therookery | 001.

FORM: Crystal! Or action, if you happen to be around Kirkwall's Lowtown.
SENDER: Arohaerd
RECIPIENT: Everyone with a crystal
WHAT: Aro has itchy feet and wants some advice.
WHEN: Today, mid-morning
WHERE: Lowtown, Kirkwall
NOTES: Crystal or action welcome! Please add any warnings to thread headers.

Hello, everyone. I'm Aro. I know some of you already, I'm sure, from the unfortunate snowbound arrival last month, and then the...incident with that mine, and now some more new faces have arrived too! Anyway.

I'm sure there's many more of you that I don't know. I know that some of you are from this world, and some of you are from others, as I am, but...we're all here, in this city, which is ruled by something called the Inquisition, as far as I can tell, and. Well.

[ A deep breath, while he thinks very carefully about how to word this. ]

While I'm grateful for the hospitality, and please don't think I'm not. There must be more to this place, this world, than Kirkwall. Getting out to see Amaranthine was brilliant, even though we were there to bring the others back. Don't any of the rest of you want to explore? We can go together, make a quest out of it!

And those of you who live here, or who've been here for a while, tell me of the other lands, and cities, and places of this world. Tell me where you like, tell me where I should visit. I just need to know where to start.

[ If you happen to be in Kirkwall to hear this in person, Aro will be the young half-elf sitting on a wall by the side of the road, with a flute dangling from his fingertips. He's very pale and blond, hair short enough for the slightly pointed tips of his ears to show.

Both before and after the broadcast, he'll be seen playing the flute, sounding out a variety of folk songs from his own world. They're strange to people here, but it all sounds like home to Aro. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Really?

[ That perks him up - less because of the weather and more because coastal areas are so good for Iessa. This recommendation might rate first on his list. ]

I'll try anything once. They sound nice. I have to say I'm used to northern territories being colder, and this world has turned that on its head. Your snow is in the south. Tell me more about Antiva and Rivain. Are you from the area or did you visit?

My grandmother lives in Rivain, so I visit as often as I can. I'm from Wycome, which is about halfway there from here, so it's a mix of north and south. Most qunari that aren't part of the Qun itself -and some who are- have ties to Rivain.

Oh I see! So there are many Qunari there? I would love to know more about your people and their culture. I've heard some things about the Qun.

[ Which he says somewhat awkwardly, since he hasn't heard all that much that's flattering. Aro does try not to judge until he has time to form his own opinion, though. ]

There are no qunari in my world. How do you think your grandmother's people would feel about strangers visiting? Not that it would stop me, but it's better to be prepared.

[Okay, time to be blunt.]

The Qun sucks, every last bit of it. My parents are among those who had the sense to break away and live different lives. I've never been part of the Qun so all I know is second-hand, but it's enough to realize I'd never belong there. They treat their mages even worse than the rest of Thedas.

As for my grandmother's people, they won't give a shit as long as you don't call them 'ox' or 'Qunari'. Tal-Vashoth will do just fine.

Well, I'm glad I spoke to you first. Magic in general doesn't seem much beloved here, so that's not a surprise. I'm a sorcerer myself, but I'll be careful.

What does Tal-Vashoth mean?

Tal-Vashoth literally means 'True Grey Ones', former members of the Qunari who have departed or been exiled from their people and home. Vashoth, or 'Grey Ones' are those of the qunari race that were born outside the Qun. It also refers to those who have rejected the Qun but aren't rebelling against it.

A sorcerer...so if I'm right about the way it's worked with other rifters, your own magic is innate? That's how all mages here function, since it's inborn and will manifest at some point.

So then, 'Vashoth' is the people. I hear that word far less often than the Qun. What about rifters who were something different in their world, but look like Vashoth now? How would your people refer to them?

[ He may be thinking of someone in particular here. This is information that's good to know. ]

As for my power, I wasn't born with it. It was a gift that I was changed by, so you could say it's innate now. It just didn't start out that way.

Huh, interesting. If you want to talk about it, I'd love to know what has the power to change you like that. It's not something you'd see here; the closest natives get to gaining magic is by catching those shards, and it's still not the same thing.

Honestly? There isn't a name for those guys yet, not a specific one. They're too new and too few, and too far away from where you'll find a lot of my people. One might come up eventually, though.

[ Aro smiles. He wonders if she'll regret that question once she hears the answer. ]

Do you remember my companion, the little one, who you warned me people would fear because they hunted her kin?

Her mother changed me like that. On her deathbed. It was her last act, the gift of magic, and the charge of taking care of her egg.

[ In a way, Aro is the dragon now - or at least, he's the remnant of her. Her memories, her self, everything about her is gone, but her power is inside him. Even his skin is different than it used to be. He's still getting used to what all that means. ]

I don't really know how my own shard will interact with that, either. They're obviously very different forms of magic. Anyway, that's my story. Thanks for telling me about your people. I'd love to hear more about them, too.

...wow. If you were from Thedas, I'd say you were full of shit, but different worlds, different rules, right? Including for magic and dragons. Of course, now I gotta know what you were doing around a dragon and what got her to consider all that. Giving you magic, charging you with taking care of her egg? That's some serious trust.

[There's a small smile in her voice, impressed.]

From what I've been, the anchor doesn't interfere with magic but take that with a grain of salt since I'm not in the Rifts and the Veil project. Since it connects you to the Fade, you've probably had lucid dreams like us native mages. Most people don't remember their time in the Fade or are aware while within it, but we're special like that. Of course, it comes with a catch as demons might take more of an interest in you. Anything that wants you to let it in, ignore. We haven't had a rifter abomination here yet and I'd like to keep it that way.

As for my people, we stay on the fringes and find work where we can. Some Tal-Vashoth don't know how to live outside the Qun and they resort to banditry, which causes shit for the rest. But plenty of others just want to get by, often living on the fringes and taking mercenary work.

That's kind, but I'm not sure trust had that much to do with it. I found her when she was dying, and she was afraid the dragon who'd attacked her would find the egg and destroy it. I helped her to retrieve it, and that's when she charged me with caring for it. Perhaps helping her was enough to earn her trust, but I was also the only one there. Who wouldn't take the only empty port in a storm?

[ At least that's Aro's take on it. That doesn't matter, though. He'd made the promise to raise Iessa and that's exactly what he's going to do. She's alone in the world aside from him, and he identifies with that. They're both outcasts. That's why they get along so well. ]

Anyway, you don't need to worry about me. If I hate taking orders from the Inquisition, you can bet I'd hate it more from any demon. I get the feeling I'd get along well with your Tal-Vashoth. I hope I'm able to meet them.

[That prompts a chuckle, and a warmer tone.]

You probably will, at some point. They aren't that numerous among the Inquisition or Kirkwall, but the farther to the northeast you go, the more likely it will happen. Join a mission to Rivain and you'll be set; it's also nice if you like beaches and spicy food, too.

[ 'Join a mission', she says. He holds back a sigh. ]

I'll remember that. Thank you, for your help! I'm sure there aren't many people who wouldn't like a beach.

001.

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