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

[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. ]

[aceso]

Very true. Everyday we delay in testing puts our reliability into question. To be honest, it surprises me all sides agreed to let the Rifts & Veils project handle this, seeing how many rifters are a part of it.

[limier]

[ pigs are also a part of salami. some thoughts: best kept to oneself. ]

[rowancrowned]

Knight-Enchanter, are you calling into question my ability to keep my people in line?

[aceso]

I am calling into question the Templars and Chantry representatives agreeing to a project with a great many Rifters doing tests to see if they can chain themselves to a phylactery.

private;

[limier]

[ dryly, ]

Were they ever?

[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.

[aceso]

Yes, I know. A hypothetical that we should not use, but merely to point out that it would be pointless to try.

[faithlikeaseed]

Right. [A small, humorless laugh.] I'd had it suggested to me as a tactic already by someone who thought it might actually work.

[aceso]

Hopefully not a mage. We tend to know better than to look at the bright side.

[rowancrowned]

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

[aceso]

Magical criminals and prisoners, it is worth noting. All this comes down to the anchors in your hands, and if that sort of magic can be bound by blood too.

[rowancrowned]

[ he reads as if off a sheet: ] 'Phylacteries will be created for mages convicted of violent crimes by the Inquisition, enemy prisoners, and rifters.'

All enemy prisoners, one presumes, not merely violent ones.

[aceso]

Presumably.

[ This is the part where you get to the point, Thrandy. Curse Church for putting that name into her head... ]

[exequy]

[ Pausing the mortal enemy thing for a moment. But just a moment. ]

They believe you are more dangerous than us. If it is not true— [ and it probably is ] —I cannot think of a way to prove it to someone who might insist on believing otherwise.

[rowancrowned]

How flattering of them.

[ which may well be true in some cases, but. his end goal is to ensure that galadriel doesn't carve a pathway to freedom, literally. ]

What do they imagine us to do with this power? Surely not become the new Corypheus. We already cannot be parted for long from other shardbearers without immense pain. I will never live a life outside whatever becomes of the Inquisition. With that, we are leashed already. With that, the Venatori will not have us in their custody and alive for long.

[exequy]

I am sure infiltrating the upper ranks of the Inquisition to turn it sinister purpose has crossed one mind or another.

[limier]

Phylacteries persist for many. Only identified, Inquisition mages may ask of those in known custody.

[ arguments don't get better unless someone pokes the easy holes. ]

[rowancrowned]

New phylacteries.

Another thought: we do not have many, but what of children who manifest magic while in Inquisition custody or proximity?

[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?

[rowancrowned]

Can phylacteries be created with the blood of an animal? Given how we have no prisoners to test this theory upon.

[dashing]

I have only known phylacteries to be made from the blood of mages. It relies upon the magic in the blood, and a spell to create the bond once your blood enters the vessel.

( Experimenting on prisoners makes her uneasy. Experimenting on anyone with something like this makes her uneasy, truthfully. )

[aceso]

[ Christine gives a thoughtful hum. ]

From my research, red lyrium does grant Templars some magic-like abilities as it destroys them from the inside. I cannot say how it reacts to the blood in phylacteries, though at a guess the corruption it passes would be slower without direct contact with that blood.

I am hesitant to test this, however. As you say, there could be significant danger in doing so. I could not put a person's body at risk by testing red lyrium on their phylactery, on the chance the corruption the Red Templars experience somehow magically transfers through the phylactery to the body.

[dashing]

If there were a way to justify the theory, though... that could be of use. I must confess myself— my studies have been much focused on particular magics and histories. The research behind red lyrium is entirely beyond my expertise.

Could tests be done on blood outside of a phylactery? Or would that be a pointless endeavour?