No one was coming, a truth that rang out clear and loud. Orlais was a big kingdom and the Grey Wardens were stretched thin. Kellam was a lot of things, but watching his people die wasn’t something he was about to do. No, they’d have to flee Orlais before the Darkspawn completely overwhelmed them. The question remained, where did they go. Ferelden dealing with their own blight, Nevarra to their north overrun by the walking dead, and further north was the Anderfels, that had already fallen to the blight.
The decision to risk Ferelden, so they could then go north across the Waking Sea and into the Free Marches. From there Kellam hadn’t been entirely sure what he was going to do until they got there. They were already that far north, why not go a bit further and see if they could find safe haven in Arlathan. The journey wasn’t easy, or short. They had all their people to move, which included children, so once they were in the Free Marches, they slowed down some as they headed north. They were at least relatively safe now, so he wasn’t in a rush to get to Arlathan.
Kellam wasn’t entirely sure how he felt about Arlathan, on one hand it was this ancient city that he was sure held all sorts of mysteries. On the other hand, it meant he would be at someone’s else’s mercy. He didn’t like the idea of being under someone else’s thumb. At least that was what he told himself, deep down it was a lot more about him wanting power, and them having power that he didn’t like.
Upon arriving, Kellam initially had his people hold back just outside Arlathan. He didn’t want to just barge in with an entire clan without warning. What if they didn’t have places for his people. The Hearthkeeper came with him, wanting to check out the market. Everyone else waited outside the city.
Kellam was impressed with what he was seeing so far, as he entered the city. He stopped at the Eluvian and looked it up and down. He’d heard that a network had gone up, but even if there had been one near his clan in Orlais, they had had too many people and things to move. No, travelling the traditional way had made the most sense. From there he just stood and looked around. This wasn’t just some Dalish encampment, this was much bigger, and now all he could think about was how he wasn’t in charge of it all. He tried to push those thoughts out of his mind, the whisperings in his head, tried to just focus on the fact that he needed to speak to someone about protocol.
How did they handle newcomers, was there even a place for them there. Was it ok that they’d set up just outside the city. That was just the tip of the ice berg with the questions he had, but who did he talk to about such things. Did he just go up to people and ask randomly. Probably would have to, he imagined. At the moment though he was content to just look around, looking a bit like a kid in the candy shop. He didn’t want to look lost, now only weak people got lost, but with so much to look at, it was hard not to feel a bit overwhelmed, and that made him feel angry and vulnerable. Two emotions he did his best to try and hide, not wanting to get off on the wrong foot when his people had travelled so far to be here.
He remained standing by the Eluvian, not knowing where to go next, hoping he didn’t look as stupid and overwhelmed that he was beginning to feel. More emotions to try and stuff down, damn it, he should probably just talk to someone, anyone. He picked a random person.
The decision to risk Ferelden, so they could then go north across the Waking Sea and into the Free Marches. From there Kellam hadn’t been entirely sure what he was going to do until they got there. They were already that far north, why not go a bit further and see if they could find safe haven in Arlathan. The journey wasn’t easy, or short. They had all their people to move, which included children, so once they were in the Free Marches, they slowed down some as they headed north. They were at least relatively safe now, so he wasn’t in a rush to get to Arlathan.
Kellam wasn’t entirely sure how he felt about Arlathan, on one hand it was this ancient city that he was sure held all sorts of mysteries. On the other hand, it meant he would be at someone’s else’s mercy. He didn’t like the idea of being under someone else’s thumb. At least that was what he told himself, deep down it was a lot more about him wanting power, and them having power that he didn’t like.
Upon arriving, Kellam initially had his people hold back just outside Arlathan. He didn’t want to just barge in with an entire clan without warning. What if they didn’t have places for his people. The Hearthkeeper came with him, wanting to check out the market. Everyone else waited outside the city.
Kellam was impressed with what he was seeing so far, as he entered the city. He stopped at the Eluvian and looked it up and down. He’d heard that a network had gone up, but even if there had been one near his clan in Orlais, they had had too many people and things to move. No, travelling the traditional way had made the most sense. From there he just stood and looked around. This wasn’t just some Dalish encampment, this was much bigger, and now all he could think about was how he wasn’t in charge of it all. He tried to push those thoughts out of his mind, the whisperings in his head, tried to just focus on the fact that he needed to speak to someone about protocol.
How did they handle newcomers, was there even a place for them there. Was it ok that they’d set up just outside the city. That was just the tip of the ice berg with the questions he had, but who did he talk to about such things. Did he just go up to people and ask randomly. Probably would have to, he imagined. At the moment though he was content to just look around, looking a bit like a kid in the candy shop. He didn’t want to look lost, now only weak people got lost, but with so much to look at, it was hard not to feel a bit overwhelmed, and that made him feel angry and vulnerable. Two emotions he did his best to try and hide, not wanting to get off on the wrong foot when his people had travelled so far to be here.
He remained standing by the Eluvian, not knowing where to go next, hoping he didn’t look as stupid and overwhelmed that he was beginning to feel. More emotions to try and stuff down, damn it, he should probably just talk to someone, anyone. He picked a random person.
Uh, excuse me? Do you have a minute?He suddenly had the feeling like everyone was looking at him, judging him. His jaw tensed, and he struggled to keep composed with a relatively polite smile etched on his features. He just kept reminding himself, his people had come a long way and needed help, he couldn’t just walk away now.
11-08-2023, 07:09 AM
