video

[veilstrike]

Who: Leilani Lavellan and you
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: On the Blue Fish
When: Now, after gifts have been opened!

[ The video opens with Leilani fiddling with something in her hands, but she's quick to turn her attention to the camera and focus on the people she's talking to. She's well practiced at the art of focussing her attention on people rather than things; the Inquisition had demanded it from her, and she barely had any time of her own. No time for worries or fears or sadness; only work and fighting for whatever future Thedas had left. ]

In my clan we did not celebrate the winter as the rest of the world did. I didn't recognise that there were different celebrations until I became the Inquisitor, and then it felt as though I was pretending to understand something that was completely alien to me.

[ Frowning, she drops the necklace from her hands. ]

I'd like to know more about your traditions, if you'll appease me. I've never had much time to sit and talk about these sorts of things, so anything that you might be able to tell me would be welcome. There is always time to learn something new.

[ It also distracts her, so it's a welcome relief. ]

Comments

[samahl]

Did your Clan Lavellan celebrate any particular days?

It would be interesting to compare and see where our families differed.

For me, we would have a day in the winter to celebrate, and one after. They weren't always the same day though. It would depend on the the degree of the weather. The point of the first was to come together and remind each other we could make it through, the point of the second was that we had survived another year.

Then there was Keeper Istimaethoriel's name day. She would tells us not to do anything for it and we would anyways. It became a bit of a tradition.

[veilstrike]

We would celebrate when we were able, when we settled into a place for the length of winter.

[ Travelling with a clan during the colder months was hard enough, and Leilani wasn't particularly fond of overly cold weather, even if she could manage it. Celebrations came as and when it was possible, not bound to a particular day. ]

There was a day for respects and a day for spending with whoever we choose, be it family or otherwise. Mostly the season was a time for peace and comfort.

[ And also for respecting the Creators, but that feels hollow now. ]

[samahl]

Yes that sounds familiar. I wasn't introduced to wild feasts until Skyhold either. Mostly it was coming together to celebrate each other.

What did you think during your first Satinalia?

[He's making an effort to offer some kind of conversation to distract from the 'gift' that Atroma has given her, though he is making a note to ask after her soon.]

voice;

[noprophecies]

I have a personal tradition of traveling as far south as I can before the snow falls to avoid the winter season all together. [dryly] I don't like the cold.

But my people would hold a small celebration of sorts to welcome the season as well as prepare for it - gathering the last of the food, final repairs on the homes, things like that. Then they would all gather to pray to the spirits for an easy winter.

The capital holds a festival every year with the same idea in mind. The marketplaces all throughout would sell furs and heavy clothing at cheaper prices, and there'd be warm food and ale everywhere. I think there were other celebrations as well, but I believe those were religious. And I know the elves, the humans, and the dwarves all celebrate their own traditions, but I am not familiar with them.

voice;

[veilstrike]

I am not fond of it either, but there is no avoiding it in the keep we stay.

[ It's literally in the mountains, what the hell. ]

It sounds like a marvellous and practical tradition. Did you enjoy them, what you saw of them? Is there anything you would like to do here?

voice;

[noprophecies]

That is unfortunate.

[she spent the winter in the mountains in the north once - never again]

I never really participated in my people's festivities; I always spent the winters ill as a child. But I liked what I did see in the capital. The food was always good - there were a lot of foods they'd make that you wouldn't see other times of the year. I suppose seeing some of that here would be nice.

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[crowkiller]

In Antiva, the Dalish would come to our cities and celebrate if the trades were good enough.

[He smiles.]

Satinalia is not something we take lightly.

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[veilstrike]

That is rare for the Dalish. Was the trade good enough? [ That is her main focus, but - ] Was it still warm in Antiva?

[crowkiller]

Enough so that they tolerated us. I'm sure the brandy helped with that.

Oh yes. We rarely see snow. It's not like the south.

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[alwayscomeback]

[That sure is a hunk of wolf jaw she's playing with. Sokka's...not thrilled with his own gift, he keeps it pocketed. For the moment, there's no show-and-tell with the totems of lovers past. ]

We never really had much back home. Not in the Water Tribe, anyway.

[But more for the real reason he's here. He offers her a smile. ]

How're you settling in?

[veilstrike]

[ It sucks, and she can't comment on it other than looking up and over at him. ]

What was it like, then, at the Water Tribe?

[ But, ah, the question. She hums, thoughtful. ]

I'm happy enough. I have friends here, and that makes it comfortable.

[alwayscomeback]

Well, in the South, it used to be little villages- when I was growing up. These days it's a big city- but still in the middle of the South Pole. Everyone's kinda busy just getting by to really celebrate anything- plus we were at war for a hundred years so a lot of our celebrations have kind of been...forgotten.

[A lot of things have been forgotten- that's the problem when you're culture is preserved by word of mouth. Once everyone stops talking about a thing, it stops existing after a while. ]

Good, glad to hear that. You know if you ever need anything, all you got to do is ask and I'll help out as best I can. I think Dorian's happy to have you around.

[He's just...assuming they're an item because of course he is. ]

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[fantachetic]

[ It's hard to miss when her attention is elsewhere, and for propriety's sake, he lets it go in favor of answering her question. They'll get back to what has her attention, even if he has to barge down her door. ]

Southerners don't celebrate the way we do in Tevinter, either. It's certainly something.. Of course, the blasphemous amount of food and drink is similar.

Wintersend is a massive celebration, especially in Minrathous. There are tournaments and contests, a grand feast, among other things. Typically, there are a few days dedicated to it. I much preferred it to Satinalia- it was a way to signify beginnings, even if it only meant the mark of a new year.

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[veilstrike]

[ Creators bless Dorian Pavus and his existence, she thinks. She's incredibly lucky that he's a part of her life, and she welcomes the obvious attempt at keeping her entertained and distracted. If anyone is going to recognise the symbolism of the necklace it would be him. ]

I can only imagine the grand displays that Tevinter might enjoy once the time for celebrations comes around.

[ She's absolutely curious, though, and she tilts her head, thinking. ]

Are there any particular memories that you can recall fondly?

[ She knows, after all, that Dorian loves his homeland, with all its faults and problems. ]

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[fantachetic]

Maker, yes. It had a way of making you look forward to the season and everything seemed hopeful despite what may have been going on at the time.

[ He thinks about it for a moment and smiles almost fondly. ] When I was a boy, I believe I was still quite young, but my grandparents had traveled to the estate. They didn't do it often, of course, so it was special. Everything was decorated and the halls smelled of candied dates and spice. We traveled into the city and watched the tournaments. My parents enjoyed each other's company and there were no quarrels with my grandparents. An odd circumstance, certainly.

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[bryces_pup]

[Rather than replying over the communicators, Riona decides to seek Leilani out instead and speak in person. When she finds her, Riona gives her a little wave before taking a seat.]

To your inquiry: when I was growing up, we'd have large feasts for Satinalia and New Year's. Nan would be in a tizzy trying to get the kitchen in order and ready for all the guests. It was quite a spectacle. For Satinalia, my father would tell us stories about the family and some of their famous exploits. Wintersend was my favorite, though, for we'd go to see a theater performance. They always saved the best ones for the holiday.

[She so misses celebrating the holidays with her family. Even a decade out, her heart still aches.]

[veilstrike]

[ Leilani lifts herself as Riona comes, tucking her legs under her body. ]

I have never seen a true theatre performance. We do not go too close to cities when we move around and there was never much time for anything like it in the clans. We were too busy building, fixing and hunting.

[ It sounds lovely, she thinks, and she shifts, nudging Riona gently. ]

We can make dinner on the ship, perhaps, and share stories of home.

[bryces_pup]

That's a shame. Understandable, but still. If you get a chance to see one in the fleet, you should take it. Or maybe I'll bring you along. I'm an aficionado, so I always go when I can.

[It's been awhile since she's seen one, and it pains her.]

Sounds like a lovely idea. Anything you're in the mood for?

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[wolfehawke]

When I was young, Satinalia was basically the only time I couldn't refuse to attend Chantry services even when I was old enough to tend the fields. The feast was always good though, even if we had to be careful.

[He muses quietly for a moment before smiling some.]

I'm actually more interested in what the Dalish do for a winter holiday. Merrill's clan didn't really share their tradition, whatever it was. She ended up sharing ours, which in Kirkwall consisted of a great deal of drink so I don't much remember the rest. I think I may have climbed the Hanged Man's sign in my smalls one year. Thankfully the Free Marches are a lot warmer than Ferelden.

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[veilstrike]

It must have been difficult for you.

[ She was First to the Keeper, but there had been other mages in the Clan that had to be sent elsewhere; there was no space for more than one, and Leilani had said a few sad farewells in her time. The pressure of magic is something she can recognise and understand, at least. ]

It depends on how close we are to big cities, though we try to time our travels with the days where trade is most open. We send prayers to the Creators and spend time with the people closest to us. [ Most of the Dalish holidays are remembrance and quiet thought rather than grand celebrations; grandeur doesn't exist when you live a life of hunting and barely-there trade. ] I have never climbed a tavern in my smalls, however.

video foreverrr

[wolfehawke]

[She gets a kindly shrug for her sympathy. He finds it a little strange to receive that from an elf when he's met so many who are bitter the plight of The People whether the Dalish or in cities, but that marks her as a kind person and the world needs more of those.]

It was what it was. It could have been far worse, could have been in the Circle. And I wouldn't recommend climbing things without clothes. You'd be amazed at what can chafe without you realizing.

Voice

[whatisright]

We have no traditions in the Fade, but I have witnessed the dreams and memories of many celebrations from the mortal realm. I cannot be certain whether any were accurate reflections of your world, however.

[But that's not really what he's concerned with. She seems... bothered by something. Maybe the bone in her hand?]

Are you well?

voice

[veilstrike]

I was told, once, that memories are coloured with the thoughts and opinions of whoever lived them. I suppose that would make it difficult to understand traditions properly.

[ Sighing, she shakes her head. ]

I have felt better.

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[postocular]

Every year, my dad managed to get Christmas morning off work. So on Christmas Eve, my dad, my mom, and I would watch movies on the couch. We all opened one gift, which was always pajamas so we could wear them that night. We would roast marshmallows in the fireplace and we'd always get up super early.

Mom would make pancakes, even though she always burned them. We ate 'em anyway.

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[veilstrike]

That sounds lovely, da'len.

[ It makes her smile fondly, and she shakes her head. ]

I've never seen a 'movie', or marshmallows.