therookery | crystal ||

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crystal ||

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.

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[ Uncertainly. ]

I was told to speak to the Scouting division about missions outside of Kirkwall, but...

Well, perhaps I should wait for Beleth to return in any case.

[ Not that he doubts your authority or anything!! He's also less sure he even wants this due to the whole phylacteries situation, but it still wouldn't hurt to talk about it. To the right person, obviously. ]

Oh, no! There is no sense in waiting. As I have said, we, all of us, must not let ourselves be overcome. We must continue the work of the division and of the Inquisition, or risk loss far greater than any of us might imagine. This loss is but temporary.

I have never been bedridden. But I imagine it is like being on the very worst sort of sabbatical. You return to your work, and no one has done anything to help you while you were gone, and you have piles and piles to catch up with, and you must take a sabbatical for your sabbatical. Or do as I would, and sweep all of it into the fireplace.

Beleth Ashara will never do such a thing. She will attempt to do all of the work herself. So we must make sure there is as little for her to do as possible, when at last she returns to us, yes?

[Without waiting for a yes--]

Now. What is it that I, acting co-head of the Scouting Division, might do for you, my friend? You seek a mission beyond Kirkwall?

[ Okay so he's really not sure about any of that, and also you talk a lot, friend.

But all right. What's the worst that could happen? ]

Er...well, yes, I suppose. Though I'm not actually part of-- any Division, at the moment. It's more that I was advised to speak with you, since I was told leaving outside of the Inquisition's purview might not be wise.

[ That's putting it mildly. ]

I don't do very well inside city walls, Master ... [ Those really were a lot of names. ] ...Valentine? I'm sorry, I'm not sure which title I should...

Anyway. I wondered what manner of missions you actually send people on, and what kind of people you look for to do it. In my own world, I often take employment by way of quests that send me all over the place. I suppose this might not be so different.

Simply de Foncé will do. Or Val, if you prefer informality. I certainly do.

Now of course, the business of the Scouting Division is just that: to scout. There are specialized assignments that one might take on, but at the moment, it seems--at least according to Beleth's notes--that you would find most immediate relief in a general mission of scouting. Explore the location, and mark any serious or urgent activity that might affect the Inquisition. You are encouraged to investigate, but your ultimate task is one of assessment, not engagement, and you are discouraged from entering into any serious confli-- well, that is up to you, of course. I personally would feel very restricted by such a--what would the word be? Un-necessity. Is that correct?

[He's already reading on, anyways, not really waiting for an answer.]

Ah, Sundermont! A wonderfully wild place. That would prove quote the challenge. Perhaps we do not send you to there.

[ You know, honestly, that's really among the worst things one could say to Aro, because: ]

A challenge, you say?

[ You can almost see his ears pricking up. ]

Well, I mean, that would depend on how you're defining a challenge, really, wouldn't it? I'm quite fond of wild places. Is Sundermont very remote? Perhaps you could tell me a little more about it, just…in case.

[ In case what, in case he actually decides to join up? That's a ridiculous thought. He doesn't trust this institution and it would be a terrible idea to tie himself to it.

Particularly with phylacteries on the cards. Still, he has to admit, the thought of going somewhere remote, unexplored and even dangerous, has definite appeal. At least it would get him away from the city, wouldn't it…? ]

Well of course, my definition of 'challenge' would be in Orlesian, and incomprehensible to you. I would say that Sundermount is rather remote, yes. Located here, in the Free Marches--have you seen a map of Thedas? I suggest you locate one quite soon, or else this will make little sense.

[Like he's still going to talk, but still.]

Its proximity does not ensure ease of access. Sundermount lies in the trecherous Vinmark Mountains, which traces its fearsome toothsome way parallel along the coast of the Waking Sea. It is dismissed as half-legend, that the Tevinter Imperium and some clan or other of elves once waged terrible battle and released all sorts of beasts to stalk about the slopes of Sundermount--but as the Vinmark are known for their population of ghasts, wyverns, darkspawn, and so forth, and as there are artifacts that have been skillfully reclaimed from digs conducted in the region--well, there must be some truth to these legends, yes? Caverns of spiders, and other evils... the Champion of Kirkwall once waged a battle there as well, though not so complete as to drive out all wicked things that traipse about.

Risky, yes? But a prime place where agents of our enemy might cluster.

[ Who's even worried about the enemy when so many challenges might lie ahead? Spiders in caves, darkspawn, whatever a ghast might be. Like a ghost but more ghastly?

That has to be worth investigating. ]

It sounds like the perfect place for a quest. How many of us would need to go there, do you think? And would we all need to be formal members of the Inquisition, or would you ever employ someone for a single mission, on a temporary contract? Do you even have use for that sort of thing here?

[ He sort of doubts it, but he thinks it's worth asking anyway. That's the kind of work he's more used to, after all. ]

[Well, now he almost likes this guy. As much as he could ever like a Rifter. An appreciation for dangerous places! If only he were Orlesian. Alas, alas.]

The Inquisition would provide for Inquisition members, and sanction activities conducted by Inquisition scouts only.

But of course, if you were to happen to include friends of yours, on a trip... for the company, you see. Who could blame you?

[ If it's any help at all, he'd love to go to Orlais. ]

Yes, I see. That sounds very fair.

And - just so that I know what to expect - how many rifters do you think would need to go together, you know. To avoid the pain from the shards making things impossible?

My apologies. Perhaps I was unclear? I am not a Rifter. I am Orlesian, here with the Inquisition by way of the great University. My certificates and degrees and accreditations are in the area of architecture and design, demolitions, and zoology. Though of course I possess a vast array of knowledges.

[i.e., nothing about Rifters, bye!]

[ Um. ]

That's...fascinating, I'm sure.

[ Zoology in the middle of all that? What? We might cycle back to that. ]

But it doesn't answer my question. I'm asking how many of us would need to go. Surely you're used to sending groups that include rifters out together, no?

Someone is used to it, yes.

[Someone, not him. But, he pauses, thoughtfully, and decides:]

Three.

Someone like Beleth?

[ All gods. He knew he should've waited to talk to her. Now he sounds doubtful. ]

Three exactly, or is that a guess?

I do not know what Beleth does and does not know. For myself, I say yes, three, exactly. I do not deal in inexactness.

[But does he deal in total outright guessing because he doesn't really care? You better believe it.]

Right. Well, that's reassuring. [ Says Aro, feeling unassured. ] I'll think about it, then. Thank you for the information, Scoutmaster.

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crystal ||

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oops sorry almost forgot to get back here

No worries <3

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