Vigil's Keep

The stables was minimally staffed. A groom or two, a kennel keeper and that was it, along with their apprentices. The number of horses were surprising really. It wasn't an entire horse farm for sure, but a fair number of warden recruits who had brought their own steeds were stabled there. The duty of caring for them was on the owners, although the grooms picked up the slack if needed.

Today Roderick was out and about, taking a bit of time to groom his horse with his curry comb. It was a fine palomino mare he had acquired in his time in the Inquisition and the Warden-Commander hummed as he worked.

It was obvious that the elf had been traveling hard for days. Several locks of hair had come loose from her braid and hung around her face and neck, and she had patches of dirt over her clothes and skin. The horse that she was with was in similar shape, it looked a little worse for wear but it didn't look like she had ridden it into exhaustion or near collapse. Both of them seem fatigued, walking at a measured and deliberate pace. She knew that she likely smelled of horse, sweat and dirt. The mare she had was dark gray, though there was a smattering of black spots over it's flank and hip.

Janella walked the horse into the stables, her manner courteous enough as she nodded to others who were present. She didn't seem to expect anyone else to care for her horse even if she was tired, offering to comb, feed and water it herself. Janella had come a long way, putting plenty of time and distance between herself and her former career as an assassin. The elf had managed to get into plenty of misadventures and trouble along the way, however. Having overheard talk of the Wardens in taverns, she thought she might try to find some refuge and security in exchange for offering up her skills, even if it was a skill set that was on the shadier side.

Roderick glanced up when the elf entered the stall with her mare. It was mostly quiet and empty and most people had left her alone as she entered. Whether she was a recruit or here for a visit, the horse needed to be tended to either way. Being helpful, the warden-commander gestured towards an empty stall she could use.

"There's tack at the side of the stall though do put it back when you're done. The stable-master tends to get naggy when we misplace things, and then we get a good telling off at. Never seen you around before, guess you're here to join the Wardens then?" he asked tilting his head a little as he finished up on his horse.

He'd fetch some hot water for the mare to drink, along with some hay to assist Janella.

"Or here on business?"

Janella was grateful to be spared much social interaction, she was terrible at it even at her best times. Her manner was not forbidding, she seemed relaxed and neutral enough.

"Yes, I appreciate the offer on the tack, I'll try not to incite the wrath of the stable master."

Thanking him for helping her with the warm water and hay, she removed the saddle and bridle from the animal. Janella picked up a brush, starting to comb out the horses fur.

"My name is Janella. I am here to see if the Grey Wardens will take me in, yes. I don't have the best reputation in some parts but . . . I believe I'm skilled enough to make myself useful to them. If you could tell me who does the recruiting, I'll pay them a visit when I am done here. And maybe after I've cleaned up a bit," glancing down at herself.

The man let out a sharp laugh when she mentioned she didn't have the best reputation.

"Most of us here do not Janella. While there are a good number of us who join the Wardens for the honour, recruiting amongst the condemned is not unknown," Roderick said as he returned to his stall to resume brushing the mare. "As for who does the recruiting, we have our own fellow recruiters who scour the land in search of willing volunteers. As long as a man or woman is willing we would welcome them among our ranks.

That being said, I am Roderick Vimes," he added, pausing a bit to see if Janella recognised the name or not. He wasn't sure. She didn't sound Ferelden.

A loud grunt was heard as an Avvar entered the stables, he carried buckets of feed as he made way for the kennel, not making eye contact with Roderick or Janella. At first glance, one could see the freshly wrapped bandages around his left forearm, torso, and one small bandage on his cheek.

The Avvar walked over to the hounds, tossing pieces of meat at them, his face soon relaxed as he looked at the beasts but so long as those two were around him the Avvar knew he needed to remain on the defensive. When he first arrived he felt the uncomfortable stares of the people, he heard the whispers as he walked by yet never bothered to defend himself against them. Even though he helped around the Keep when asked, he still felt the discomfort in many.

Pushing the thoughts away, the 6 ft male walked to the wall closest to the hounds, where his Greatsword rested and sat next to the blade, running his palm against its broadside slowly.

The elf looked over at Roderick to be sure that he was not laughing because it hurt her chances, relieved whenever he said that many of them did not have a good reputation. It seemed like she had been staying fairly reclusive in this area, because she did not seem to recognize the name. "Even if they had fled from the Antivan Crows, and then ended up getting into a fair amount of trouble in the travels they had since leaving there?" the she elf asked him, one of her brows arching.

Small puffs of dust and dander rose up from the horse as she brushed it out, removing burrs and other small bits of debris and dirt from the road. Janella was aware enough of the locals to know that he did not have an accent that showed he had been born here.

She looked up whenever the Avvar entered, seeing that he was recovering from injuries and that he seemed to want to avoid contact. Janella glanced to the hounds, fond of animals but aware that they could be hostile at times and she needed to tend to the horse. Especially after she had made it travel so much. She'd never seen an Avvar, a curious frown flitting over her features for a moment before she turned her attention back to the horse, moving to brush it's other side.

Patting the dust and dander away from her cloak whenever she was done, she took a look at it's hooves and apparently didn't find anything that displeased her before setting them back down. "I have talents in scouting as well as what I learned whenever I was among the Crows," she said, shrugging, "sometimes being an elf means you have to stay versatile."

So she didn't recognise his name, interesting. Either way, he would find it an interesting to be without the mantle of the Commander over his shoulders, even if for a while. "Even if they did so. The hero of Ferelden was said to have travelled with a Crow companion even. Although I do not know how much of that is true.

The commander glanced over at the Avvar when he entered. He had seen the man about but had never interacted much with him.

"Good day to you," he said nodding his head at the fellow. Roderick knew many passed through the keep and in his mind, he couldn't recall the fellow's name and had filed it under That Avvar fellow. His only interaction had been with those who joined the Inquisition, even then, he kept to the wardens.

"Did you get yourself injured again?" He knew the other had come in with wounds but the bandages looked fresh.

The Avvar looked up at Roderick, looking around to ensure he wasn't talking to anyone else,"Trouble from some miscreants a ways from the keep..They tried to steal my kill while I was procuring meat for the kitchen." He said simply. He tried not to come off as intimidating to the man, but it was hard to know what frightened people, especially if they were already cautious of you.

"These wounds mean nothing however. I have suffered worse..You are Roderick Vines, yes? I have heard your name during my stay here."

"Sounds like an embellished tale. Maybe this Crow companion just knew 'of' the Crows and there was a misunderstanding." Was she joking? It was hard to tell. If so, she was completely deadpanning it.

The elf looked between the two of them, was this Roderick person important? She had been reclusive as of late, sticking to lesser known roads and going unseen when at all possible. Due to someone that might or might not have been after her, she hadn't paid as much attention as she should have during her travels. It didn't leave her with as much opportunity to gather information.

Janella looked at the Avvar's injuries, "Looks like he can walk it off," she shrugged in agreement with him that the wounds were nothing.

Roderick was hardly afraid of any man. The fellow had been from Kirkwall, and then the Inquisition before the Wardens were finally able to be on their own again. The trust between them and Ferelden was slowly being rebuilt once more, though he was glad that new recruits were coming in all the time. Most of those who had trouble adjusting to civilian life.

"That would be me, yes. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with your name despite seeing you around," he apologised to the Avvar.

Roderick would shrug at Janella's comment of the Crow companion. "Perhaps, but rumours would be rumours and I rather not waste energy chasing them," the warden said with a sigh as he resumed brushing his mare, glancing occasionally at the others.

"It's good to meet new people though."

The Avvar looked at Roderick for a moment, as if he was trying to look through him. Eventually, the man returned his attention to the hounds,"My name is Runt. A child of the Lady of the Skies." He stated simply.

"I should thank you for allowing me to heal within your Keep. I understand that not many are comfortable with my presence, once I am healed I shall continue my travels."

Janella glanced back and forth between the two of them, it was clear that gears were turning in her head. Having caught on to the Avvar's words, she was thinking. If she was not accepted, she planned on moving on as well, but different words had caught her attention.

"Your keep?" her gaze turned to Roderick, waiting for him to clarify. "Rumors have a kernel of truth, definitely not worth chasing," she confirmed, ensuring that the door keeping her horse inside was shut well. It was clever, and had a propensity for opening them if the handle was left loose the least little bit.

The commander shook his head.

"You're welcome to stay as long as you like to heal. As long as you're finding a place for yourself in the keep, your presence is welcomed Runt," the Free Marcher said, although he squinted a little as the tall fellow called himself a runt. "It is not often I've seen the Avvar about, and I would definitely like to learn more about your culture eventually, but I understand if you're eager to return to your Hold soon enough. I can have a messenger take a letter for you if you like. Probably a warden lad, one of the newer recruits," he said stroking his beard a little as he thought about it.

Roderick was oblivious to how Janella closed the door of her horse, he wasn't expecting her to bolt after all... that and he was a mage... and the commander of the Keep after all.

"And in a manner of speaking yes Janella. It belongs to the Grey Wardens but I am their Warden-Commander." Who was brushing his own horse. Hard times indeed for the Wardens but given their involvement with blood magic in the recent events of the Inquisition, it wasn't that surprising.

"I am in no rush to return to my Hold. Not until I regain my sight and complete my duty..It will only be after I have succeeded will I see my people again." Runt said simply, standing up to speak to the commander properly thus showing the difference in height,"You offer to send a message, while kind, is not needed. Being offered bed and food here is enough for me.."

The Avvar exchanged glances between Roderick and Janella,"Perhaps you both cn answer this for me..Why do the men and women stare at me? It seems I make them nervous. I've only been away from my Hold for a few months and have been with nature, following the signs of my Lady. I've only seen bandits and beasts before I was welcomed here." He asked.

Janella stood there in silence, feeling awkward. “I haven’t seen many commanders brushing their own horse. Do you think it builds character or are you just very short on help at the moment?” largely unaware of the situation. She was completely deadpan throughout the sentence.

Janella felt very small even standing near the Avvar, having to tilt her head far back to make eye contact with him.

“Definitely the height,” not even hesitating before responding to Runt’s question. Unable to offer any advice aside from, “You could try . . . smiling, if it bothers you. Just a suggestion,” she pulled her pack onto her shoulder. “I should find a place to wash up and rest, get some food, before I aim for recruitment,” she told both of them with a sigh. Now that she had taken care of her mischievous horse and made sure it couldn’t escape, she wanted to feed and clean herself.

Roderick nodded his head, before looking amusedly at Runt and his question.

"Probably your height, although I understand that ladies here could look at you if you're good looking enough. Perhaps that is the reason instead. Although in all honesty... they're just not used to seeing an Avvar around. Your people seldom come down to these parts except for tradings. People always gawk... even as a mage I tend to get that... at least before the rebellion. The staff draws their attention."

At Janella's question, Roderick smiled a little. "Both. While we do have staff, we do not exactly have enough to run about things as if it is a fortress of a noble or something. Besides, it's always good to bond with your horse if you're riding them," he said stroking the mare's neck who nuzzled him.

"Just look out for our quarter master, Bryon. He'll get you settled in. Just don't make any short jokes around him. He'll get you settled in. Admittedly I'll probably like to look at your combat capabilities if you wish to be a warden. Darkspawn do not go down easily."

Runt stroked his chin, so it was because of his heritage that people looked at him differently, something he took note of for future reference.

When he heard of testing combat abilities, the Avvar quickly became interested,"If one does not wish to become a Gray Warden, are they still allowed to participate in this trial? I understand if it goes against tradition and if I cannot, I may just look for that Bryon fellow."

Janella asked of Roderick, "Where can this Byron fellow be found, then? And when and where does the trial take place?" the elf asked of him. Making sure her pack was secure on her back, she felt sore and looked forward to lying down and not smelling like a horse anymore. She was used to roughing it, but it'd been a while since she enjoyed many comforts. None of it showed on her features, the elf seemed as neutral and impassive as ever. Starting to walk toward the exit, but not so fast that she could not hear Roderick's answer, she took care to avoid the manure.

The commander nodded his head in response to Runt's question. "Certainly. I am quite confident there's a number of Wardens who would like to try their skill against you."

A glance was given to the departing elf, and he shook his head at her and her relatively curt mannerism. "Byron can be found in the courtyard mostly, unless it is lunch time. Or yelling at the recruits.... whichever suits his fancy... as for when, it'll probably be in a day or two once we've gotten a few things sorted out," he called out behind her

(I can post in the courtyard if you like, we can skip ahead to the combat if you two want)