The First Blight: Curse of Dumat [RP/Closed]

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin was not thrilled to have to spend time with Diocles, but the thought of having more time with the griffins was very exciting. Perhaps he could train one to bite at Diocles whenever he walked by...

"I must admit, they are wondrous creatures. I am thankful to Nadja for the chance to practice more."

 

[FortyThree]

"Senior Warden von Brandt. Or just Warden von Brandt. I mean, I don't care, but around the other Wardens. She's quite a woman, isn't she? I'm anxious to see how she handles that polearm."

He really wasn't making a joke, here. Atleast not outloud. Diocles wasn't trying to piss off his elven companion, he had quite enough of the misanthrope's ire.

 

[Cinnonym]

Nadja brought the griffons down one by one into the courtyard. Around them, Wardens on patrol or practicing took pause to watch the creatures descend, and rest ruffling their feathers in the sunlight while their stablemaster readied them for a lesson. Honestly, it was sure to end up very amusing to onlookers to see these great beasts lumbering around on all fours.

"Ulrin." She smiled when she dismounted, crossing the beaten down grass to the two of them. "You were amazing up there, very much so. Your every movement was perfect, very intuitive. Perhaps it is this elven lineage of yours, that attunes you to animals. I feel you will do very well as a mounted officer." Nadja turned her head to eye Diocles, amused, "...You, however, didn't do so good. But I am giving you a second chance, anyway. Go on, you may choose your mount and get accustomed to the position."

 

[ShadowFolk]

"I think I can manage to do that." Sulahn'nehn was thankful that was all that was required of her. She looked Fidelity over; at least she would not have to be on the tower alone with him...'it', whichever it was.

After making her way up the tower, she gave a quick look over the side. The height was not so bad when it wasn't in motion. The task of becoming acclimated gave her some 'spare' time. She sat down, back against the wall, closed her eyes and became lost in thought.

 

[Slycne]

Jarrik frowned disappointingly at not being included, but their urgency to reinforce Antiva gave little time for him to attempt to make up for his lack of dexterity compared to the more lithe pair. He mingled in the tower, approaching the griffins more daringly and trying to grow more accustomed to the altitude as instructed, seeing if sea shanties improved their temperament enough to let him make closer inspection despite being a new face and smell. Either griffins didn't care for singing or his cooing was off pitch.

Given the more secluded setting, he approached Sulahn'nehn. "Were you still needin' that letter read?"

 

[FortyThree]

Diocles shrugged almost dramatically, his hands going out to the side, palms up. Clearly, he was aware there were eyes on him.

"You shouldn't show such obvious favoritism for me, madam. It's not only unprofessional, it's getting trite."

Grinning, he took stock of the griffons. He decided on the slightly smaller one as its beak reminded him of the Komnenos crest raven. He approached it cockily, but mounted with care and a light touch.

 

[ShadowFolk]

So much to think about and not nearly enough time to get through it all. Detaching was far more difficult than she thought. Troublesome emotions. Sulahn'nehn continued to try easing her mind on her own until Jarrik spoke up. For a moment, she was confused, but it dawned on her that she'd asked for help.

"Oh! No," she shook her head slowly. "It was dealt with, but I thank you for helping nevertheless. I just hope it was not an embarrassing read."

After a pause she added, "How much of it did you read? I only wonder... well, you're a man. I wanted to know if- hmm, I suppose it does not matter. Probably best not to trouble myself."

 

[Slycne]

"Aye, 'nough to get the general idea." Jarrik nodded as if it was grim news indeed.

He mulled over how to respond further, resting his back against a merlon that dotted the tower's battlements. "It does not however take a wizened old Rivaini crone to read the lines of how the attitude has changed between you two." The line was punctuated with a soft chuckle to lower the tension.

"But if questions would ease your mind, I'm free for the asking lass."

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin glanced at Diocles out the corner of his eye as he spoke. Perhaps the new Senior Warden was giving him sound advice on correcting him about the woman's name. Or perhaps he was just being his usual bastard self. None the less when she arrived and spoke to the elf, he did his best to be polite and respect of her command.

Because the woman was kind, so far, and deserved it. "Thank you, Ma'am. I hope that my performance was not just sheer luck. He looked over the larger griffin, trying not to smile. He was actually nervous to mount the creature again, but not from illness this time. He slowly approached the beast, taking his time not to startle it, wanting it to be familiar with him before he mounted up.

Sitting atop the creature again was a bit of a rush on its own. Even though they were on the ground, it was a nice change of perspective to look down upon those watching them.

"May I ask, Warden von Brandt, what made you take a liking to these creatures?"

 

[duckflesh]

Delphina, walking her griffon around the the courtyard by its reins, eyed the others with amusement. She settled down on the grass to watch, her griffon busily eating a dead rabbit out of her hands.

 

[ShadowFolk]

Sulahn'nehn nearly smiled. He was far from 'old' and 'crone', but perhaps that was a joke. She considered asking again, she could easily bail out of it, but he had already glanced over the letter and had been aware of the relationship. What could it hurt?

"I cannot tell if he is sincere. I have my doubts. I do not know exactly what I mean to ask, but I feel that I should not let anything he said carry weight. Aside from commands, of course... It is in my best interest, isn't it?"

 

[Cinnonym]

"What's not to like about soaring through the air? Well, to anyone besides those few still sitting in the roosts. Poor souls." Nadja helped Ulrin adjust his stance, giving the back of his knee a playful slap if he straightened his leg too much. "What made me? These lovely creatures are in my blood. T'was the Anders who found peace with them, you know. ...And the Anders who brought them to the Grey Wardens. So I suppose you could call it destiny."

She made a face at Ulrin's mount, to which the griffon ruffled the feathers of his head out to a fluffy mass of alarm. With a chuckle, she smoothed them back out with her hands affectionately.

"It doesn't hurt that they're so damned cute. Back straight, there, Ulrin. Have you ridden a horse before? You're using the reins to guide his movement, and using your suspension to remain upright even during sharp banks and descents. Go on, give it a go. Take him around the yard."

Once the elf had gotten moving, Nadja came to the side of Diocles' mount, shading her eyes with a hand to look up at him, "And how are you doing aboard Ser Flufferkins?"

 

[FortyThree]

"Oh my sweet, treacherous Gods. That's not his name."

Diocles' face was a mix of scandal and delight. He was absolutely enamored with not only these creatures, but also whoever named all of them. For its part, the griffon seemed to tolerate his affectionate strokes along its neck with an almost royal dignity, as if it expected to be fawned over this way as a matter of course.

"That's adorable. I'm never leaving him. Her? Which is it? I don't know how to sex a griffon."

 

[Cinnonym]

"Ser Flufferkins is a male griffon, but--very progressive of you to ask despite his knighthood." She smirked, amused, "Go on, we don't have but the daylight. Let's see how well you steer a griffon, before we take you in the air."

Nadja stood aside, lingering beside her own mount and talking congenially with Delphina while the two rogues practiced riding. Hours later, they were made to try the same maneuvers in the air, at low altitudes and with her guidance, being taught by her own instructive shouting how to coax the griffon to rise, to dive. Cues derived from the reins and from the knees and heels. She kept them at it well into the night hours... It could mean their lives, after all.

"Although, try not to be fearful," she reassured them as they were returning the griffons to their stalls at the end of the night, "if you fall, I'll catch you."

 

[FortyThree]

"I've always treated both genders much the same.."

Diocles was tired by the end, but in a cheerful mood. He had bonded well with the beast, and was on his way to true proficiency. Flying was almost as much fun as sex. And at this point in his life, quite likely less dangerous. He smiled the others as they returned to the roost, nodding to Nadja.

"We appreciate it, Miss von Brandt. Though I doubt Ser Flufferkins will let me down, that big sweetheart."

 

[Slycne]

Jarrik scratched at a bit of stubble on his chin as he mulled over a response.

"Hmmm... I reckon the lad is seeking a return to normalcy, whether that's to ease his own guilty conscience or for your sake it's hard to say. Men... well men we're a simple minded sex of drink, women and power." He shrugged his shoulders as if it was a fate he resigned to.

"And anything upsettin' that balance needs settlin', often with a showy gesture as to not leave it linger. There can be passion in that simplicity though, once knew a man who proposed to a woman even after she stabbed him straight through the hand. They had a gaggle of kids together that all called him Papa Nine-Fingers." He demonstrated by curling back his pinky finger and holding it palm out.

"If he's still your 'lath' then go to him, the 'spawn are goin' to leave little time for such, so maybe best grasp at what you can. If you be wantin' to stay mad at him than by gods that's your right too. No needin' to be soft to them that harmed you."

It occurred to him that perhaps that wasn't the most straight forward answer, but he hoped just airing the thoughts aloud would help. "I could drink him under the table and get him to spill the truth of it, if you want." He added with a joking smirk.

 

[ShadowFolk]

 ?No, no, no. That?s not necessary. I do not think that a drunken Diocles would improve the situation. Any situation, really.  My imagination reels in the direction of a number of unpleasant things that could stir up. ?Thank you. I appreciate it, I truly do.?

She did not go rushing off to meet with the archer. Instead, Sulahn?nehn fell quiet, thinking over the advice. Jarrik did have a good point; the darkspawn would not be letting up and she should take what she could get while she still had the chance. She could be dead today, tomorrow, next week. But Thaedrin was still right as well. Her chasing after Diocles? affections did bring its share of trouble and her duty should come first.

The elf heaved a sigh. Was he still her lath? It was getting to be too much to think about. At the very least, with the darkspawn around it was no time to stay bitter, she knew that much.

 

[Rosen2012]

"Thank you, but I am not worried about falling," Ulrin stroked the side of the griffon he'd been training on. He actually did want to stop, despite night fall. Perhaps when they returned from the mission he could request to help in the stables. Yet at the same time that seemed foolish, he didn't know the first thing about caring for the creatures, but he couldn't deny that today had sparked an interest in him.

"Though I do hope we don't lose anyone to such an accident."

 

[FortyThree]

Diocles waved to the others and clapped Ulrin on the shoulder, gesturing for the elf to walk with the archer as he went for the men's barracks. He made a brief glance to see if Jarrik was electing to join them.

"You're a real talent at this, Ulrin. I'm damn embarrassed to be seen alongside you, can't imagine how old Ironface feels. You'll have to teach me some of your tricks."

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin glanced over at Diocles, the conversation seemed friendly enough. And he was doing his best to not openly cause another brawl between them. "...I do not know what to teach you, Warden Komnenos. I just feel at ease on the beast. Even though I am thinking of the Commands Warden von Brandt taught us, it's like thinking about breathing. I am just doing it." He glanced back at the stables, wishing they could stay longer. Going back to be with the others, more people, more humans...

"The only trick I can advise you of, is to not think about anything other than what your griffon must be thinking. And try to act according to what it's thoughts and feelings are."