therookery | { OPEN }

FORM: Sending Crystal
SENDER: Belinda Darrow
RECIPIENT: Open to all
WHAT: She's curious as to what this New Templar Order is all about, among other things.
WHEN: Guardian 19th
WHERE: Anyone can hear it anywhere, but she's at Skyhold.
NOTES: According to the logs, a dragon attack happened on Wintermarch 29, but the dragon fighting log happens on Guardian 28, so when Belinda asks about dragons, no one has killed any yet.

Hello, hello! I hope this is working.

[ A young woman's voice with a Starkhaven accent comes across the crystals. ]

I was supposed to think of everyone wasn't I? Well, let's see if I did it. Ehm, my name is Belinda, and I just returned from a mission for the Inquisition, so this is the first I've got to use this fancy crystal thing. It's nice, isn't it? Anyway, I saw a notice on the bulletin board that said "New Templar Order of the Inquisition" on it. What's all that about, then? Really, I've heard nothing, so I'm all ears. I'm curious whom they answer to, what their duties are, that sort of thing.

I hear there's a lot happening at Emprise du Lion right now too. Something about a load of Red Templars. And dragons. Did anyone listening to this see any dragons? I'd think it'd be quite alarming.

Also, it's been ages since I played Wicked Grace. I don't even have a deck. Anyone fancy a friendly game at the tavern tonight?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Since when are you officially in the Inquisition, Asher? If you are, give her some of those chicken eggs. You know, for the good of the Inquisition. ]

We already have troops there and I've only just returned from a months-long mission too.

[ Why is he so mean? ;_; ]

I didn't say she would win the war for us; I said she would gain us allies, who can offer money or troops, and then we can win this war.

[Since he signed up and got paid for it. And no, those eggs are all his. And for the kids in camp because some of them have never had eggs before and that's scandalous.]

They're your brothers and sisters.

[He's the official honey badger of the Inquisition, giving nary a fuck.]

We're absolutely not in a position to be given money unless we look particularly sad and hold out the begging bowls. Troops...I was talking about this to someone else but a line of soldiers all the same as one another doesn't fare well, there's nowhere near enough variety in the rank and file.

No, they're not. [ Her voice softens. ] Not anymore. They made their choice as I made mine, and they aren't who they once were.

I don't understand what you're trying to say. How is gaining allies from all over not going to achieve exactly that? It would gain us troops who are all different, with different skills and tactics.

Right...so you're a Templar. You had training, along with everyone else in training at the same time as you. You all had your weapons, you had drills, you had formations. Soldiers are the same. Different nations might fight differently but they march in formation, they form up lines of swords and shields or bow, and the differences between standing armies isn't really as big as someone might think. Ferelden has hounds too, sometimes Ash Warriors. Orlais has chevaliers. Different armour, different metal and wood for their weapons but that's what it is.

[For once, he'll actually try to explain because he does feel like a bit of a shit and he knows this life well, him and Taashath were just talking about it right after he got back from fighting a dragon out in Emprise du Lion.

There's a good reason the Inquisition is spending the coin to hire mercenaries, he'd hire a lot more of them if he were in charge and worry about kissing Orlesian arses later.]

But at the end of the day, it's still a line of people used to fighting the same way. People can say what they like about the lack of discipline in mercenaries but I've seen armies break before when they're scattered and they realise what they're up against knows their tactics. I know how to fight with a sword and a shield, two-handed swords and axes, maces, cudgels, clubs, small knives and daggers, with my bare hands or whatever the hell I can grab. That's what makes a person dangerous. You can be decked in silverite, wearing amulets to Andraste, with an enchanted sword and shield in your hand, enough discipline in you that you'd shit it if you weren't so honourable, with enough belief in your cause or love of your country that you'd rival the sun. But if someone can see through all that and use whatever they can find to beat you bloody, they're going to win. I've lead my company for years, we've never lost a member to death or injury because we're a mixed bunch and most of us have a back-up. Sure, you can make a nice shield wall at Skyhold but it's nothing like being able to cover every angle. Maybe it's fine for little pushes out into the wilderness, but if there's a real force that might mass against us? We could break, and break badly.

[ She's about to say "former Templar," but he goes on and he keeps going, so she waits and hears him out.

...how did he know she wears an amulet to Andraste? ]

Have you told her all this? The Ambassador, I mean.

[Look, Asher in general doesn't think when he's going in solo but he's a damn good battlemaster in the field.]

Because she's really going to listen to a mercenary over a former Knight-Captain.

Do you think I've just been on missions with former Templars too? Before going to Val Royeaux, I was on a mission with a Tal-Vashoth mercenary, a Dalish mage, and a hunter who hid from demons coming from the Breach by hiding in a snowdrift. And that was a mission the Ambassador sent us on to retrieve stolen heirlooms. Once we returned with them, the noble gave the Inquisition a huge reward that probably paid for all our meals for a month. She's smart. She'll at least listen to what you have to say and consider it. After all, you're not the first mercenary to join the Inquisition.

{ OPEN }

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