters long-dead, sounds like ghost shit. quod erat demonstrandum, and all. ]

Maybe she don’t want to fuck it up worse. Or maybe she already reached out and that's why it's so shit. Could even be she’s tired herself out from raising you and vengeance, decided t’move out to some nice country estate.

Could be a lot of things. But don’t see that finding her’s gonna do you much good with none of them. Y’even know what you’d do once you did?

[ never talk to your parents ever, the lifeplan ]

No...no that is not her way. I do not do this solely for myself - if you knew even a fraction of the truth of her tales you would know her for the threat she is. She has lived a long time and is not truly human, how many other such creatures are there that we chose to allow to go on as they will?

[Corypheus rises and calls himself a god with Flemeth nowhere to be found, of course she's spent the best part of two years eating a hole in herself over that, time and time again.]

I know more than I did ten years ago. [You'd think that ten years of work put in would get rid of the hollowness but here we are, it doesn't do you much good to know more about Flemeth really.] The Tale of the Champion had one use after all.

Piss, I dunno. But you find something like that, ain't no good comes of going up and hitting it with a stick. That's a right good way t'get eaten.

[ she's heard some stories. ]

You 'don't want her going on as she will' or all that, sounds more Chantry than Chasind. [ and the chantry's got books. records. all that toss. ] If she's really been around that long, gotta figure you can't be the first t'try and find her.

[ and more liars out there to document it than just some puffed-up dwarf ]

I've studied the constellations a little, and may have some books that would interest you... I've long been fascinated by the sky. Draconis has always been my favorite.

[He also fully understands needing to move out to the mountains, having done the same himself, though to a different spot and most likely for different reasons.]

[Ah yes, this Warden she remembers though there's a greater buffer now than there was in Skyhold, Kieran further from their influence and intrigue.]

That you have such books is what surprises me most, do you know much of the names any had before Tevinter came?

[Might as well find out if she's just going to get books or if she can maybe see if he can be roped in too.]

My family has long had an interest in the sky and all things related to it. There are some interesting books among our collection.

[Well, the actual primary interest is dragons, but branch off of that, and you also get the sky and related things in there.]

I believe that answer may depend on the region you're talking about... every group has their names for things... but I may have some information about that.

Who knows how many tales have spoken of her in some way, now...now there are more questions than I should like.

[Tevinter comes and Tevinter wipes the slate of history clean as it can, says there was nothing before Tevinter, only whispers and relics and nothing worth remembering. She might have luck among the Dalish but their clans are so scattered, their tales changing with their travels and time apart that she cannot waste the time on such efforts.]

Constellations had names before Tevinter came and many were associated with the ancient elves or even the Alamarri before they splintered off. That era, that region, not what we think of now and where an Orlesian and a Marcher looked to the same sky to give it a different nickname long ago.

[That, he knows to be true for sure. Whatever the culture, there's always some aspect related to the sky...]

Ah. That... would be more difficult to determine. I'm sure much of it is probably lost to time, although there may be hints and sources to trace back. I'm no elven expert, but I recall in particular some speculation that Fenrir may well correspond to Fen'Harel, since there isn't much corresponding folklore in Tevinter.

Tevinter folklore is not the issue, the Chasind would not know it, they know the names of the constellations as they are now. 'Tis elven and Tevinter, what Tevinter knew of the elves long ago, what they saw in themselves. Perhaps seeing books with illustrations rather than peering into the heavens…

[It's frustrating. Complicated. She's so tired already and she doesn't want to drag this officially through the elven artifacts projects when this is her life she's still living. It's only their business if and when she allows it to be and as much as she allows it to be.]

There may well be something out there, some volume holding those answers. It's worth a look, anyway. It's fascinating to see how these constellations were studied over time, and the stories they spawned...

[Especially, of course, the dragon-related ones.]

I still have a room in the Gallows for the time being and since all work related to the Inquisition is to be conducted within, should you wish your books kept safe 'tis best to find me there. You cannot miss it. A solid oak door, spells placed upon it.

[Sabine's legacy as continued by Morrigan.]

All right. I'm likewise keeping a space in the Gallows... only for work purposes at this time... so I'm there often enough. I can stop by at any time.

[With any luck, hopefully she'll get the answers she's after... or something to lead her toward them. He knows how difficult it can be tracking down ancient history. He's specialized more in dragons than elven lore, but all the same, he gets it.]

Knock if you will, there are likely many things strewn about at present.

[[ooc: let me know if you want to handwave them meeting up to do any of this or move it to a later date post-hiatus?]]

Right. I'll be sure to keep that in mind.

[[ooc: since you're hiatused, it's totally fine handwaving! I'm unsure of the details anyway, but I'm good assuming there's information to be found there, of course.]]

How does one best announce their coming, my lady? A recitation of titles and an introduction seems too formal at this stage.

[ approximately how much would he need to pay yngvi to scream his name into the forest whenever he goes calling? this is important math. ]

A message would do in this instance, though now I do wonder at what you were imagining.

[Do tell, anything to get her mind off shamans wearing animal heads thank you.]

Something needlessly ostentatious. Would have done nothing for my reputation.

[ done something, but he's in no position to cast too much of a shadow on gwen, given that he's living in her house. still, he can provide. ]

I wish I could invite you to my home, Lady Morrigan. My imaginings were far less leashed there.

In time 'tis likely to do wonders, all things turn as the seasons do and as fashions and fancies pass in Orlais. You have one of the very best to ask for advice however.

[And though a day will come where she will levy one last warning because that's her role in this, keeping Gwenaelle and by extension Kieran safe does mean a great deal.]

You must tell me of it more that I might shut my eyes and try to do it justice. This rare opportunity that might slip through the fingers after all.

She is admirable.

[ the road stretches out before him as it ever does. as time passes, as he comes to know her more-- not always better-- thoughts occur to him, suspicions rise. he needn't ask, only wait. everything yields to the march of time. ]

I long for the trees most of all, [ he admits. ] I knew all of them from saplings; the great oaks, the beeches my father so favored, the firs and evergreens of the south. One could walk from north to south without needing to touch the ground, if one was fleet of foot-- and what elf is not?

[ he exhales. ] All the birds who perched in them, their song, their free speech. The hind and hart, grazing in the underbrush.

[A good dozen Morrigan could name, training aside it being their smaller stature and lighter builds compared to most others giving them any advantage but Thranduil is a friend and if he wishes to wax nostalgic about a place she shall never see, a world that is and Thedas was but likely shall never be again for it is so mired in the now able to roll so far back or forward if there's enough blood to grease the wheels, then she won't give voice to something she knows for what it is. Being contrary, petty and spiteful for the sake of it because she has a clever thing to say and she could say them freely.]

The Brecilian Forest has a reputation well earned and perhaps isn't quite so dense as you would wish for but the Emerald Graves are closer to what you would seek. Named for the tales that came from them, the resting place of those who gave their lives defending the Dales. [And now Orlesian nobles have - likely abandoned - summer homes in them, that's the way of things.]

I cannot imagine being so old. To see a tree grow that way. [It's...she never knows what to make of it, if she's honest. Too close to the Creators if she believed in them being gods and not something else.] What do you mean by their free speech?

[ he recognizes her kindness in humoring him; is glad of it. but all things must come to an end, and he draws himself from his reverie. ]

I will go, eventually. [ corypheus will fall before any of his larger plans or desires will come into play, he knows that. and the goodwill of being among those to help down the creature will not go unused. he remembers the story of shartan-- he had perhaps three hundred years of good memories, before the fall?

yes, he would like to go to the emerald graves. he has so many questions, and the dalish so few answers. ] To have something in abundance oft means one is careless with it.

[ he had waited out so many centuries. granted, he has had nothing like the plight of the elvhen on his shoulders, but how many mannish kings had he not bothered learning the names of, simply because he thought of them like night-blooming flowers? ]

We spoke, as you and I might. I still am able to converse with some success with the animals, but the plants, the land-- I hear nothing. They keep their silence.

Edited 2017-09-12 01:57 (UTC)

There paintings are unlike many I have seen elsewhere, look carefully and you will find them on the rocks and stones. I know not how long ago they were left there. [Old. Unquestionably old but she had her work to do and it wasn't precisely digging into elven murals unless they provided some sort of clue.]

Not long after he and I met, Jonas asked questions of me. Shapeshifting isn't something well-known, there are wild tales, rumours, utter nonsense as one expects but there was a truth to some part of it. That I might know the world as a wild thing does but I know nothing of what they think of me as I do it. [Is it envy that colours her voice now? Perhaps a touch, it hadn't been something she'd thought possible until he'd said it, just speculation by those who couldn't perform the same feats.] Either you are too far from where you are or the plants of Thedas are different enough...the eluvian however.

[Now there's a thought. There are things that grow there. If there's a place he might speak with plants? Surely it's by stepping through where the rules of the world cease to apply so readily.]

I will watch for them. [ and feel older still, and more alone. what comforts will he have in twenty years, in fifty?

(briefly, he thinks of gwenaelle, of the fall of light on her hair, on her smile, but he places a lid on that and moves along.) ]

I put myself at your disposal, Morrigan, however you have need of me. I cannot promise true translations, but perhaps I will have better luck than you.

But. No spiders.

Well then I'll say your trip was a success if you got me some of that wildwine. Can't wait to see what it's going to taste like.

[You can be sure he'll be stopping by for a visit.]

'Tis wine the same way dwarven ale is ale; they use grain to make it but I doubt any will argue with the Chasind for the name when they've called it this so long.

[Morrigan gives it her seal of approval but it packs a punch.]

Grain instead, huh? Well, I've had worse so I'm all for trying it out.

[He laughs a bit.]

When should I come by?

Whenever you deem suitable, my door is open and Kieran lives elsewhere so he shan't be disturbed if the hour is late.

[Morrigan being Morrigan, she sets her own hours.]

Alright. I got me some stuff to do but I can come by tomorrow night. Seems the best time for drinking new kinds of booze anyway.

Recent news?

[The same letter she got that was overly polite because no one told him how to write to Morrigan apparently.]

Was he as polite about it to you as he was to me?

I am surprised he never tripped over himself with them, I was reminded of being in Orlais again for all that he is Ferelden and Arl Howe's son.

'Twas returned in kind, you can be assured.

[Ask to see the letters, she dares you.]

Heh. I bet it was. You still got copies? I bet it's good for a laugh.

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