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Dragon Age: Warden's Vigil is a Dragon Age: Origins based roleplaying community within the world of Thedas.
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Joined: May 2011 Gender: Male Posts: 864 Karma: 19
Re: Fancy Seeing You Here [Closed] « Reply #15 on Jan 7, 2012, 4:49pm »
”It’s good to see you, Vaia. When you left, I didn’t think…”
Didn't think you'd survive.
Aled trailed off before grinning. ”Maybe there is something to that old amulet of Nonna’s after all. Mind, my mam used to say that people make their own luck. That good luck is just being able to see possibilities, seizing the moment.”
Vaia's response was less than enthusiastic. "Not everyone gets the privilege." Fiagaí didn't think an apostate had much change to 'seize the moment', not when they had to stay on the run to avoid being captured, deprived of all freedom. They weren't given the same chances normal people had.
"It's a memento," Vaia spoke again, interrupting his thoughts from their well-worn path. "You... should have it." She untied the amulet from around her neck and gave it back to Aled.
Kai had finally poured the stew by this point, and Fiagaí started eating almost at once. Conversation could wait -- at least until Vaia broke in with a question. "Any trouble with templars?"
"Some," he answered ruefully. "One recognized me when we arrived last month. It was for someone I'd help free before... the Wilds, so Aled was safe, but I knew I had to clear out. Signed up with an expedition to the Deep Roads. Figured it was safer to travel with company in case they were hunting me."
He hesitated, but only briefly; this would all have to come out sooner or later, and he had intended to tell all three of these people.
"It... didn't go as planned. Kai... I can't do any more work for the Collective. Something... happened during the trip. I'm a Grey Warden now."
It was too new, too raw, for him to say it with much pride; and yet it was not just a simple statement of fact. The two words defined him now, changed his life forever more.
"The Order is supposedly neutral. I suspect there's wiggle room, but the fact remains: I can't be sneaking apostates out of the country anymore."
Fiagaí =Orange ~Thanks to Vaia for the avatar... Aerion for the sig!
nithu Guest
Re: Fancy Seeing You Here [Closed] « Reply #16 on Jan 7, 2012, 5:35pm »
"Not everyone gets the privilege," said Vaia, her face flat. Aled blinked, aware he had put his foot in it somehow but not quite sure how he’d offended her. ”You’re not dead and you’re not in the tower, something must have gone right,” he mumbled. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Kai reach for some bowls, then he brought the stew to the table and began doling it out. Aled hoped that food would distract them all from whatever gaffe he committed. He glanced at William, but his face was as closed as Vaia’s.
Aled started to reach for a spoon only to freeze as Vaia fumbled with the thong around her neck, removed the amulet and held it out to him. "It's a memento. You... should have it." Aled was unaccountably stung by the gesture. It was a gift; he didn’t expect her to return it. He ducked his head as he felt the heat fill his face and snatched it out of her hand, stuffing into one of the many little pockets in his jerkin. ”Scrap metal is what it is,” he muttered, tempted to just throw it on the fire. He didn’t need it to remember Nonna, his mam.
Vaia started to eat her stew and Aled grabbed a spoon and followed suit, although his appetite had died. It gave him something to do. "Any trouble with templars?" Aled didn’t suppose the question was directed at him; why would he have trouble with templars? "Some," said William. "One recognized me when we arrived last month. It was for someone I'd help free before... the Wilds, so Aled was safe, but I knew I had to clear out. Signed up with an expedition to the Deep Roads. Figured it was safer to travel with company in case they were hunting me. It... didn't go as planned. Kai... I can't do any more work for the Collective. Something... happened during the trip. I'm a Grey Warden now."
Aled’s head came up at that. The Deep Roads? He’d known that William had been headed for Orzammar, but the Deep Roads? He couldn’t imagine William in such a place. He was a man for the open air, not buried beneath miles of rock. Then the rest of what William had said sunk in. A Grey Warden! "The Order is supposedly neutral. I suspect there's wiggle room, but the fact remains: I can't be sneaking apostates out of the country anymore."
”Maker’s cock, Will! How did you end up in the Grey Wardens? I thought they’d all gone after the Blight?” Aled let his spoon drop into his bowl and grinned at his friend. ”So, now you’re a warden, you’ve got to behave, eh? No more thumbing your nose at the templars? How about consorting with petty criminals? Mind, the way I heard it, half of the Grey Wardens were criminals and not just petty ones, neither. They use that whatchamacallit…Right of Conniption."
Aled waggled his eyebrows at William, although inside he was reeling. What did it mean for William, being a Grey Warden? Could they still be friends?
Re: Fancy Seeing You Here [Closed] « Reply #17 on Jan 8, 2012, 12:46am »
Aled blinked when she spoke of privilege. ”You’re not dead and you’re not in the tower, something must have gone right,” he muttered, sounding increasingly annoyed. When she handed the amulet to him, it only seemed to make things worse. Aled ducked his head again, flushing uncomfortably, before snatching it from her hand. ”Scrap metal is what it is.”
Vaia picked up on that much, though it was surprising enough that she couldn't filter her reaction very well. Her brows drew together slightly, expression concerned and puzzled and a little hurt - was he offended at something she'd said, now? She'd received few actual gifts over her life, and assumed she was supposed to return it.
Outside of other apostates, social interaction was something Vaia observed, but rarely participated in. She never had a chance to be a 'normal' (whatever that meant) Fereldan, having been abruptly transplanted from the Chasind to a life as a fugitive mage. The latter brought with it a certain culture of barter - the use of coin was spotty at best, but nearly every mage had a useful talent, if only by virtue of their magic. Trading favours back and forth was a given.
The amulet had served a purpose (if only symbolically - but it was no less important for it), and it was dear to him, wasn't it? Wouldn't he be better served with it, now that she didn't have execution or the Rite hanging over her head? A matter of practicality, really, and she wasn't about to leave a debt unpaid. He needed it, it was his. Simple.
Vaia didn't really know what to do to mend the situation, here. Nor did she see anything she'd done as the least bit wrong, so she wasn't about to apologize.
So, Vaia said nothing, though a slight frown pulled at the corners of her mouth as she dug in. She asked whether the templars had been a problem, as a change of subject. She found that easier to deal with - it was certainly more familiar.
"Some," Fiagaí said. "One recognized me when we arrived last month." Cullen? As the hunter continued, though, it became clear this was not the case. "It was for someone I'd help free before... the Wilds, so Aled was safe, but I knew I had to clear out. Signed up with an expedition to the Deep Roads. Figured it was safer to travel with company in case they were hunting me. It... didn't go as planned. Kai... I can't do any more work for the Collective. Something... happened during the trip. I'm a Grey Warden now."
It must have been a big something, but Vaia wasn't about to press the subject, at least not in front of Kai. It was Fiagaí's business, and he should share it only as he saw fit.
Still, she couldn't help but wonder if her own near-miss resisting possession had something to do with it, though. It could be the cause of Fiagaí's hesitation on explaining. Doubtless, seeing a mage turned against him was a sobering thing, one that would be reason enough to turn from the Collective - who Vaia used to trace his location, no less - and seek a new line of work.
Kai was the first to offer any response. He looked up from his meal to grunt and nod at Fiagaí, and that was about it. It looked like it was news to Aled, too, though in his surprise he didn't offer any immediate comment.
"The Order is supposedly neutral," Fiagaí added. "I suspect there's wiggle room, but the fact remains: I can't be sneaking apostates out of the country anymore."
”Maker’s cock, Will! How did you end up in the Grey Wardens? I thought they’d all gone after the Blight?” Aled grinned. ”So, now you’re a warden, you’ve got to behave, eh? No more thumbing your nose at the templars? How about consorting with petty criminals? Mind, the way I heard it, half of the Grey Wardens were criminals and not just petty ones, neither. They use that whatchamacallit…Right of Conniption." Aled waggled his eyebrows at William.
"They recruited a Collective member." New like that tended to travel, though she knew few details of fellow. "Might still be one."
"Name's Anders," Kai rumbled. "Healer. Only apostate there. Couple other Circle mages." Vaia was unsurprised. It wasn't as if the Wardens actively recruited illegal mages; announcing one's status as an apostate to the Warden-Commander seemed like a good way to get arrested if it didn't work out. "Still helps out sometimes. He's in town."
Interesting. On one hand, having a thread to connect her to a skilled healer could be of great value to the lyrium problem. On the other, that assumed Anders - and Fiagaí - were amenable to the idea. For all she knew, they might hate templars blindly enough to object even on compassionate grounds, or be invested in black market lyrium.
Kai got to his feet to leave the table, having finished his meal rather quickly. He gestured to indicate Fiagaí. "Need to make arrangements, with you out of the picture, William." He'd either not caught what Vaia called the hunter earlier, or simply paid it no mind - false names were hardly an uncommon thing in the Collective.
Kai tapped the kettle before leaving. "Help yourself."
Vaia couldn't tell if Kai merely had fortuitous timing, or if the big man picked up on the awkward undercurrent of 'we-need-to-talk-but-more-privately-than-this' filling each overlong pause. Either way, she was grateful for it, and silently counted off the creaks in the floorboards until Kai's long, heavy stride was out of earshot.
"You saw Galb--" Shit, no. Too familiar-sounding - and she'd relinquished all of it by leaving him behind. "-- Devlin," Vaia amended. She looked at Aled with searching grey eyes. "Is..." The questions raced through her mind once more, impatiently jostling for a place on her tongue. Is he in Highever? How much did he tell you? No, it was best if she didn't ask those ones, best if she didn't know - she might give in and go to him. "...he well?"
Joined: May 2011 Gender: Male Posts: 864 Karma: 19
Re: Fancy Seeing You Here [Closed] « Reply #18 on Jan 8, 2012, 2:37pm »
”Maker’s cock, Will! How did you end up in the Grey Wardens? I thought they’d all gone after the Blight?” Aled grinned. ”So, now you’re a warden, you’ve got to behave, eh? No more thumbing your nose at the templars? How about consorting with petty criminals? Mind, the way I heard it, half of the Grey Wardens were criminals and not just petty ones, neither. They use that whatchamacallit…Right of Conniption."
"Conscription," Fiagaí corrected wearily. "I don't know about half, but given I'm wanted by the Chantry, that's one more to the tally."
Vaia cut in with something interesting. "They recruited a Collective member. Might still be one."
"Name's Anders," Kai added. "Healer. Only apostate there. Couple other Circle mages. Still helps out sometimes. He's in town."
Now that was interesting. Just how far could this Warden apostate take his help? "When I meet him, I'll have to speak to him about it. I still want to help any way I can, Kai."
Of course, there was no way he could continue to be as closely involved as he had been. They both knew it, and the Collective representative stated as much a moment after. "Need to make arrangements, with you out of the picture, William." After telling them to help themselves to more of the stew, he left the room.
Vaia had been waiting for more privacy, the same as he. "You saw Galb--"
First-name terms? He lifted an eyebrow as she corrected to the name they knew the ex-templar by.
"-- Devlin," She looked at Aled. "Is... he well?"
"I can't believe he's off the lyrium," Fiagaí added quietly. "Off it and not mad, you say. Vaia... this is big. The Chantry doesn't want anyone to know how they keep the templars leashed, or for the templars to know there's a way out."
He glanced out the door. "A fair few of the Collective wouldn't want that coming out either. Black market, bribes, all compromised. What are we going to do about it?"
He tried to put a subtle stress on the 'we'. Warden he might be, but he would not abandon her or the mages.
Fiagaí =Orange ~Thanks to Vaia for the avatar... Aerion for the sig!
nithu Guest
Re: Fancy Seeing You Here [Closed] « Reply #19 on Jan 8, 2012, 3:33pm »
Aled’s joke fell as flat as a pancake. He listened with half an ear as William, Vaia and Kai talked about mages and something called the ‘Collective’. It sounded like something to do with apostates, but Aled didn’t dare ask; he seemed to put his foot in it every time he opened his mouth. Instead, he fiddled with his spoon pondering is it would seem rude if he made his excuses and left.
The evening wasn’t turning out as he’d hoped. The unadulterated pleasure he’d felt on seeing William had faded. He’d kicked his heels in Highever for almost two months waiting for Will to return, just on the off chance he would return, only now he had, well, he was a Grey Warden. That meant killing darkspawn, not hanging around with thieves.
As for Vaia, he knew as little about mages as he did Grey Wardens. She baffled him. He was glad she’d survived being taken into custody by Cullen, but …
"-- Devlin. Is... he well?" Aled dropped his spoon into the empty dish and looked up. Vaia was looking at him intently. "I can't believe he's off the lyrium," said William, before Aled had a chance to reply. "Off it and not mad, you say. Vaia... this is big. The Chantry doesn't want anyone to know how they keep the templars leashed, or for the templars to know there's a way out." Will glanced at the door. "A fair few of the Collective wouldn't want that coming out either. Black market, bribes, all compromised. What are we going to do about it?"
Aled frowned at William. Why would we do anything about it? He looked back at Vaia, who was still waiting for an answer. ”He was well enough when I saw him, about a fortnight ago. He’s…um…” Aled stopped. Telling her that he’d slashed Dev’s face then spent the night with him might be a very bad idea, depending on how Vaia felt about Dev. The last thing Aled wanted was to piss off a mage, especially one that he’d already managed to piss off, although he still was at a loss to explain how. ”He said he was going to be looking for field work. He was talking about seeing a bloke called…Inkerman? No! Ackerman, that was the name. I dunno if he did, I an’t seen him since I took him to Jared’s place. He got all pissy at me cos I half-inched some pastries on the way.“ Aled shrugged, hoping that Vaia would take what he said at face value. He glanced at William, willing him not to say anything about the fight he’d had with Devlin.
Re: Fancy Seeing You Here [Closed] « Reply #20 on Jan 8, 2012, 7:35pm »
"I can't believe he's off the lyrium. Off it and not mad, you say. Vaia... this is big. The Chantry doesn't want anyone to know how they keep the templars leashed, or for the templars to know there's a way out." Fiagaí glanced at the door before continuing. "A fair few of the Collective wouldn't want that coming out either. Black market, bribes, all compromised. What are we going to do about it?"
Vaia was encouraged by his use of 'we' - he understood the implications, and he wanted to help. "Been working on something," she said with a nod. She wanted to know about Devlin first, though, and so threw Aled another querying look.
”He was well enough when I saw him, about a fortnight ago. He’s…um… he said he was going to be looking for field work."
Relief flooded her. She nodded, and let out a breath she'd not noticed she'd been holding. Honest work - honest, safe work. It was the best she could have hoped for, really. He would have a chance for a normal, peaceful life; something she'd never had, but she wouldn't take that from him.
"He was talking about seeing a bloke called…Inkerman? No! Ackerman, that was the name. I dunno if he did, I an’t seen him since I took him to Jared’s place. He got all pissy at me cos I half-inched some pastries on the way.“
Aled shrugged. Well, whatever tiff they had was no concern of hers, really. Vaia didn't say anything for a moment. She wanted so badly to ask where, wondering if she should go check on him herself. Deep down, though, she knew it would just be an excuse to see him, and even a brief encounter might be enough to cause trouble for him.
"If... either of you see him...," Vaia said finally, "best he doesn't know I'm here." She was quiet and subdued, her pensive gaze cast down at the tabletop. After a pause to gather her thoughts, she looked up again.
"You know I looked after him during withdrawal?" She glanced between the two men, trying to determine how many details had been shared already. "It's... agonizing, and incapacitating. For a month. Even watching hurt." Her faced was lined with remembered pain for a moment, and she shut her eyes and rubbed her temple. "Devlin nearly died." By his own hand, no less. She still felt some lingering guilt over not being able to stop him - there must have been something she might have done. And just how much of Devlin's trouble speaking when stressed was the lyrium? Had the head injury made it worse? Caused it on its own? "No real way to prepare. Little but hearsay to go on."
"I will change that." Her voice had gone firm, purposeful - a promise, not a wish. "Took notes. Lots of them. Going to print them, get them in to as many hands as possible. All of Ferelden will know the truth."
"Chantry keeps templars on it, but they don't need it to smite. He did one - two weeks in. Helps, I think, but it's... indefensible. Kept there by threat of agony and death, and for what? To steal freedom from even more people."
She took a breath, trying to calm her flaring temper and loosen her clenching hands. Fade, but all of it was just so horrifying, so wrong on a massive scale. "I can mend a broken bone and make poultices, but that's as far as it goes. Better healers could devise a way to make the withdrawal less deadly - and who knows how many might desert the Order, given the chance? How many recruits would turn away, knowing what awaited? What would people think of the Chantry if they knew how it treated its soldiers?"
"You're right, though, Fiagaí," she said, losing some of her steam. "Even the Mages' Collective has people invested in the status quo." Vaia folded her hands on tabletop, frowning as she looked down at them. "They won't be happy with me. Finding a printer who'd risk it was hard enough - and she wants to be paid in lyrium, of all things."
Joined: May 2011 Gender: Male Posts: 864 Karma: 19
Re: Fancy Seeing You Here [Closed] « Reply #21 on Jan 8, 2012, 8:52pm »
"Been working on something,"
Now that was interesting. Fiagaí waited for her to go on, but she looked to Aled. Devlin's fate seemed very unimportant compared to what he represented, but he looked to see what his friend would say, too.
”He was well enough when I saw him, about a fortnight ago. He’s…um… he said he was going to be looking for field work."
Field work? Obviously the ex-templar had no desire to do anything about his extraordinary break of his addiction, not even to tell any friends he'd had in the Order. Selfish bastard--nothing had changed there.
"He was talking about seeing a bloke called…Inkerman? No! Ackerman, that was the name. I dunno if he did, I an’t seen him since I took him to Jared’s place. He got all pissy at me cos I half-inched some pastries on the way.“
"He would." There were more things he could call Devlin, but he let it go. A silence followed Aled's news, until Vaia finally spoke up.
"If... either of you see him... best he doesn't know I'm here."
There was a question to be asked: why? Why had she left him, and what had happened? Fiagaí did not ask, though. The mage was more talkative than he'd ever seen her, and he let her speak.
"You know I looked after him during withdrawal?" He did. "It's... agonizing, and incapacitating. For a month. Even watching hurt. Devlin nearly died."
Good riddance, if he had. No -- that wasn't fair. Despite his flaws and stupidity, the man had saved Vaia.
"No real way to prepare. Little but hearsay to go on. I will change that." She sounded like she meant it. "Took notes. Lots of them. Going to print them, get them in to as many hands as possible. All of Ferelden will know the truth."
It was a tall order for one lone apostate. She knew it, too.
"Chantry keeps templars on it, but they don't need it to smite. He did one - two weeks in. Helps, I think, but it's... indefensible. Kept there by threat of agony and death, and for what? To steal freedom from even more people... I can mend a broken bone and make poultices, but that's as far as it goes. Better healers could devise a way to make the withdrawal less deadly - and who knows how many might desert the Order, given the chance? How many recruits would turn away, knowing what awaited? What would people think of the Chantry if they knew how it treated its soldiers?"
How many indeed? But the Chantry would not allow their most closely guarded secret to come out -- not if there was anything they could do to stop it.
"You're right, though, Fiagaí. Even the Mages' Collective has people invested in the status quo." He nodded in agreement, and she frowned. "They won't be happy with me. Finding a printer who'd risk it was hard enough - and she wants to be paid in lyrium, of all things."
"Lyrium? Where in Thedas will you get that without attacking templars? ... and if you attack templars, you won't have time to sit around and wait for your notes to be printed." Fiagaí frowned. "Of all the times for the Wardens to take me! I can't exactly go around knocking them off either. It's a noble cause, and I support you completely, but..."
He trailed off. What was there to actually be done?
Fiagaí =Orange ~Thanks to Vaia for the avatar... Aerion for the sig!
nithu Guest
Re: Fancy Seeing You Here [Closed] « Reply #22 on Jan 8, 2012, 9:59pm »
”He would.” Aled supposed William was right. He’d known Dev wouldn’t like him nicking the pastries, but had done it anyway, then felt disappointed to be proved right.
There was an uncomfortable lull in the conversation until Vaia spoke up. "If... either of you see him... best he doesn't know I'm here." Aled wondered if that meant Vaia did return Dev’s feelings and was finding it just as hard, or whether she couldn’t stand the sight of him. He’d rather be struck down dead than ask. In fact, he rather suspected that he’d be struck down dead if he did ask. He looked at Will and saw the questions in his eyes, but he, too, held his tongue. That settled it; if Will didn’t dare ask, there was no way Aled was going to.
"You know I looked after him during withdrawal?" Aled nodded. "It's... agonizing, and incapacitating. For a month. Even watching hurt. Devlin nearly died. No real way to prepare. Little but hearsay to go on." Vaia was visibly distressed, which surprised Aled. He understood from Dev that the withdrawal had been difficult; he hadn’t realised how much of a toll it taken on Vaia. Had it been hard for her to watch because she cared for Dev?
Shit! If she finds out I cut him, I’ll be lucky if she just sets me on fire! If she finds out we fucked, Maker knows what she’ll do!
"I will change that." Vaia sounded so fierce, Aled believed she could do anything she set her mind to. He swallowed nervously. "Took notes. Lots of them. Going to print them, get them in to as many hands as possible. All of Ferelden will know the truth. Chantry keeps templars on it, but they don't need it to smite. He did one - two weeks in. Helps, I think, but it's... indefensible. Kept there by threat of agony and death, and for what? To steal freedom from even more people... I can mend a broken bone and make poultices, but that's as far as it goes. Better healers could devise a way to make the withdrawal less deadly - and who knows how many might desert the Order, given the chance? How many recruits would turn away, knowing what awaited? What would people think of the Chantry if they knew how it treated its soldiers?”
Aled stared at her. If the chantry got wind of what she wanted to do…it didn’t bear thinking about. On the other hand, he couldn’t disagree with her. He’d despised templars for enslaving themselves to lyrium, only to find they were tricked into it. Most people didn’t even know that templars were took lyrium, were addicted to it. It made you wonder what else people didn’t know.
”You're right, though, Fiagaí. Even the Mages' Collective has people invested in the status quo." Aled saw Will nod in agreement "They won't be happy with me. Finding a printer who'd risk it was hard enough - and she wants to be paid in lyrium, of all things."
Aled almost burst out laughing. Lyrium! "Lyrium? Where in Thedas will you get that without attacking templars? ... and if you attack templars, you won't have time to sit around and wait for your notes to be printed. Of all the times for the Wardens to take me! I can't exactly go around knocking them off either. It's a noble cause, and I support you completely, but..."
Aled snorted. “Attack templars? Why would you need to do that? There’s more lyrium than you shake a stick at in the basement of the chantry.” Aled grinned at them, so full of glee, he couldn’t sit still. ”It just so happens that I’ve been casing the place for the last two months. They’re complacent and lazy. They don’t expect anyone to pinch something that they think folk don’t even know about. How much lyrium do you need, Vaia?”
Aled sat back in his chair, feeling a little smug. Somehow he’d managed to offend her and she’d returned his gift. Maybe this would make up for it; maybe should would accept lyrium where she wouldn’t accept his amulet? Maybe she wouldn’t maim him if she found out about what he’d done to Dev, with Dev.
Re: Fancy Seeing You Here [Closed] « Reply #23 on Jan 9, 2012, 1:04am »
"Lyrium? Where in Thedas will you get that without attacking templars? ... and if you attack templars, you won't have time to sit around and wait for your notes to be printed," Fiagaí said, frowning.
"From smugglers, if I have to." The question was which ones would be amenable to her plan... and whether she should deal at all with the ones who weren't.
Aled, on the other hand, looked rather amused. Vaia didn't really see much that was humorous at that moment, and shot him a somewhat unimpressed look.
"Of all the times for the Wardens to take me!," Fiagaí exclaimed. "I can't exactly go around knocking them off either. It's a noble cause, and I support you completely, but..." He trailed off.
"I know," Vaia murmured. "Thank you." She meant it. At best, he was a stranger. At worst, he was still the man who'd slain her brother, even if it was only in self-defense. Sixteen years had made him a very different creature than she remembered. Still, it buoyed her spirits to know that she had an ally in this albeit one who could offer no practical help.
This, from Fiagaí, even though she'd come so precariously close to killing him back in the Wilds.
Aled snorted. “Attack templars? Why would you need to do that? There’s more lyrium than you shake a stick at in the basement of the chantry.” He grinned, looking downright gleeful. ”It just so happens that I’ve been casing the place for the last two months. They’re complacent and lazy. They don’t expect anyone to pinch something that they think folk don’t even know about."
The mage looked at Aled for a moment, gears turning. On one hand, it might get her or Aled caught. On the other, it might take her a very, very long time to acquire the lyrium she needed otherwise - and the longer she waited, the more likely she was to hit a snag or see someone get wise to her plan.
"How much lyrium do you need, Vaia?” Aled leaned back in his chair, looking entirely too pleased with himself.
"Enough to kick in a stained-glass window," Vaia said finally, bone-dry. She arched a brow, wondering just what the catch was. "What would you have of me?"
Joined: May 2011 Gender: Male Posts: 864 Karma: 19
Re: Fancy Seeing You Here [Closed] « Reply #24 on Jan 9, 2012, 11:28am »
"From smugglers, if I have to."
Fiagaí frowned again; that wasn't the best idea. The smugglers wouldn't care about some crusade. They'd turn her in if caught in an attempt to save their own skins. Besides, there was no guarantee that they wouldn't "water down" their stock by mixing lyrium with something else.
It was entirely too risky. But then... it might be the only choice.
He expressed his frustration with his own situation. To his surprise, Vaia thanked him for the sentiment. To his further surprise, Aled was the one among them who actually had the best idea.
“Attack templars? Why would you need to do that? There’s more lyrium than you shake a stick at in the basement of the chantry.”
The man grinned. Fiagaí furrowed his brow. Surely it wouldn't be possible to rob lyrium from the Chantry itself! The thief continued, though, seeming confident in his ability to do just that.
”It just so happens that I’ve been casing the place for the last two months. They’re complacent and lazy. They don’t expect anyone to pinch something that they think folk don’t even know about."
"That... makes some sense," he admitted. The way the Chantry used lyrium was its most closely guarded secret. Who would know enough about it to want to steal it, besides ex-templars and mages? Neither of whom would exactly have an easy time getting near the place it was stored.
"How much lyrium do you need, Vaia?”
"Enough to kick in a stained-glass window," Was she actually joking? That was a good sign. "What would you have of me?"
It pained him, but Fiagaí knew what was required of him, too. "A... brilliant idea, Aled. And worth doing for the sake of Vaia's cause. But I can't be involved. I'm no longer my own master, and I don't even know how long I'll be in Highever."
Fiagaí =Orange ~Thanks to Vaia for the avatar... Aerion for the sig!
nithu Guest
Re: Fancy Seeing You Here [Closed] « Reply #25 on Jan 9, 2012, 3:42pm »
"Enough to kick in a stained-glass window," said Vaia. Aled frowned. Was that a joke? Did it mean he was forgiven? Vaia gave him an arch look. "What would you have of me?" Maybe not. Before he could reply, William cut in.
"A... brilliant idea, Aled. And worth doing for the sake of Vaia's cause. But I can't be involved. I'm no longer my own master, and I don't even know how long I'll be in Highever."
”I don’t want owt. I’ve had it mind to do this for a bit.”Aled glanced at Vaia, then William, and found himself explaining. ”You remember when we went to Jared’s? I asked how much lyrium he had and he thought we was on the rob? I was thinking back then, that if he and the lass ran, we’d need more and the obvious place to get some was a chantry. As it turned out we didn’t take ‘em anywhere but when you left, Will, I started checking out the chantry. I’d thought to maybe nick it on my own account; make my fortune.” Aled smiled ruefully; the idea seemed absurd now.
”Anyhow, once Dev told me about how he came off the stuff, about how they’re lied to and tricked into taking it, well, it didn’t seem right to be taking it and unloading it to lyrium smugglers. They’re vultures who take advantage of them as can’t come off it”—Aled glanced at Vaia—”or don’t even realise that they can.
Aled shrugged. ”By the time I’d had second thoughts about it, I’d been sneaking about the private sections of the chantry for weeks. I know all the patrols, when they change, what the patterns are. I’ve been going back regular, more to keep my hand in than anything else.
Aled leaned forward, his mind racing with possibilities, weighing up options. ”Will, I work better on me own and don’t want to have to worry about looking after amateurs, so don’t go getting your drawers in a bunch. If I do this, I do it me own. The only question is when. Sooner rather than later is best, I reckon. The Teyrn’s getting wed in a few days and while that means that everyone will be turning their eyes on him and his new misssus, I don’t know if it means that the patrols will be different that day. If people are out partying it might mean that there are more templars lurking about the chantry with nothing to do except notice me sneaking about. That leaves tomorrow or the day after. The day after that is the day of the wedding. What do you think?” Aled sat back in his chair waiting for their reaction.
Re: Fancy Seeing You Here [Closed] « Reply #26 on Jan 9, 2012, 8:21pm »
"A... brilliant idea, Aled. And worth doing for the sake of Vaia's cause. But I can't be involved. I'm no longer my own master, and I don't even know how long I'll be in Highever."
”I don’t want owt. I’ve had it mind to do this for a bit. You remember when we went to Jared’s?"
Jared? So... he was still in Highever, too, then?
Vaia felt her chest tighten, and dropped her gaze to the tabletop as she tried to swallow the knot in her throat. Devlin had said he didn't love Jared any more, but... that might have changed. Perhaps he'd gone back to Jared, and stayed in Highever for him. Perhaps he'd mistaken gratitude for love, or thought he owed it to her, or was simply fickle in his affections.
It was completely unreasonable for her to feel that way, she knew. She didn't own him. She'd been the one to push Devlin away, to reject him when he'd confessed to her in a letter - the one she knew she shouldn't keep, but couldn't bring herself to discard. It would be best if he'd found someone else, wouldn't it? Then he'd have no reason to pursue her if they crossed paths in the future.
Knowing that didn't do much to help feeling like the bottom of her stomach had fallen out, though. Vaia forced her jaw to unclench, and tried to focus on what mattered right now: the lyrium. The cause was bigger than any foolish longings she might nurse. Besides, what could an apostate know of relationships? What future could there possibly be with a fugitive - one intent on publishing seditious libel, at that?
Aled explained how the idea had come to him, and that he'd planned most of the job, but was bogged down by second thoughts. He'd not been too keen on the idea of working with lyrium smugglers, either. ”I’ve been going back regular, more to keep my hand in than anything else," he said, leaning forward. ”Will, I work better on me own and don’t want to have to worry about looking after amateurs, so don’t go getting your drawers in a bunch. If I do this, I do it me own."
"The only question is when. Sooner rather than later is best, I reckon. The Teyrn’s getting wed in a few days and while that means that everyone will be turning their eyes on him and his new misssus, I don’t know if it means that the patrols will be different that day. If people are out partying it might mean that there are more templars lurking about the chantry with nothing to do except notice me sneaking about."
Vaia nodded. That made sense.
"That leaves tomorrow or the day after. The day after that is the day of the wedding." Aled sat back in his chair, soliciting input with a look. "What do you think?”
"No point in delaying if you're ready," said Vaia evenly. "There anything I could help with?" Aled simply giving her the lyrium and getting nothing in return didn't sit well with her, especially since he was the one taking the actual risk, there.
Joined: May 2011 Gender: Male Posts: 864 Karma: 19
Re: Fancy Seeing You Here [Closed] « Reply #27 on Jan 9, 2012, 10:54pm »
Aled hadn't just thrown this Chantry thing out there on a whim. As Fiagaí listened, the thief explained how the idea had come to him right after they'd seen Jared. The value of the lyrium on the black market had appealed to him first -- an entirely reasonable mindest. But in light of everything that had happened, he seemed to have nobler goals for it all now.
”Will, I work better on me own and don’t want to have to worry about looking after amateurs, so don’t go getting your drawers in a bunch. If I do this, I do it me own."
It would have been insulting, it it wasn't true. Fiagaí might have been an expert in the wilds, but sneaking around was hardly his area of expertise. "If you're sure you can pull it off."
Aled had thought about the timing, too. "The only question is when. Sooner rather than later is best, I reckon. The Teyrn’s getting wed in a few days and while that means that everyone will be turning their eyes on him and his new misssus, I don’t know if it means that the patrols will be different that day. If people are out partying it might mean that there are more templars lurking about the chantry with nothing to do except notice me sneaking about."
It made sense. There were already rumblings about the wedding; who could say if anything would be normal on that day?
"That leaves tomorrow or the day after. The day after that is the day of the wedding. What do you think?”
"No point in delaying if you're ready," said Vaia "There anything I could help with?"
"Just be careful," Fiagaí added. "If they catch you, they'll treat you the same as an apostate. Or someone like me. If not worse." Aled would be imprisoned at best. At worst -- well, they wouldn't want word about the lyrium to get out, would they?
Fiagaí =Orange ~Thanks to Vaia for the avatar... Aerion for the sig!
nithu Guest
Re: Fancy Seeing You Here [Closed] « Reply #28 on Jan 10, 2012, 3:03pm »
Vaia and William didn’t shoot the idea down in flames, which was a relief.
"No point in delaying if you're ready. There anything I could help with?"
Aled shook his head. ”There’s a couple of things I need to prepare, but it will keep my hands busy. To be honest, I think the less you have to do with it, the better. If the templars get so much of a sniff of you, the whole thing will go to the Black City.”
"Just be careful," Fiagaí said. "If they catch you, they'll treat you the same as an apostate. Or someone like me. If not worse."
Aled refused to think about the consequences if he got caught. He’d accepted them a long time ago when he’s started doing this kind of work. Dwelling on them didn’t help; he’d never do anything if thought on them for too long.
”They won’t catch me,” Aled assured him, then realised that could sound cocky. ”Look, I know I’m about as much use as a chocolate teapot somewhere like the Wilds and I probably couldn’t hold down an honest job if I tried, but this, this is what I do and I do it well. Nicking pastries, laundry and burgling the odd house, that’s what I do to keep my hand in…like exercises; it’s child’s play. They won’t even know I’ve been there and hopefully won’t notice that their lyrium’s missing for several days at least. It’ll give us a little breathing space. The stuff can be gone before they even realise it’s been taken.”
He looked back to Vaia. ”If it’s all right with you, I’ll get the lyrium tomorrow evening, during the evening service. I’ll probably wander around for a bit, to make sure no-one’s clocked me. Shall I bring it here or do you want to meet somewhere else?”
Re: Fancy Seeing You Here [Closed] « Reply #29 on Jan 10, 2012, 6:38pm »
When Vaia asked if there was anything she could do to help, Aled shook his head.
”There’s a couple of things I need to prepare, but it will keep my hands busy. To be honest, I think the less you have to do with it, the better. If the templars get so much of a sniff of you, the whole thing will go to the Black City.”
Her pride bristled a little at that, reactionary and unthinking, but she quickly pushed it aside. Aled was right, and he didn't mean it in a cruel way, only a practical one - and he was doing this to help her. The least she could do was stay out of it. Doing felt much better than waiting, but surely a few days of the latter was better than months of the former.
"Just be careful," Fiagaí said. "If they catch you, they'll treat you the same as an apostate. Or someone like me. If not worse."
”They won’t catch me. Look, I know I’m about as much use as a chocolate teapot somewhere like the Wilds and I probably couldn’t hold down an honest job if I tried, but this, this is what I do and I do it well. Nicking pastries, laundry and burgling the odd house, that’s what I do to keep my hand in…like exercises; it’s child’s play. They won’t even know I’ve been there and hopefully won’t notice that their lyrium’s missing for several days at least. It’ll give us a little breathing space. The stuff can be gone before they even realise it’s been taken.”
He turned back to Vaia.
”If it’s all right with you, I’ll get the lyrium tomorrow evening, during the evening service. I’ll probably wander around for a bit, to make sure no-one’s clocked me. Shall I bring it here or do you want to meet somewhere else?”
"I'll be here," Vaia confirmed with a nod. She hesitated briefly before going on. "Thank you, for this. Truly."
She hadn't expected this boon - she'd not really expected to encounter Fiagaí, let alone Aled, ever again. But here he was, planning to bring her something that would bring her that much closer to her goal. Vaia held no illusions that distributing the tract would fix everything; it would only disseminate information, and it was not words but actions that would create the change the world needed. Indeed, it would create a host of other problems - the least of which was her own safety should someone figure out she was the author - but she had accepted that risk, and was prepared to endure whatever came of it.
Fixing everything had to start somewhere, though. "I'm in your debt."
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