The Inquisition Reborn [llama]

[llama]

"That doesn't mean that I'm not a good fighter!" I counter, "You can still win a fight without slaughtering the other person."
"Yeah, you could say that. I stole that thing off of some thugs who were stealing it off of a nobleman.. well, not that thing, but my old rapier." I say, with a tinge of nostalgia in my voice. "But if you're asking if I fight my enemies head on, no. I mean, look at me." I say, suddenly becoming self conscious of my frail frame and quickly straightening, temporarily fixing at least some of my hunched back.

[Benzo]

"Something tells me any fights you get into in the near future is going to involve slaughtering the other... creature." he responds to your first statement with a dry chuckle.

Nodding more as you continued to speak, he quickly wrote down a few more lines of script before looking around the desk curiously. "Silent approach... You most likely want a hardened leather cuirass, close fitting. That'll mean getting stabbed is more dangerous, but you'll hopefully have the maneuverability to make up."

Finally turning to you again, he dipped the pen into the inkwell and leave it be for a moment. "Thin-framed folks tend to be stronger in the legs, from what I've noticed. Would you want steel-augmented breeches of some sort, or keep it completely light for you?"

[llama]

"I thought we were talking about past combat experiences?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm sure I will have this.. maneuverability. The suggested cuirass sounds appropriate.. as for the breeches, the lighter the better."

[Benzo]

"Aye, but I can't rely solely on the past if yer to be dealing with demons and Maker knows what else." he replies, nodding simply as you make your request regarding the leggings.

"Speaking of which; I couldn't make heads or tales out of much of what the soldiers told me. If you're to be protected properly, I need to know what exactly you're dealing with." he says, glancing out a window across the shack as a couple figures walked past. "Claws, teeth, bones... Hell, even hair might tell me something. If you can, any 'field samples' of fallen adversaries you manage to collect would be greatly appreciated." Harritt further explained. Taking up the pen, he jotted a few more quick notes before adding "Not a whole carcass, of course." with a snicker.

[llama]

I'm close to making a retort, but then just stop and shrug.
"Yeah, thing is the past ones I've slain have seemed to disintegrate. But maybe if one doesn't.. you know.. get up and go to the sky, then I'll try and get something from them."

[Benzo]

"Aye, so I've heard. I won't be too picky with anything you grab. Hell, if a Trevinter cult or something stereotypical like that is behind all this, grab samples from them, too. Pretty much anything you need to use your blade on; Knowing the type of metal might reveal a structural weakness, for example." Harritt explained to you, jotting down one last line of notes before corking the inkwell and setting it aside.

"Well, your armor seems like a pretty straightforward request. I'm going to tinker around with the idea a bit because I just don't like the idea of Andraste's Herald being vulnerable; But regardless, I should have your new set done within the week."

[llama]

"Yeah, I'll try and get whatever.. samples I can." The whole thing was a little bit strange; gathering some shit from the beasts that are slain.. perhaps with my stature I can just get some squire to gather whatever?
"A week should be fine." I confirm, not too sure why he's doubting my amazing ability to not get hit.

[Benzo]

Nodding, the blacksmith sets the parchment aside before then standing up, stretching with a slight groan. Walking to the doorway, he stopped with his hand on the knob, turning to ask you "Was there anything else you wanted to request, before I jump back into the forges?"

[llama]

"No. I think we've covered all that needs to be.. well.. covered." I walk to the exit door as well, still not sure if I like this blacksmith or not. If nothing else is needed to be said, I head out of the forge to the town square, taking a look around.

[Benzo]

"Very good. I'll send a runner to find you once it's completed. You're always welcome to check the progress, as well."

Bidding you farewell before he returned to work, you leave Harritt and begin walking back towards Haven's entry gate. Walking past the training soldiers, you see Cassandra from the side of your eye lay out an unfortunate initiate with her shield before helping him back to his feet.

Proceeding onward to the central square, you look around the sizable makeshift town curiously. Off to the side, you notice Solas carrying an armful of empty vials, then disappearing from view behind a small cluster of houses. Further up the town's hilly structure and near the Chantry, you notice a black bird dart out of a small cluster of tents, a white bundle strapped to its leg. Liliana's ravens, no doubt.

[llama]

I nod, unsure if I will take him up on his offer to check out my armor later.
I think I'll talk to Cassandra, but not right now. First I'll go to Liliana and see what's what messages are being sent around and perhaps talk to her a bit as well.

[Benzo]

Venturing up the slight incline towards Liliana's tent, you reach the entry flap just as a second raven darts past you. Peeking in, you see the Nightingale leaning back in a small wooden chair, appearing to be reading a report of some sort as she held a rolled piece of parchment between her hands. Hearing you, she quickly rolls it up before looking over, relaxing then and setting the note aside.

"Ah, Herald." she greets you, nodding respectfully. "To what might I owe the pleasure of this meeting?"

[llama]

I look around at the small little room contained within the tent and settle my eyes on the bird perched on the chair. "Honestly, I was just stopping around to a few people around town. I figured a party of our importance should be as acquainted as possible so that we may allow trust to form." I say this with a smile, going from the bird to her eyes.

[Benzo]

(Ahh, I think I threw in her title without any actual explanation. Cassandra, the Right Hand of the Divine, was a personal bodyguard. Liliana, the Left Hand, also referred to as the Court Nightingale, was the Divine's spymaster. And in Liliana's case specifically, her personal assassin/unseen hand.)

"Of course," Liliana replies with a nod, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Trust, however, is a rare commodity in my line of work. That said, I am here to serve the Inquisition and you, Herald, regardless."

Grabbing the scroll she had been reading, she offers it up to you. "Reports of surrounding areas aren't good, if you're up for the read. Chaos from the Breach has spread like wildfire; I hope my contacts are able to get here safely."

[llama]

"Frankly, Liliana, I think that the putting of faith and trust in me is.. well.. something necessary. I obviously cannot force you to but I do hope your mindset on the subject would change for me." Subtly I bite my lip and raise my eyebrow, turning my head a tad.
I take the scroll and glance to the bird, opening up the scrpl perhaps less carefully than wanted. Convenient time to read after my awkward advance.

[Benzo]

Raising an eyebrow inquisitively in response to your gesture, she shakes her head slowly at your words. "Faith is worthless and trust dangerous; Look where faith and trust in the Maker got us. No, after what I saw at the Temple Azalin; You have my respect, and that is more than most receive from me."

Letting you read the scroll silently for a moment, she then added,
"On a similar note, might I say I very much approve of your vocational style. The title of 'Herald' conjures up the image of a righteous Templar; The scouts are pleased to be able to see a bit of themselves when they look upon you. Just thought you might like to know."

[llama]

"Well, I appreciate your respect while still asking for the aforementioned." Being in this noble environment prior has seemed to boost my vocabulary. Damn tight wearing bitches, trying to make me speak more proper and whatnot.. then again, perhaps this an effect on the ladies.
I listen, confirming my previous thoughts; good vocation is better vocabulary, right? There was also the fact that I didn't come up with the title, someone just kinda applied it to me. Better hold back on that comment. Looking down at the scroll that I can hardly read, not because of bad handwriting, and give another smile as I look up, "Of course. Anything for the troops." I better not be quoted on that.. I could get used to sleeping in as a picked up habit instead of waking up to help train the troops in the morning.

[Benzo]

(Pretty much just saying she appreciates that you're a rogue rather than warrior.)

"Of course," Liliana repeats with a second nod. "With that said, my days of venturing are over, but if you need help wearing the cloak of silence... I am here to serve. I was by the Hero's side during the Fifth Blight, after all." she says, a tinge of sadness clinging to her last words.

[llama]

(yeah. Azalin is just stupid.)

With a grin, I nod, not quite catching up on the cue of negative emotions, "Glad to hear! You know, it is comforting to know that all these professional people have your back."

[Benzo]

"Every organization needs a strong inner circle." she replies with a slight smile. "On that note, I received word of Knight-Templar Cullen being nearer than Kirkwall, as I had originally believed. The soldiers will have a proper commander before long... Not that Cassandra is, well, she can be a bit much at first as I'm sure you've noticed." she says, adding the last bit with a giggle.

[llama]

"Certainly a night should be put aside for us to toast to future successes.. unless there are some internal conflicts I should be aware of." I raise my eyebrow at this proposition. There has to be some stupid internal conflicts with this.. 'strong inner circle'.
"Huh. It'll be a pleasure to end up meeting him.. and I've seemed to get on her good side, so I reckon that 'bit much' has toned down compared to some other messiah.. if I would be considered one, ya know."

[Benzo]

"I fear the time for that may be a while off, yet. But indeed, once we can figure out our questions about the Breach, I think a whole banquet may be in order." Smirking at your words as she slowly glanced over at a small statue of Andraste, she shrugged simply.

"You must assume we are behind those rumors, yes?" She asks with a raised brow. "In truth, we simply haven't tried to stop it from spreading. And you've been asleep for three days; Finding the origin now would be hopeless."

[llama]

"Then we should make sure to not forget about that. Would be dumb to not celebrate the incoming greatness. Banquets and beer." I say, the scent of alcohol coming out of my breath from the earlier meal.
"Uh, I don't know. Everyone was just kinda saying that as soon as I woke up so I though it could have been something everyone just kinda unconsciously agreed upon? Reasonable enough explanation."

[Benzo]

Nodding, Liliana replied, "We'll need help with fully closing that hole in the sky. Once Knight-Templar Cullen and my other contacts, we can discuss how to go about that."

Grabbing a nearby silver goblet of what appeared to be wine, she took a deep gulp of the crimson liquid before setting it aside and continuing with a chuckle. "That's pretty much how it happened. You left with sneers behind you, and as we carried you back, everyone was clamoring to see you and whisper blessing over you."

[llama]

"If it was as easy as it was halting it, it shouldn't be too much of a problem." I say this with a flashy smile, oozing confidence and determination, maybe not for the reason that everyone else was determined to do this.

"Perhaps the whole population picked up a disease that makes them bipolar." I say this jokingly, glancing from the goblet back to her. It couldn't have been that I was so unbearable that she had to drink to stand my company?.. No, of course not.