The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Varric]

Shaking his head, Varric continues, "right. So those are our covers. It'll take a day or two, maybe three to four depending on how pompous or petty the current Gate Warden is feeling, to get permission to enter the Gates and head in mountain. We're merchants, Seeker and guard excepted, so we need to act the roles. Mary, I know you're a genius with numbers, so you're studying the accounting side of things. Zane here is, clearly, a charmer, so he and Bella will be taking turns coming with me to do bartering and such."

[Marian Hawke]

"Got it," replies Marian, before shoving a spoonful of porridge into her mouth.

[Varric]

"Who here doesn't speak dwarven?" Varric suddenly thinks to ask. Zevran raises his hand.

[Isabela]

As does Isabela. "Alas, I have never had occasion to learn."

[Varric]

"Alright, good," Varric says unexpectedly. "That can be what the other is doing- dwarven lessons with Helene. And Shiny is with me, obviously, bodyguard and all that."

[Isabela]

"Sounds... fun."

[Varric]

"It's a valuable skill you'd normally have to pay good money for," Varric counters. "You get better trades if you know dwarven with virtually any dwarven merchant."

[Isabela]

"Sure," she agrees. "So long as I get to learn the fun vocab."

[Varric]

"...I will leave that to you, Helene and Mary to work out," Varric says, casting his eyes downward for patience again. "Alright. We've gone over manners and protocol often enough that you should all be good for day-to-day stuff and we can prep for individual events as they come up.  When we get into the trading village, we'll get lodging, then you can..." He pauses, rolling his eyes. "Entertain yourselves while I see about touching base with some of my contacts. Just try not to draw attention to us. I'll need one of you to come with me, wh-"

[Haliel Lightsong]

"I'll go," Haliel says softly, still not looking at any of them. 

[Varric]

Varric raises an eyebrow, but shrugs. "Sure. Just need someone to watch my back. More a show of not being alone than anything else. Anyone have any questions, comments, suggestions?"

[Marian Hawke]

"No," says Marian, her mouth full of porridge. She swallows. "Just let me finish this bowl and we can head out."

[NPCs]

The trading village is not exactly the most welcoming place in appearance. Varric had warned them about this, about how the village is designed to be utilitarian and efficient, but the degree of comfort and entertainment they can expect is... minimal, as the dwarves want to host merchants without attracting tourists or people wishing to move in. The walls around the village are made of steel made into a palisade, with stone towers every twenty degrees as the wall arches around the cave entrance to the city deep underground. The walls and towers are unwarded, technically, though they have runes that make them proof against weather and add a small measure of durability. There's only one gate, though there are likely other entrances hidden away, which is currently open for the day but well guarded.

Thankfully Varric's fake identity seems to hold up well, and they get passed through easily enough. Finding accommodations is painless as well, Varric renting out three rooms for the group. That done, he heads off with Lightsong, who still hasn't spoken to anyone beyond the minimum needed to answer questions. Which leaves Marian free to resume her morning activities, if she can convince her two... lovers? Whatever they are, they're both up for more play, which takes them up to dinner. Afterwards, she and Helene head to the bookstore. It isn't the most... compainable of outings, but books are books. 

This, unfortunately, sets the pattern for the three days it takes for Varric to get them passage into the city proper. Marian throws herself into sex with Zevran and Isabela, doing research into the less common magics they have here (mostly runecrafting and enchanting), and holing up in her room. Zevran and Isabela- aside from sex- explore the tiny village and become familiar faces in the only two taverns in town. Helene does a lot of reading, some teaching dwarven and also spending time with Varric, who in turn spends most of his time keeping his cover as a merchant when he's not trying to gather information. And Lightsong... is quiet. She's polite, she helps the others with what needs doing. And she watches Marian, sadly, discreetly. The afternoon of their second day, while the others are out for a while, Zevran and Isabela finally have some time just to themselves...

[Isabela]

"Well," says Isabela, flopping onto Zevran's bed. "I don't mind our pup, but I can't say I don't relish a bit of time to ourselves, just us adults." 

[Zevran]

"She is of age," Zevran comments from the small window, people watching absently.