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Hello, network. I am Leliana, for all the new people here and those that do not remember.

One of my favorite preoccupations is storytelling. That is, listening to stories and telling them. I've been wondering...

A lot of us come from different places, yes? Different places mean different cultures, and to get to my point, different stories. I don't know if there is a collection of some sort, or if this has been asked before, but I want to listen to fables, myths or legends of all sorts from your homelands, if you will indulge me. That way, I can spread these marvelous stories in my travels if/when I get back to Thedas.

If you're more of the listening sort, I will be more than happy to relay stories from where I came from.

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[ typically, fenris wouldn't really be terribly interested in replying to such a request.

though certainly, he would eagerly relay the stories of tevinter and the corrupted magisters, no doubt concluding with how magicinherently taints.

But :]

You are from Thedas?

Gathering information, are we?

[grl.]

I wouldn't mind listening to a few.

I would be interesting in hearing the myths and legends of your people.

Gotta say, I'm a sucker for myths. I know a lot, but would you rather listen to one or tell one?

I managed to learn how the Age of Metal came to be where I came from. I figure a story for a story sounds fair.

[While Eddie is speaking, he's quietly strumming his guitar, making sure it stays in tune.]

[ !!! :o More people from Thedas. And an elf! A rather handsome one, too. She wonders how far those tattoos go. How intriguing! ]

I am. I was born in Orlais and I spent most of my adult life there, but I came back to my homeland of Ferelden three years ago.

How about you? Where did you come from?

[ wow, rude. well, maybe a little, but still!!! rude!!! ]

I... no! I don't know what I did to deserve such an accusation.

How about a story for a story?

More of an observation than an accusation.

["because you're Orlesian" is hidden in her tone somewhere.

her expression is casually neutral, however.]

You may find some interesting collections in the library if you haven't already looked.

[ The rogue catches that in a heartbeat. ]

I'm sorry, but not all Orlesians deserve special scrutiny, my lady. I gave up the bardic arts years ago, and after the Blight, I became a simple adventurer.

I will look for some after I talk to the people here. Stories are better heard than read, I think.

I'm good with that. After you, then.

That sounds fair!

[ ...Is that -- it is! It's a musical instrument. ]

What instrument is that, if you don't mind me asking?

It's a guitar. I've had it since I was a kid. Her name is Clementine.

[Eddie lifts the Flying V towards the camera of the tablet, panning from the neck down to the black body, giving Leliana a closer look at the flame detailing painted on it.]

We've been through a lot of shit together.

I've never heard of guitars before but she is magnificent. Are you a minstrel? [ Leliana puts down her communication device. It shows the view of a ceiling for a few moments. There's the sound of rustling, before she picks this up again and shows him her lute. ]

I picked this up during one of my missions. Since yours has a name, I think I will name her too... hm... I will call her Andraste, because she plays such enchanting music.

[Maya has the expression of someone clearly trying not to look too eager.] You know, this kind of sounds like it might be right up my alley. I could go for a little quality show and tell.

Edited 2012-11-07 03:40 (UTC)

Ah...

I have a story, if you wish to listen.

This is the story of Aveline the Brave, a respected knight of Orlais.

A long time ago, a girl-child was born to a farmer, but he had hoped for a son not a daughter, so he and his wife abandoned the child in the woods. Before the cold could claim her, a tribe of Dalish elves found the babe and took pity on the poor, mewling thing and raised her as one of their own.

Aveline grew into a fine warrior under their guidance. She learned to weird a sword as well as any man, could kill a deer with an arrow at a hundred paces and was graceful on the back of a horse as she was on foot.

The Dalish elves quickly saw that she could best any Orlesian chevalier in battle, and wanted to show the cruel humans the child they had left to die. They bestowed her a horse and fine armor, and sent her to prove herself in the Grand Tourney.

Now, in those days, no woman was allowed to take up arms, let alone compete in the Grand Tourney, but Aveline kept her helmet on and was not discovered.

She won many events, and gained the approval of the adoring crowd. Eventually she came face to face with the knight Kaleva in the grand melee. She had already bested him in the joust, and out of desperation to regain his honor, Kaleva tripped Aveline and ripped her helmet off.

Silence fell upon the arena as Aveline was revealed. Kaleva had declared the previous winnings invalid -- a woman had taken part and this was not allowed. But the crowd cheered for Aveline. Blinded by his rage, he forced Aveline to her knees. "Know your place, woman!" cried he, and slit her throat.

The son of the king, Prince Freyam, was present. He recognized Aveline's bravery, and realized the injustice being done to the women in his land. When he became king, he rewrote the laws of Orlais so women would be allowed to take up arms and knighted Aveline after her death.

To this day, every female knight reveres Aveline the Brave, for she is the patron of all women chevalier.

Edited 2012-11-07 07:13 (UTC)

I do!

Indeed? I am all ears.

Ever since my mother told me this story, it haunted my dreams as a child. This is the Chasind tale of Flemeth, Witch of the Wilds and Devourer of Men.

With hair like the starless night sky, skin like the first drop of winter snow and eyes as beautiful and perilous as the sea, Flemeth was the most beautiful woman of the land, the desire of all who saw her. Conobar, a lord from Highever, fell in love with beautiful Flemeth and asked for her hand in marriage. She said yes, and they lived in his castle during their married life.

Lord Conobar soon learned that his wife had the gift of magic. Distraught that the chantry might take his precious wife away from him -- because in Thedas, all mages are locked up in Circle towers where their powers would harm no one -- Conobar kept this a secret and allowed Flemeth to practice the arcane arts under private tutelage.

Their marriage went smoothly until one day, Flemeth fell in love with the handsome bard Osen, who visited Conobar's castle to sing and perform. They ran away together and lived happily for many a year.

But soon, Flemeth received news that Conobar was deathly ill because his wife had left him. Taking pity on her former husband, she and Osen traveled to Highever to visit him, but too late, it was a trap. Osen was killed, and in her rage, Flemeth summoned demons to storm the castle and became an abomination herself.

When Conobar was killed, Flemeth retreated into the Wilds and soon quickly went insane herself, hiding there to plot for a hundred years. They say to this day, Flemeth haunts the Wilds and takes many Chasind men to her bed, killing them when they are spent and raising many daughters -- other Witches of the Wilds -- that prowl the forest with her.

Edited 2012-11-07 09:17 (UTC)

A grim tale. How true is it?

The Chantry lore says that it is man's pride that created the darkspawn.

In ages past, the Imperium ruled much of the land. In their pride, they thought their magics invincible and imagined they were greater than the Maker himself. So thinking, they invaded his golden city to take it for themselves and depose their creator.

But they were impure, and full of sin, and it's this sin that tainted the golden city, corrupting it forever. The Maker cursed them, and cast them from his sight. Wherever they went, they spread their taint. Any land that was touched by the taint became blighted, and would suffer no life. Instead, the darkspawn arose to torment us, and remind us of our hubris.

Truly? I do not know. It could be true, or it could be a made-up story used to scare little children into staying at home at night. [ she giggles ] I have never met Flemeth, but one of my former companions claims she is one of her daughters. But... I'm not sure whether to believe her.

Nah, I'm a roadie. I travel around with a band, make sure they have all their shit in order so they can do what they were born to do, which is take the stage and put on a fuckin' awesome show.

There a story behind the name? Just curious.

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