Finding Tranquility

I assure you, the apology was wholeheartedly unnecessary. You caught me a bit flatfooted. Rhosyn confessed timidly, the corner of his lips curved upwards ever-so – heralding his characteristic jovial smirk. A wry chuckle was wretched from between his lips in response to Lucien’s assessment of his character. When your clan is particularly nomadic, it is hard to harbor fondness for most of the finer arts. Rhosyn added-on, his dusky verdant gaze momentarily turned upon an extravagant “self” portrait of a man and woman in decadent what he’d presumed were silks.

It was a stark contrast to most of the artifacts maintained by the Dalish, their preference seemed to be eschewed heavily in favor of tales of their ancestors, the maintained written records of their successes, their trials and tribulations, and even their failures. From his own perspective, it was why those anointed as a Keeper were submitted to herculean burdens – the maintenance of the lands they preoccupied and called their own and serving as the adhesive that held the collective whole together.

By vocation? I am a healer – both in the traditional holistic sense as well as the arcane. However, I tend to dabble in the alchemic realms as well – some potions and tinctures are infinitely more sophisticated than poultices and cruder potions. Rhosyn explained, the edge of his voice gained a palpable sense of excitement. Yet there was a subtle undertone, the unspoken understanding that Rhosyn’s knowledge extended in the opposite direction as well – poisons and irritants brewed to aid in Hunts or serve as an impromptu defense.

But in the heat of it all, I believe few care for coordination and grace. What matters most is my ability to get them out of the thick of combat and stabilized. Most would pardon a few extra bumps or bruises. A harsh truth, not ever healer operated in a controlled environment. Plus, in some instances, brute strength and tenacity worked just as effectively as a honed mind. Enough about me, I’d venture a guess – a collector or a merchant of sorts?

Rhosyn punctuated that sentence with a discreet wave of his hand, gesturing to the numerous pieces of art that seemed to be passing them by. Lucien spoke the truth though, his own travels with the merchant caravan that had arrived hours prior lent weight to that. The surrounding areas were flooded with all manner of monstrosity – demons and darkspawn alike. Quite… the caravan I traveled with seemed to be burdened by an unusual number of Darkspawn…

@ Lucien Beauvais