002.

[sangsues]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Etienne Guerinet Beaumanoir
RECIPIENT: everyone (sorry)
WHAT: whats all this
WHEN: post-proposal etc
WHERE: the walliest kirk
NOTES: Orlesians

( A quiet clearing of the throat; one can naturally assume it is a very beautiful clearing of the throat, done by a very beautiful man. )

This matter of the phylacteries for rifters… it seems sensible. If they are such a valuable resource to the Inquisition, the closing of rifts, and so on, being able to find said resource if a rival power were to try and overpower them and abscond with them makes sense, I think. For their own safety, for our own safety. If Corypheus and his forces were, for example, to make an attack on a party closing a rift and kidnap those rifters for nefarious purposes, it would be better for all if we were able to find them as quickly as possible. The phylacteries are an established way of doing just this, no?

By all means, if you wish to see the world end, protest. Even if this is not your world, though, I think we can all agree that you are currently in it. It’s fate is not entirely irrelevant to you.

Comments

[zombra]

So you're agreeing to have a phylactery made from your blood too, right? I mean, you sound like you're very important. We wouldn't want to lose you.

[koteletten]

If the Inquisition requests it I would have no objection. Would you all agree to cease your complaints if every member of the Inquisition were made a phylactery?

[zombra]

I don't know. I don't represent every Rifter, now do I? I suppose that'll come up during negotiations. Because there are probably gonna be negotiations.

[koteletten]

Will there? Many of your fellows seem inclined to more violent methods of persuasion and, as you've just said yourself, you do not represent every Rifter, do you?

[zombra]

That's your opinion. You say many, I say I haven't seen any violence happening in the Gallows. Just a lot of talk. And talk can lead to negotiations.

[koteletten]

Talk can also lead to violence, particularly when the talk is about how ready and willing the speakers are to commit violence if they do not get their way.

[zombra]

Okay, so let's agree at this point it could go either way, like most things. It's either gonna lead to something good or something bad. Can we at least agree on wanting it to lead to negotiations?

[koteletten]

Certainly, I would prefer that to wanton riot. Think of the costs. But if the negotiations do not result in total victory for your side? What then?

[zombra]

Nobody knows. And that's what has both sides freaking out. Because we want to skip to the end and know the result. So that's why I'm hoping we can all hit the brakes, get organized, and focus on the here and now.

[koteletten]

But how can you expect the Inquisition to treat with you without knowing if you act in good faith? Not you personally, you understand, you seem a most sincere lady, but the collective. Without trust that the outcome of negotiations will be honored, the Inquisition would be foolish to participate.

[zombra]

I think I could answer that with another question. Why did the Inquisition agree to, uh, treat with the mages in the first place? Because before going in, the mages didn't know they'd get enough of their requests met, right? [ She's read the notice. Seems like they got plenty. ] So why did the Inquisition trust they'd act in good faith?

private ;

[aenseidhe]

[ Iorveth's had time to calm and discuss their next course of action with others, and he's really wishing he hadn't made his initial reaction so public as he did. force of habit from a century worth of rebel leading and freedom fighting, sue him. so, now he's trying to help the rifters from self-sabotage that hurts all of them.

this is spoken in response to "I don't represent every Rifter, now do I". ]

But they believe you do, and that's all that will matter when we take our arguments to Skyhold to win our freedom.

You've every right to be angry, but these men can do nothing at all to change what's done with this policy. Only in that they can bait you to look like the savage and alien threats the Templars and Chantry would like us to be seen as. Do not give them the opportunity.

[ radio silence on the issue. that's what the rifters need right now. no natives currently in the gallows has any ability to fix this for them with talk, only make it worse. ] Besides that, the more of our arguments we voice now, where Skyhold can freely hear, the more time our enemies have to prepare counter-points for negotiations. Though we aren't unified as a people, if we want to insure any single one of us has freedom from these things, we need to keep all our possible plans or advantages to ourselves until it's time to present them.

If you wish to share your thoughts and skills, I'd suggest taking them only to other Rifters, where you can't be overheard. Thranduil, our Research leader, is wise counsel as well. None of us want to see this happen, but we're in a foreign land playing with foreign rules.

[zombra]

...Shit.

[ The word "bait" makes her realize that he's absolutely right, and she fell for it hook, line, and sinker. ]

Back home we have a name for these type of people. We call 'em internet trolls. And I totally got baited. Fuck.

[ She lets out an aggravated growl. ]

Yeah, I'm gonna bow out and not say anymore. I thought I was at least being reasonable, but yeah. Trolls don't care about that. They just want to get any response outta you and they "win."

[aenseidhe]

Trolls? [ there's a sound of genuine confusion here, because it brings up vastly different imagery to him. ] Trolls are known for being deeply stupid where I'm from. They eat rocks, I believe. I don't think they'd understand the concept of policy, let alone have the capacity to care about it.

[ legit trolls. shit that happens when you're from fantasy land, apparently. anyway, about that political strife going down. ]

You were being reasonable, and had this been the negotiations chamber, they'd be good points. Yet, it's too early to be spoiling valuable thoughts when it gives our enemies so much time to plot against them and prepare to counter.

[zombra]

Holy crap, really? Dude, they're like, just from stories where I'm from. But man, I wish these guys would go eat some rocks.

Hey, thanks. I usually don't debate things, but I guess that's because most things didn't hit so close to home until now.

[aenseidhe]

I do. [ debate often. It's kind of a problem . ] It was Thranduil's request that I go around trying to calm people, as I was the first to have a public... [ outburst. ] expression of disagreement.

As for the trolls, it's true. They also eat humans, which is the more concerning part. The rocks, I think, are because they're too stupid to realize it isn't real food.

[ hmm. These are questions for a Witcher. ]

[zombra]

Ohhhh, so that was you.

[ She thought the voice was familiar, but she wasn't going to go accusing him. ]

Wow, they must be huge. These guys, though? They probably aren't too big that I can't kick them in the nuts, buuuut I'll refrain. You know, be a civilized Rifter.

[aenseidhe]

It was. Apparently it upset some people.

[ w o o p s. Not really, though. ]

Much as I’d like to join you in that, it’s true. We’ve to be civilized until at least after the negotiations.

[zombra]

[ It definitely gave the locals more ammo against them. ]

Heh, yeah. After might be a different story. We'll see how it goes.

[spellshatter]

They can only make them for magical beings. I think it hasn't been worked out whether that includes rifters or not, but it probably doesn't include this fellow, unless he's very sneaky.

[zombra]

Huh. Do you know that for sure, or is that what you've always been told is the case? Just curious.

[ Because she's thinking this Chantry isn't to be trusted. ]

[spellshatter]

You think the powers that be would pass up the chance to keep that kind of eye on their enemies if they could? [ She can't see his thoughtful face, but he's making one. It's not impossible. ] They can try my blood when they one of yours, if it will make you feel better.

[zombra]

Okay, so there are records of attempts being made and it failing, then? Since the people leading nations would have done it to prisoners and stuff.

[ A pause. ]

If there's literally evidence out there that it doesn't work on you normies, then I wouldn't ask that of you, dude.

[spellshatter]

No, no, if we're mistrusting authority, I think we ought to go all the way and mistrust the records, too. Who knows what's been covered up.

[zombra]

[ That gets a thoughtful hum out of her, because she's way over her head here, but she can't just sit back and let people talk about Rifters like they have no voice of their own. ]

That's true. What's real? What's fake? [ Is there really even a Maker??? Boy, she's tempted, but she doesn't say it. ] We won't know unless we work it out for ourselves.

[ But boy, is she hoping it doesn't work on Rifters. ]