➶ six ( video & action )

[heroica]

Greetings. [ Comes the voice and face of Robyn Cousland, looking chipper enough for someone who has recently lost her three closest friends from Wonderland. Her hair is braided neatly and it's evident she's outside somewhere from the glare brought on by the sun high overhead. ] After my conscription, I picked up a few new skills here and there, but nothing in as much depth as I'd like. [ There just hadn't been time for thorough weapons training, not when you're responsible for the general welfare of a country. ] I think Wonderland may be a good chance to try that again.

I have extensive training in crossbow use and some in short and longbows, but I'd like to branch out to other areas. I learned a little with daggers and knives in Ferelden, but I'd also like to take up with a smaller sword and shield, at least, if anyone trained as a warrior has the time. [ beat ] I'm not a mage, so magic is out of the question, though I do know that that... works a little differently from world to world.

[ Nearby is the impatient huff of a horse and the Warden glances that way, smiling. ]

I'm going riding this morning, but I'd like to start training this afternoon, if I can. [ There's another thoughtful pause. ] It's paid to stay sharp, here, hasn't it?

[ Considering. There's a preemptive sort of inhale, and then she vanishes from the network. ]

Comments

[intelligently]

Then we should do something before we start.

( Just to keep it all nicely tucked away, obviously. And with a gesture she's moving round to untie what's left of Robyn's existing braid. You're going to have a lovely braid crown when she's done c: )

[heroica]

[ Robyn obliges, still smiling and uttering a brief, amused chuckle. She carefully removes what's left of her brain, untangling and combing it out with her fingers. ]

Are you sure? It might take a while... [ She does have a good amount of hair, after all. ]

[intelligently]

I think I can manage it. ( Her own hair's long enough ) Plus we can talk while I do this.

[heroica]

All right. [ And so she finishes, turning to allow Lydia better access. ]

What do you want to talk about? [ Robyn asks idly, crossing her ankles. ]

[intelligently]

What about- ( And she pauses for a think while untangling the original braid ) -what you used to do before you became a great warrior?

( And don't you deny it )

What did you like doing?

[heroica]

Before I- [ Robyn laughs lightly, surprised. ] I've never been 'a great warrior,' Lydia. Do you mean, though... before I was a Grey Warden?

[intelligently]

That isn't the same thing?

( It totally is. She won't believe that you're not a great warrior )

[heroica]

No, [ She begins, still smiling. ] The Wardens are an order meant to fight darkspawn, true, but not all its recruits or conscripts are seasoned fighters. I wasn't.

[ Playing around with a crossbow does not a great warrior make. ]

[intelligently]

That doesn't mean it didn't become true.

( Accept it, Robyn. She's heard enough of the Blight and the archdemon - seen the darkspawn to believe that you're a great warrior. You fought those things, and you died stopping something that only Grey Warden's could fight. Part of it might have been 'something special' but you're a great warrior to her )

It sounds like you had to do a lot as a Warden.

[heroica]

Flatterer. [ Robyn chuckles. ] But... yes, it's quite a lot of work. Not all bad, though; I was able to travel to parts of Ferelden that I would never have seen, otherwise. It was much more of a gift than I might have imagined.

[ And she was able to grow exponentially as a person through those trials and experiences. ]

[intelligently]

What were those places like?

( She's ran her fingers through Robyn's hair by now, untangling the last of the braid before moving to the left side of her, separating out three strands of hair to start the braid )

[heroica]

Very different, depending on which you mean. [ She laughs again, fondly. ] We were everywhere from the royal palace in Ferelden's capital to far underground in the Deep Roads. Each was incredible to see, with their own... wonders, and dangers.

[ Dangers more than wonders, most might say. ]

[intelligently]

I saw the Deep Roads. Or part of them.

( And she saw an unfortunate view of them, or maybe fortunate. Infected but surviving, able to pass through them without becoming hurt by any darkspawn )

What was the capital like?

[heroica]

They run... very deep. [ More so than they'd seen in Wonderland, even. ] Their depths are absolutely terrifying.

[ She isn't eager to ever return to them, should they have the chance. ]

The capital - Denerim - is... enormous. Busy, full of people, but hurt in an enormous way because of the Blight. There was turmoil enough in Ferelden before, but the darkspawn have driven people from their homes and we nearly broke into a civil war trying to decide what to do about them...

[ She swallows, forcing a smile. ]

The Blight is over now, though. Thank the Maker.