{ OPEN }

[serannas]

FORM: Sending crystal
SENDER: Ellana Ashara
RECIPIENT: all with a crystal
WHAT: A fond farewell.
WHEN: forward dated a little closer to the Grand Tourney
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: This is my last post for Ellana before I drop her at the end of the month, so your last chance to talk to her before she leaves! I've had her here since Day 1 and I want to say thank you to everyone I had CR with! <3

If any of you ever made a ridiculous bet that a Dalish elf would on day give a lecture at the University of Orlais, you're about to collect a lot of winnings.

[ Ellana sounds pretty amused about it herself. ]

Because I've been invited. For those who don't know, I've written a book on the Sulevin Blade, and the advanced copies are already out. Apparently the elven students there got a hold of it and, well, they'd like me to come talk about it. I've already gotten approval from Skyhold, and they suggested that I could continue my exploration of elven ruins in Orlais afterwards so... [ She pauses to take a breath.] This is it for me in Kirkwall, I'm afraid. I'll be reassigned to Suledin Keep from here on out.

To those who've been my friends from Skyhold to here, or who I met here: thank you, and I'll miss you greatly. I couldn't have had better friends, or a better introduction to the world outside of the clan than the one you all gave me. I was waiting for Skyhold to get back to me, so to stay on schedule, I'm actually leaving tomorrow when most of you will be leaving for the Grand Tourney too. I hope you all have fun! And I guess the only thing left to say is farewell. Dareth shiral.

Comments

[laurenande]

What wondrous news! You have accomplished so much in so short a time.

[Galadriel could not be more proud.]

Farewell my dear friend, may the stars shine upon the hour of your passing.

[serannas]

[ It honestly feels like making a parent proud, and Ellana is elated by that feeling. She hasn't had parents in so long to make proud. ]

Thank you so much, Galadriel! I'm a better person for having known you.

[gatheringstorm]

...damn, now I regret not making that bet. You could've left me rich with some warning.

[Now for the serious part.]

Will you at least let me take you out for long last drink or something? You should be seen off properly.

[serannas]

If I had had any inkling it was going to happen, I could have let you know!

Hmm, I could step out for a bit. I don't have that much to pack anyway.

/kills typos

[gatheringstorm]

Awesome. We can go wherever you want, and I'm buying. No arguments.

/smashes with my fists!!!

[serannas]

Oh, I don't know the taverns of the city very well. Would you pick for me?

[gatheringstorm]

That I can definitely handle. There's a decent place not too far from the alienage, if you don't want to deal with as many humans.

[serannas]

That would be great. I'm about to deal with plenty at the University.

[gatheringstorm]

Right? Don't worry, it'll be fun.

[serannas]

Which part? The drinking or the lecturing?

[gatheringstorm]

Both! And if you're lucky, both at the same time. I can't imagine Orlesians protesting the idea of combining a little wine with education.

[serannas]

Ha, now I'm imagining myself staggering across the stage or behind the podium or whatever the set up will be, a glass of wine in one hand as I slosh it around. That would make a great first impression, wouldn't it?

[gatheringstorm]

With any luck, the rest will be too drunk to notice!

[serannas]

But hopefully not too drunk that they start heckling me! I do want them to listen to what I have to say.

[circleprodigy]

The University of Orlais? That's quite a rise, considering. Congratulations, on all your successes. I hope we might still see you in the field, when we venture forth from Kirkwall to Orlais.

[Garahel butts in and whines. Don't be a stranger, Ellana.]

[serannas]

It's a bit unbelievable, isn't it? I'd heard there were a few elven students there, but for them to think enough of my book to want to talk to me... well, you could knock me over with a feather right now.

[ She smiles at Garahel's sweet reaction. ]

I'll miss you too, Garahel.

[circleprodigy]

[A softer whine in response, as Inessa tries to appease him with some head-stroking.]

Parting will be easier with a belly-rub, I suspect.

If I did not have so many other duties, I would be intrigued enough to go see this in person. Both for your work, and to speak with those elves achieving higher education. They must walk a difficult road, but I hope it spreads beyond just a few.

[serannas]

Then he'll get one before I leave.

I know! I'm excited to talk with them and hear how things are going for them there. Their professor, at least, seems to treat them well, since he agreed I should come lecture his class.

[circleprodigy]

Ah, now he's happy. That tail is wagging up a storm.

...might you write back about such information, if you can find the time? If it's not too much trouble?

[serannas]

Aww, good!

Oh, of course! I'm happy to share whatever I learn, and I think being among the elven ruins of Orlais could set me up for more books in my future.

[circleprodigy]

Oh, thank you. There is much to be learned from them, and such news would make for some interesting reading.

[serannas]

I've found that ruins are never boring; that's for sure. And of course I'll stay in touch. I should still have my crystal at Suledin Keep.

[faithlikeaseed]

Congratulations! The University of Orlais--that's quite a coup. Wish I could be there to hear your lecture.

I'm sorry we hadn't more chances to talk, but I'm glad for what we did get, all the same. You'll be in touch with us here in Kirkwall, at least?

[serannas]

It would be easier if there were friendly faces in the crowd, but I'll have to make do.

So am I! I always assumed I'd be around and they'd be more time but, well, life surprises you, I guess! I'll still be in touch! As long as I'm a member of the Inquisition and have a sending crystal, I will.

[faithlikeaseed]

You'll do marvelously. [He'd heard her speak about magic, after all; he's confidence enough to say that.]

Wonderful. Keep me in the loop on how it goes, then--and if you find any more unusual spellcraft out there, I'd love to hear of it.

[serannas]

I'll have to remember you saying that when I'm standing in front of all those people. It's the whole class. Humans too. I hope I speak well.

Mm hm. If I haven't died from embarrassment from something stupid I said, then I'll tell you all about it. And hopefully looking into old ruins reveals some long-forgotten spells to share with you.

[faithlikeaseed]

Do--and you've my permission to embroider on anything else that's hopeful and helpful, since I'd believe it of you.

And don't worry so much about the humans; if they're anything like the students I taught in the Circle, most of 'em will be more concerned about what you think of them than the other way around. [Youths, etc.]

[And now there's a grin audible in his tone,] I'll be glad to hear all about them. Beyond the Veil, even, though I doubt you'll say anything worth dying of. [You have this, is the undertone.]

[serannas]

That's high praise! Thank you.

Mmm, but were the students young, or young adults, because I'm afraid it's the latter at the University.

[ She laughs. ]

I'll do my best to keep from expiring, then. I imagine it'd be pretty taxing to keep up communications beyond the Veil.

[arcaneadvisor]

I wish to thank you for the aid and more you have lent me snce we met, 'tis strange to think I will not see your face in these halls but I wish you well.

You will have time and opportunity to travel Orlais when at the University?

[serannas]

You're welcome, Morrigan. I was happy to be of help to you.

I think I should. The students said they wanted to show me around a bit and show me what projects they were working on.

[arcaneadvisor]

With the civil war ended travel through the Exalted Plains is likely possible, there are some ruins there that for my time with the Inquisition remained beyond our reach. That and the Emerald Graves if any of them come from a family with a second home.

[#JustOrlesianThings]

[serannas]

I'll probably have plenty to write about in Orlais, then! And maybe the mysterious can have the dust swept away to reveal the truth.

[arcaneadvisor]

And the library annotated?

[Was it you Ellana? Was it you making notes in the margins? You're leaving, she doesn't go to Skyhold but for the sake of knowing why there was cursing from some corners when she was doing her research and cursing for her own, entirely separate reasons.]

[serannas]

I have no idea what you mean.

[ Morrigan, please. Like she's going to admit this publicly.

But she will admit to it privately, so the crystals are now set to that. ]

Actually, now that you mention it, Merrill and I might have fixed some incorrect information here are there. To help people, of course.

perma-private;

[arcaneadvisor]

Of course, you never had the...[how does one accurately describe Genitivi since he's written quite the body of work] unique opportunity to meet one of the scholars though now such doors are open to you.

How many did you edit? And how? After all, the rotunda was so very open and some of us are watched more closely than others.

[And well, Merrill was Merrill, fond as Morrigan will ever be when it comes to her.]

[serannas]

I lost count on the number. We did it over several sessions. We just took the books out to read and left the library. There was a hidden place above the kitchen's roof. You had to go up to the ramparts and go around the stables. There was a broken bit of wall there that was easy to climb and that led to the end of the ramparts. You could sit down there and be hidden by the slope of the kitchen roof. So we'd sit there with ink and pen and cross out what was wrong about the elves and rewrite it.

[arcaneadvisor]

Merrill could get lost on her way to where I had my study. [As competent a mage, as the only other person when they first met who knew anything of eluvians, the idea of her scrambling on rooftops is more than a little alarming.]

Perhaps you might publish those one day, the annotated editions. It might finish Genitivi since the Tevinter cultists failed to.

[Tragic.]

[serannas]

[ Ellana exhales a laugh. ]

I was with her each time. If we'd agree to meet there, I knew she wouldn't be there.

Ah, I don't know about that. There's probably some rule against re-publishing Genitivi's texts. They probably added it to the Chant.

[arcaneadvisor]

[Find some ancient mystery. Tell him you'll take him to it. Throw your murder knife the way Cousland should've the useless clot.]

You are a member of the dread Inquisition headed by heretics, a Dalish who has left her clan. Perhaps 'tis time, the scandal would be great but the interest would be there one day.

[serannas]

And scandal sells books, or so my publisher tells me.

[arcaneadvisor]

I'm certain even the villages too small for the maps have read the Tale of the Champion [plenty of scandal in that one] and the dowagers have their quarterly published.

[Ferelden is, of course, too boring, too stodgy, too stinky, to produce anything racy. Unless it's about racing hounds. Different kind of racy.]

Remember the lessons from when we met, and all that you have seen and been part of that they have not. Will never be. That you have walked places they can only imagine. [Ruins, temples, the Crossroads.] There will be rumour, much of it terrible, far worse than there was when I was in Orlais. Pay attention to stay safe but do not allow it to drag you down.

[serannas]

[ Morrigan's words remind Ellana of all she's done and all she's learned in order to protect herself from those who would that issue with what she is. Elf and mage, and woman too. All targets for those with ill intent. ]

I'll remember. I've already made if farther than I ever dreamed. That's something to be proud of.