Casting down bad memories

[arlathvhen]

FORM: Sending crystal
SENDER: Beleth Ashara
RECIPIENT: Everyone who's part of the first group to Kirkwall
WHAT: Discussing what's to be done about the statues
WHEN: Sometime between Cloudreach 14th and 20th
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: This isn't an Official Poll that's going to decide things but it's a good way for people to throw out suggestions for voting on and discuss ideas

Good day, to every member of the Inquisition currently helping take care of the Gallows. We've been making some amazing progress, and I'm sure that our contributions will give this place the overhaul that it desperately needs. With time, the Gallows will become a symbol of hope, rather than despair.

If I may, I'd like to take time to discuss ideas for one of those symbols. Specifically, those horrid statues that are strewn about. Now that they will...probably no longer attempt to kill us.

I've been informed that there are artisans willing to melt down the statues and create new ones to be put in their place. Additionally, our group has been given permission to choose what kind of statues would be put up there. Suffice to say, whatever we go with will make a statement about our goals here. The Inquisition is trusting us to make sure that statement is positive.

So, I would like to discuss possibilities with everyone, and see if we can get some good ideas going.

To start the ball rolling, if it's alright, I'd like to share my own proposal. Of course, this is only a suggestion, and I welcome any other voices.

I propose that we have the statues remade to represent the diverse groups within the Inquisition. Have a statue of a dwarf, another of a Dalish, another of a mage, etc, etc. It would send a message of cooperation and coexistence, and hopefully promote such in our new home.

The floor is open for further suggestions.

Comments

[limier]

We may certainly hope so. Yet with prudence, we might know so. There are other purposes the bronze might be put to: It might even be sold to assist our efforts.

The Inquisition's interventionism is known fact. It is my concern that for all good intentions, this will appear a conqueror's vanity project, to a people rightfully wary of invasion. A vanity project which might attempt to bludgeon us to death.

[aventuriere]

That might please the Chantry, [ she says it very brightly ] A living demonstration of the wages of sin, literally bludgeoned to death by our own frivolous vanity.

[limier]

The metaphor alone seems a hazard on that count.

[aventuriere]

Of course, as we're meant to be representatives of the Chantry to some extent, they might not appreciate the message quite so much.

[limier]

[ there are a number of things she could say about what the chantry appreciates, and alas, so very few of them involve keeping her job ]

Is that why you have come to the Inquisition, Madame — ?

[ what's your name again, loud-probably-noble-academic ]

[aventuriere]

[ lololol ]

Oh yes, [ says an exceedingly serious voice ] I have come as a pilgrim, to follow the Inquisition on my knees in supplication for the sins of all Thedas, in hopes that our poor deeds may play some small role in redeeming us and bringing the world once more into the Maker's sight.

[limier]

[ the university of orlais is an invaluable institution of progress and learning, a jewel of the empire, a wonder of the south.

the second wonder is that no one's burned it to the ground ]

Very pious, [ steadily — but she's not so good at this, and there's an air of faint exasperation beneath the words. your trophy, freddie ] Did you swim here on your knees, as well?

[aventuriere]

[ freddie's thought about it once or twice. well, not the whole place. just the dean's office. and perhaps one or two others. ]

Of course not [ she scoffs, terribly offended ] that's absurd.

[ wait for it ]

But I was keelhauled at regular intervals, to be sure that my journey, like any proper pilgrim's path, was filled with a small measure of the suffering our Lady endured in her brief life as the Maker's bride.

[limier]

I feel holier by the minute of your presence.

[ there's. more than one way to take that. ]

How long do you intend to repent of our sins? Has there been a schedule devised, which we ought follow?

[aventuriere]

I am always pleased to provide an example of proper devotion.

[ which is to say very little devotion at all. she's sorry, jehan. ]

I know some people prefer the schedule based on Grand Cleric Eleutheria's reconstruction of Andraste's final week, but I've always found her interpretation of Andraste chapter 5 verses 20 to 32 to be a poor interpretation that fails to capture the true measure of our Lady's devotion. Instead I follow the schedule constructed by the late Revered Mother Syndallia. I'd be happy to lend you a copy. Have you a hair shirt?

[limier]

[ does this conversation count as a hair shirt ]

I fear my stipend does not permit to keep me in such fashions. But I should be interested to review the work, so as to reserve my sinning to the proper hours.

[aventuriere]

[ what are you talking about this is making her day ]

Oh no, I am afraid you have misunderstood. There are no hours for sinning, only hours of active penitence and passive repentance. And once a day, we are permitted to express our gratitude to the Maker through song.

[limier]

Ah, quite. How nostalgic of youth.

I find that I repent most passively while at rest. Perhaps these hours, and those of sleep might be consolidated. Efficiency is ever a virtue.

[aventuriere]

That is to be expected, in one of an advanced age. The Maker understands the natural infirmities of the body; aging is, after all, His work as well, bringing us nearer to the time when we will join Him. [ you can hear the capitalization in her tone ]

I believe it would be acceptable to combine those hours, so long as one was certain to pursue penitence in the Fade as well. Dreams are no excuse for us to decrease our vigilance against impious thoughts.

[limier]

[ oh, how she’d love to imply that time might be shortened — no. set a good example. okay, well. set a... set a not completely shitty example.

( a pillowcase full of weevils. no one would blame her. ) ]

Are you often impious of dreams, Madame? Where does this arrangement leave the Dwarven faithful?

[degenere]

I pray you: do not ask her of her impious dreams, madame. There might be tender souls listening. Children. You cannot imagine what it is that you ask.

It is in fact for her dreams that the mademoiselle must seek regular absolution. It is the hope of all the faithful in Orlais that she finds purity on her pilgrimage.

[arlathvhen]

That's a fair point, and I've noted the suggestion.

[limier]

Did you assign yourself this task, or was it given to you?

[ she's careful to strain the judgment from her voice. or at least, to try — this whole business of note-taking, it wouldn't be concerning if it weren't beleth doing it. this is how venatori bookkeeping starts.

(talk to your kids before it's too late) ]

[arlathvhen]

I'd asked after what are the plans to be done with the statues, since they clash so significantly with our efforts to improve the place. And I mean, a bunch of them are just...laying around in the courtyard?

I was told it was up to us, but no measures had really been taken to figure out what to do. So, in order to hasten their removal, I thought I would get a list of suggestions to vote on. I, um. Didn't think it was be so... [ Volatile. ] ...controversial? Or quite as, um. Big of a thing as it's become.

[ So she took it upon herself but really all she wants is to be able to garden without those creepy statues STARING AT HER. ]

[limier]

When you remove power of a situation, people will seek it in what small ways they might.

[ not that she's ever been complicit in that! haha oh we have fun here ]

Many did not make the choice of transfer; are told to remain calm, even as tensions and surroundings grate.

[ tough shit, because thems the breaks when you join an army, but cooler heads do not always prevail by sheer force of will. so she shifts the channel to private. ]

A word of advice, if you will have it — let them bicker. It costs you nothing.

[arlathvhen]

I thought that getting to pick new forms for the statues would be, um. Fun. And maybe help with the stress? I mean--Using your imagination to create something beautiful from something so ugly...Isn't that enjoyable?

[ The heart of a cold-blooded traitor, Wren. ]

But, ah. I think you're right. I was trying to keep things...professional, but perhaps it would be better to let them have at it. Though it does make it a little difficult to keep track of genuine suggestions...

[limier]

It is an idea well-meant,

[ gently, because what she’s about to say isn’t kind, ]

But the matter does not exist independent of its surroundings, of its history. They are statues of slaves, in a place of great bloodshed. When it comes time to choose drapes, perhaps, there will be fun of the work.

If there is interest in a suggestion, it shall come more than once. You have already heard several repeated, no? This is an internal discussion. Your professionalism is not besmirched by others, lest they work under your command.

[arlathvhen]

I suppose we will have to see what the group decides upon. [ Noncommittally. Is she mad? Does she agree? Who knows! ]

That's true, most of the suggestions I've written down have been repeated at least once. For...some reason. [ People did not, perhaps, grasp that this is not the poll. ] But thank you. Still, I will do my best to carry this out, since I started it.

[limier]

[ a neutral brushoff. good. better than this hand-wringing. ]

You are welcome. Initiative and patience will be much demanded of us over the coming months.

[ beleth has one. the other comes with time — and both are best cultivated to inquisition purpose. wren understands very little of the girl's reasons for treason, but she does not intend to let it stray too far from hand. ]

I am heartened to find them in others; as I too hope to find them within myself.

[ yeah wren's not talking about herself here. probably should be, definitely not. ]

[arlathvhen]

...Thank you.

[ Her tone is polite, though a little puzzled. She's being complimented, she knows, but there's something odd in the way that it's stated.

But it's still a nice idea, so Beleth shrugs it off. ]