04.

[assistente]

FORM: sending crystal
SENDER: Seneschal Salvio Pizzicagnolo
RECIPIENT: everyone and anyone, but especially anyone not in Tevinter
WHAT: two words: magical texting
WHEN: now!
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: read up on the The Emergent Compendium for more general info, or the ooc post for faderifty info!

Hello. This is-- Salvio Pizzicagnolo. Seneschal Pizzicagnolo. [And for once he's sounding almost normal. Dare we even say... excited?] Seneschal to the Inquisition's base in Kirkwall and Head of Base Operations.

Recently the Inquisition has come into the possession--or, well, we will come into the possession--of some texts. A result of the negotiations, with the-- [You know what, who cares, the less strikes and mages and rifters and the Chantry are brought into this, the better, all that would only sour the news, and so Salvio revises what he is saying midway through the sentence.] In cataloging and examining the list of texts that will be added to the Inquisition's library, I have discovered an extremely rare text: The Emergent Compendium.

It, um--the text, that is--the text is likely unknown, to most--I have only seen passing reference to it, in other works and--well, to quote Scholar Bodaliere, [and in a voice of one reading right from a page] "the volumes are automatos: new entries appear of their own accord, with no scrivener's quill in sight".

Yes. So. I, I wrote directly to request access to the Compendium, and-- and I have had it for some time now, and--by the Maker, it produces pictures that appear and then disappear, out of nowhere, accessing some--some vast, unseen library, or--ah, and text, it will produce lines of text, obscure in their--well, so, I would invite those who would wish to behold it to do so, but--please, within the office hours of Base Operations, and I would suggest that you wear gloves--

But, um, in addition to viewing the Compendium, I have-- I have taken the liberty of making some... some rudimentary copies of the Compendium. Imitations, I mean. What connects the original to its unseen library or author, I cannot say, so the copies, they-- they are connected to one another instead.

It was, um. Premature, perhaps, uh, presumptuous, but--they seem to be operational. I have tested them. You can write back and forth, as if sending a letter, but much, much quicker. Of course, they are but test copies. They are limited in that they will only function within the walls of the Gallows, once they are outside of the Gallows, the connection severs, and they become as plain writing-books, but--

Um. To those members of the Inquisition that remain in Kirkwall--I, that is, Base Operations, requests your current assistance in the testing of these books. Your assistance will be invaluable in refining this, um, this development in communication, streamlining the process of-- communication.

If you are interested, and are in Kirkwall. Please, the Base Operations office--I mean to say that I will be in the Base Operations office. Handing out these texts.

Yes. So. That will be-- uh. Thank you.

Comments

[rathercommon]

[ Okay, clarification slightly needed - ]

Meaning...There are books that are magically linked, and when you write in one, it shows up in other books?

[assistente]

Uh. Yes.

[An apprehensive pause.]

Was that--unclear?

[rathercommon]

[ Um - ]

It's just such a novel idea. And exciting! Exciting, too.

[nadasharillen]

...In all of them? Or can— [ wait, he'd said they needed testing ] —I'll just come help.

[assistente]

Yes. Very good. You can be among the first to witness, firsthand, the Compendium. And its derivatives, of course, that is where I will need the, um--larger portion of help.

[arlathvhen]

I can come help out. I'd love to test this functionality for possible Scouting use in the future. This is incredibly useful, Seneschal, thank you.

[assistente]

[oh wow look at that Sig.ra. Big Spender Scoutmaster already requesting stuff for her super important division, who's surprised

--is a thought that Salvio has only in passing, there and then gone again. He is almost too pleased to be bitter right now.]

Of course, it will be available to you to be tested. To all divisions. But I would appreciate your assistance, and your thoughts on its application, provided they are logged properly for consideration.

We will need to decrease the limitations for it to be of wide use to Scouting, I would think.

[sorcerised]

What, seriously? But that's incredible, Salvio! I've heard of similar magic, back home, though...not quite like this. I didn't even know you were a mage!

[ Eagerly. ]

Can I try one? It's a brilliant idea.

[assistente]

[wha]

Of course I am a mage. The Antiva City Circle was... I was there for many years. In the back, usually.

[Does he seem particularly un-magey? Is that good? Bad? He can't decide how he feels about that, so--]

I am pleased--encouraged, that is--that this is met with such enthusiasm. Of course you may try one. Your assistance in its testing would be deeply appreciated by the Inquisition. Well, Base Operations.

[By Salvio, really.]

[aenseidhe]

Interesting. How secure are these books?

[ secrecy is important okok especially when you're an asshole rebel. ]

Regardless, I'll take one.

[assistente]

Very good. Um, they-- well, they are a bit... rough, I would say of them. The sending of messages, that is--not easy, but more, uh, straightforward. As of like to everyone writing on the same page at once.

I must ask that no one write anything of our efforts in the struggle against-- against any of our foes. Until we have determined just how--

[Uh.]

Should they-- be, particularly, secure, do you think?

[overharrowed]

Deeply intriguing. Do you need assistance making more? I'd be interested in the process, if you're willing to accept help.

[assistente]

Yes!

[Too loud?]

Ah, I-- yes. It is-- they are very crude. It is not my skill, to be--of course, I can show you, what it is I have tried. I should like to see some--some improvements--the range, of course, and the--

Um, are you--familiar, with the, the specifics of the sending crystals, by... some chance?

[utulien_aure]

Only to each other? Nothing written in a copy will find it's way into the original?

[assistente]

Um. No?

Sh-- Should it?

[somethingwild]

[Newt can't help but be delighted at this development. This reminds him so much of magic from his own world; he is utterly charmed.]

How fascinating. We have similar sorts of writing back home; it is good to see it put to use here.

[assistente]

Do you?

[Again with the overeager enthusiasm, but he can't help it. There is a shuffling of paper on Salvio's end, as he digs around to find his notes.]

Ah, I would be-- Do you have any knowledge, of, um, the workings of-- I am hoping that we can--someone, the Inquisition, other mages and the, the Research Division, of course, truly I should have contacted the, the pro--

I mean to sa--to, to ask. Do you know how the writing worked? In your home? You are a, uh, a Rifter, yes?

[mal_adjusted]

....Wow.

[Because honestly, Awed Here.]

Does that - do they have the hows written down as well? I mean, do they go into the theory of how they managed to make that work that way?

[assistente]

You speak of the Compendium? Well--yes, of course, you--because I--

Um, no. No, they do not. Are you--have you heard of the text, before? It is--the author, that is--they are unknown. Scholar Bodaliere was first to write of it, as near as can be told from history and, and research, and--as he said--its contents hold no clue as to its origin or its workings. The contents of the Compendium, that is.

[altusimperius]

I have a complaint.

[assistente]

Wh--

[wait what]

I. Um. The, complaint box... [Salvio trails off hopefully. Surely he knows about the complaint box by now.]

[hello_there]

You will let me know when you begin work on transmitting actual images, yes?

[Holograms: the civilized way to communicate via distances]

That said, you are certainly to be congratulated on your innovation. I'm sure this will be very useful.

[assistente]

I-- ah, yes. Thank you. It is entirely based on the, the Compendium, of course, and I--

Well. They can transmit a, a drawn image. The books can. One drawn with the hand, I mean. Ink sketches. The original Compendium, it, um, produces such images from its library, so--it seemed an important feature. For communicating.

Have had little luck with, uh, paints. And things. But I will--if that is something preferred...

[And he trails off, trying to figure out if paint is the medium being requested of him.]

[exascendee]

That's really interesting, well done.

[ Honestly, just having self-copying things is helpful without having to do everything involved in a printing press. ]

Does it copy everything exactly -- handwriting and all, even drawings? Does it happen in real-time -- that is, can someone watch you write it from another book? Can others interrupt you? Or or or, if someone else scribbles out what you've written, does that also show up in the other books?

[ Questions! ]

[assistente]

Yes.

[Salvio allows himself a moment of pride. Yeah. Well done. It proves to be a very brief moment because he realizes that, in the order of the conversation, he now sounds like he was answering yes to one, if not all, of those questions, and he quickly picks up the conversation again--]

Um, I mean to say--yes, yes, it copies everything. It happens in the time that it is observed, with perhaps the smallest of delays, I timed it but it was small, as I say, and-- uh, well, to interrupt is to scribble out, you see, so--yes. The scribbling appears. It is, as I say, as if you are writing on a large page posted on a wall. Or--on the wall itself, but with less of the--sense of graffiti.