crystal ||

[degenere]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Valentine Nicasus Maxence Mérovée Olivier de Foncé & Kostos Averesch
RECIPIENT: Everybody
WHAT: This is fine
WHEN: Shortly after this

Inquisition. [Very somber, very Orlesian.] Especially members of the Scouting Division. We must demand your attention. Our beloved Head of Scouting, Beleth Ashara, has been tragically and most temporarily laid low by an ill-founded and frankly poorly researched experiment. In these coming weeks, please, join us in offering sincere prayers to Andraste for Beleth’s healing and recovery.

But tragedy must not forestall the work of the Inquisition! Beleth Ashara, eternally professional and aware of the solemn charge of her most important position, has temporarily assigned the duties and tasks of leading the Scouting Division to me: Valentine Nicasus Maxence Mérovée Olivier de Foncé.

[A pause, to properly savor the announcement--and then, as a small but gracious afterthought, he goes on--] And to her other dear friend--or at least, I imagine they must be dear friends, as I am with Beleth, for who better to trust with important work and secrets of the Division than friends--her dear friend, Kostos Averesch. You cannot see his face, of course, but he is quite thrilled.

Don't. [ --misrepresent his expression, which is distinctly not thrilled? address him? talk anymore at all? All of the above, maybe. Also: ] It is very temporary. [ If the Maker has any mercy at all. ] If you acquire information of immediate, war-changing importance, direct it to the remaining division heads. If you have questions about your pay or routine responsibilities, direct them to--him.

[ The one with the long name. He refuses to learn it, or at least to admit he's learned it. ]

[Very helpfully:] Valentine Nicasus Maxence Mérovée Olivier de Foncé. Val. And if you acquire any letters of well-wishing for Beleth Ashara, or come across any woodland creatures that need taming, you might direct either to Averesch, who is followed around by a large raven and might, possibly, be able to speak with animals. And if you acquire any interesting gossip you might direct it to us both.

[ Unseen, and unheard, Kostos' head lowers into his hands in defeat. ]

Above all, do not worry, Inquisition! Do not worry, scouts! We are more than capable of handling all that is asked of us. And we are, of course, treating this temporary but quite important reassignment with all due solemnity. In the name of the Inquisition, and of Beleth Ashara.

Comments

[sorcerised]

Wait, this was you?

[ He sounds half concerned, half amused. What even, Adalia? ]

What did you actually do?

[thunderproof]

Not purposefully.

❰ although if this had been purposeful it might reflect better on her, really. ❱

I made a confusion grenade. I thought it would be safe to use, and Beleth needed to train some people, so I offered to let her have it. It... didn't detonate as designed.

[sorcerised]

It blew up in her face.

[ Literally, he assumes. ]

Well, that's unfortunate. Is there anything we can do? Perhaps we ought to find a cleric of some kind.

[thunderproof]

Gods, if they had clerics here this would be so much easier. The closest thing I can think of is a Spirit Healer, and I don't know if they could fix confusion on this scale.

❰ like. the detonation fucked up. but the confusion part was apparently totally perfect. if it wasn't so much of a problem currently adalia would be very proud. ❱

I'm doing as much research as I can, but between smoothing ruffled Rifter feathers and doing my actual job, I don't know that I'll be able to find anything before the effect naturally wears off.

[sorcerised]

Well, how long is it supposed to last?

[ Key words: supposed to. Maybe if we're lucky it'll sort itself out before Messr. Valentine has time to say all his names again. ]

Perhaps a different grenade could do something. A clarity grenade, if there is such a thing. Do you want help with research?

[thunderproof]

...well, we're already a bit beyond when I had intended it to wear off.

❰ it was really good at its job. shame the same could not be said for adalia. ❱

I don't think I've heard of a clarity grenade before, but all that means is we get naming rights if we figure out how to make one. Help with research would be wonderful.

[sorcerised]

Nor have I. Still, these things have to come from somewhere, don't they?

[ She sounds so worried. No doubt people are giving her a hard time over this. ]

I'll see what I can find. At least you know you made a powerful grenade! That's something. I'm sure it'll come in very handy once the, ah. Triggering issue, is sorted.

[thunderproof]

❰ the hardest of times, truly. and this happened at such an inopportune time — it is going to cross at least some peoples' minds that she did this on purpose, to sow discord while the phylactery question is still up in the air. they did not need this. ❱

Yes, well, that's the hope! Thank you for helping, Aro. I truly appreciate it.

[sorcerised]

Of course! Any time.

[ They really didn't need this. Fixing it would have to build some bridges, though, wouldn't it? The more people that pitch in, the better. ]

I'll let you know if I find anything, okay? We'll get this done.