010.

[dashing]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Herian Amsel
RECIPIENT: Division Heads (and/or their stand-ins) project leaders & assist leaders, Saoirse & Myrobalan.
WHAT: An idea to tackle the rifter phylactery discusssion.
WHEN: Current
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES:

I apologise for making contact with you all after so recently sharing an update on the Chantry Relations project with the network, however I think we can agree that the matter of the rifter phylacteries and the reaction to them is a disruption to our work, and causing divisions amongst our ranks.

Following the hard work of those who attended Skyhold to negotiate the matters of the phylacteries and were faced with considerable opposition from the Templars and Chantry, I think it is key that they come to understand it is not Skyhold and the Inquisition that pushed for this measure, but those other agents.

I also come to you to propose an idea to counter. Given that the Chantry and Templars pressed the matter of phylacteries for rifters, the most effective way to work against it is to diplomatically persuade them of the dangers and risks that come with said phylacteries, and diffuse the idea without further fracturing of our alliances and resources.

One matter that has been raised is that, as we have so recently seen, phylacteries could be used to harm the rifters should they fall into enemy hands. Furthermore, they could be used by the Venatori to target and abduct rifters. We do not know what they could do with them, but their shards are powerful and important to our efforts, even if we were to neglect what the Venatori might use them for in order to further their goals.

If you have insights or ideas on what other arguments could be used to present to the Chantry and the Templars, I appeal to you now to share them with me so we can present a strong and effective argument. This is not solely a matter of concern for rifters, though I can confess my bias; this is for the sake of our Inquisition, and more importantly, the sake of Thedas. Interruptions to our work jeopardise our cause.

Those who would be willing to attend a meeting with Chantry leadership with me, please make yourselves known.

Comments

[rowancrowned]

I have members of my division looking into if such a thing is even possible, and I am arranging for a meeting with the four mages who entered negotiations.

[ so that everyone is on the same page. ]

Which members of the Chantry were present, and which Templars? What are their ranks and nationalities?

[dashing]

I am afraid as I was not present at the negotiation myself, I do not have access tot hat information. The negotiators would be better qualified to provide you with that information, or perhaps Skyhold.

[thunderproof]

I would be willing to attend the meeting.

❰ though how wanted she would be is another question — ❱

The argument I have heard that I have no satisfactory answer for is what if Rifters are abducted by the Venatori? It's difficult to say in that situation that I care for my freedom more than I do for my well-being. Does anyone else have a better response?

[dashing]

I suspect that is a response that will receive little sympathy, given how long phylacteries were used for mages, but we can certainly keep it in consideration.

[limier]

[ don't send a loud teenager with no concept of respect to the meeting guys ]

[faithlikeaseed]

The strongest response I can think of to that is other methods for tracking that don't involve the use of blood magic. We've tossed about the idea of modifying the sending crystals for it; it's not as foolproof as a phylactery, but it would offer some recourse against anyone with one going missing without our knowing.

There may be other techniques for scrying that simply haven't been investigated because we had phylacteries instead.

[aceso]

[ It's eerie how Herian's thoughts match Christine's own, seeing how Christine is a Libertarian and non-Andrastian now. But they both have a bias, since their significant other is a Rifter. ]

I wish I could come up with more than just that argument about the phylacteries falling into enemy hands. It is a very good one, but is still countered by the foolproof method of tracking.

[ She sighs. ]

Of course, this all relies on Rifters being able to have phylacteries made in the first place, but I fear they can, and if we say they cannot be made to protect the Rifters, others will wish to do tests of their own, to ensure we are telling the truth.

[limier]

[ dispassionately, ]

Skyhold and her allies are unlike to take a delay at face value.

[ considering the circumstances of the strike's inception. ]

[faithlikeaseed]

And we'll have given them more reason to distrust us if we do lie about anything we might discover. I'd as lief not carry out any research in that direction, if we wanted to slow progress.

[rowancrowned]

Consider the fact that the only others who are yet subjected to the phylacteries are criminals and prisoners.

[dashing]

Given the way that magic can remotely effect mages via their phylacteries, could it be that there is any negative reaction between red lyrium and phylacteries?

That sort of danger might persuade the Chantry that all phylacteries are too great a risk. I am not certain how such a thing could be tested without significant danger, I speak only from... speculation. Would theorising such a thing be entirely incorrect?

[exequy]

When I first joined the Inquisition— [ a year late, compared to most of the rebellion, but this is no time for details! ] —many spoke of the rifters like a blessing. Gifts from the Maker. The spirit of the Herald enduring beyond death.

[ Nonsense. Not because he doesn't have faith, but he definitely doesn't have faith specifically in some of the people he's spoken to over the last few days. ]

Maybe you can make that fashionable again.

[rowancrowned]

Cloak ourselves in the imagery of the Chantry?

not here

[faithlikeaseed]

[He does not say, unexpose them to the rifters.

especially not because unexpose is a horrible word

But the less charitable parts of him are thinking it.]

[dashing]

That would certainly help, although I am hesitant to rely too heavily upon it. Do you recall if there were any Chantry members who advocated that sentiment?

[writteninblood]

I'd be willing to attend, though I'll not have much to say during such a meeting. [Not if they want it to go well, at least.]

I've a question, if we're being so open; if we assume phylacteries for the Rifters are possible, and desirable in their own right... [Dubious enough a conclusion, Sorrel is damn well sure.] ...So what? Even if we forced them to comply, assuming we wanted to, a great pack of resentful, shard-bearing people from beyond the Fade isn't exactly my idea of good neighbors or helpful agents.

Kirkwall's got a thin enough Veil as it is, that's all I'm saying. The Inquisition was supposed to be about not poking holes in it.

[limier]

I assure you all involved aware of the danger Rifters pose.

[dashing]

As I said, from my understanding and from what was stated by Knight-Enchanter Voss, the Inquisition has been pressed to consider the possibility and look into researching it by the Chantry and the Templars as a condition of destroying other existing phylacteries. It was not something proposed with enthusiasm from within the Inquisition itself, or considered, as you say, "desirable."

Your point regarding disturbance within the Inquisition ranks is precisely why I propose this move to persuade the Chantry to ease that pressure. We need to be able to focus on the greater concern we all face.

( She doubts she needs to specify Corypheus. )

[foxsays]

I would be willing to attend, I've been here a long time now in Thedas, I understand that there are concerns raised. That it's taken this long for it to come up is the surprise but those of us who were in Skyhold at the he same time as Seeker Pentaghast were asked to pledge or state or allegiance.

Is there, though, an argument that might be raised about magic serving man. If we are here, if we are dealing rifts, and contributing to more than that would that count in the eyes of the Chantry as magic serving man?

[The bare minimum has never been enough.]

[dashing]

That is certainly an interesting way of framing matters, Araceli. I would not discount it - but I fear that to approach the Chantry and persuade them to lean less heavily on it being a necessity, we may need to consider ways to present rifters not having phylacteries as advantageous to them.

[dashing]

Focusing on the danger presented by the Venatori if rifter phylacteries were created and fell into the wrong hands could be effective. Either they would allow the Venatori to attack the rifters remotely, or they could make it easier for them to be located and their anchors to be put to use by them.

A means to tracking rifters without the use of blood magic could be valuable. It could even be positioned as a means to track all Inquisition members without identifying rifters particularly amongst them. Records could be protected with code, something of that sort.

Presenting rifters as blessings, as Enchanter Averesch reminded us was once a view in favour, and as potential voices to carry the Chant, and as magic serving freely.

Giving them some freedoms regarding rifters or the Inquisition in exchange would be compelling, but could present new issues to contend with.

What can be argued as being a benefit that relies upon the rifters not having phylacteries?

[faithlikeaseed]

The Inquisition draws--and seeks to draw--support from all of Thedas, from believer and non-believer alike. Given the Chantry's reputation in dealing with the latter, [he doesn't need to list every March, every offense, when they've already spoken of it at length,] there may be a moral victory won in showing it invites rather than compels service even from rifters.

We would need a concrete case, though--an outside group powerful enough to be worth befriending, that would otherwise shy away from the heavy-handed use of phylacteries.

[degenere]

[ message listened and not responded to at: 2:30 pm ]

[degenere]

[Just kidding.]

I think--

[--And you were all stupid enough to ask him what he thinks, or else, Beleth was stupid enough to be hit by an experimental grenade and take confused and leave him with temporary authority--]

--that we should do whatever settles this issue most quickly and be done with it. As the Knight-Enchanter notes: interruptions to our work puts our cause at risk. The amount of time that has been spent in argument is as maddening as it is distracting.

What will be done about the Rifters posing dramatically and making threats? Gags? Hard candies, as for a child? Liquor, to put them to sleep for a time? Perhaps they might be allowed to take themselves elsewhere. Pain and threat may yet bring them around. And then these negotiations with the Chantry that you are all arranging for might be carried on, without any of us having to put up with a great deal of noise in the meantime, or falling into the danger of someone full of errant passion hiding in a saddlebag and popping out to shock all the good brothers and sisters of the faith at these new negotiations.

Private

[overharrowed]

Knight-Enchanter. I wished to let you know that I've stayed silent to this point largely because I don't wish to make a bad situation worse. I fear that as part of the party that, however reluctantly, conceded the point, I can do little without appearing to have negotiated in bad faith.

That said, I did want you to know that I think the thoughts about convincing the Inquisition that rifter phylacteries are bad for the organization, rather than for the rifters, are well-observed. And if there is a way I can usefully assist in the future, I will strongly consider it.

permaprivate

[dashing]

Enchanter Julius, I am— I greatly appreciate your response. I must confess that I have—

( An exhale. )

I know I must be seen as a traitor to my fellow mages, and that interceding in this only serves to cast my failure to strike in greater more severe a light. I did not strike not because I felt it was not necessary, but because I felt— I knew that we need to secure the future of the world, or else bettering it will not mean anything. Setting aside my duties to strike was an impossibility. My concerns in this are not based in the valuing of rifters over mages, but knowing that if the disruptions and discord continue and escalate, that too will set our world against Corypheus in jeopardy.

Your input would be welcome, both because of the esteem that I hold you in, and because the mages need to see that those who went on strike and those that did not can still stand in unity for Thedas.