closed | project meeting

[misdirection_hex]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Vandelin Elris
RECIPIENT: Members of the Hostile Powers project who are not currently imprisoned
WHAT: Conference call to discuss recent events
WHEN: After people have returned from Tevinter
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: None

Enchanter Averesch and I-- [Because damned if Vandelin is going to dispense with formalities and titles just because he was told to.] --thought it best that we all confer about our collective priorities in the aftermath of Corypheus' assault. Priorities, strategies, suggestions for what we can each individually do.

Are we all met?

Comments

[wythersake]

No more or less than a decision to work through the titled power structure.

It's one thing to plot a coup, it's another to build alliances through those who actually enforce them. The Venatori will be targeting dissenters. Easier for them to lop off a few heads at the top, than to reconstruct the infrastructure of a nation.

[hassaran]

The approach you're suggesting will sow conflict among Tevinters that has nothing to do with Corypheus or the Venatori. We can either try to harness Tevinter's power ourselves against them or we can try to tear down its power and deny them use of it, but we can't do both at the same time.

[eruit]

Then I will contact them. Do you request an alliance or simply information on their status?

[wythersake]

What does your alternative to cherrypicking Magisters actually entail? I'm unclear.

[altusimperius]

...

[altusimperius]

[hassaran]

You've suggested we try to undermine them by courting their officers, creditors, and tenants with the end goal of destroying the political order that's stood largely unopposed in Tevinter for a thousand years. Do you think that can be accomplished without starting a true civil war?

[exequy]

[ —interjecting, grudgingly. ]

This is not a decision we will make right now, or likely at all.

[exequy]

Not impossible.

[ Andraste (or Shartan, but that's neither here nor there) did it. Not to say that anyone here is as cool as Andraste. ]

[exequy]

Mm.

[ That's a not a terrible idea mm. ]

How would you transport food to them?

[exequy]

Have any Rivainis gotten to know you?

[exequy]

[justice_is_blond]

As in seeds? By griffon, I'd think. Fill up the saddlebags, fly in seeds. You could fit a lot in, and the griffons wouldn't be likely to try to twist themselves around in circles wanting to snack on them.

[exequy]

Is it seeds they lack for? I would expect water and arable land to be the problem.

[justice_is_blond]

Likely it's water and arable land, yes. But you asked about food.

[There's a short pause as he thinks.]

We could equally use the griffons for flying water? Not a great deal, though. Water's heavy. Let me think on what we could do for water, other than transporting mages who can make a lot of ice which would melt rather quickly.

I've no idea if there's anything to be done about the land. Animal excrement helps, but to get a large enough quantity to make any sort of actual difference would be miserable for everyone involved.

[rathercommon]

[ --holy shit, was that seriously Kostos not shooting her down? Damn, shit. Encouraged, she goes on: ]

It'll depend a bit on how they're being treated there now. If their lives are better under Corypheus than they were under the previous lot, then we won't get anywhere. Given who Corypheus is, though, that doesn't seem likely. So we'd want to find some way of getting intelligence about what's going on with them.

[hassaran]

Isn't most of what they produce likely going to feed the army?

[justice_is_blond]

Likely. But they've also likely no idea they have any options there. If we reach out to them and give them an alternative while offering support, it could give us an inroad.

We need allies on the inside. They need stability so the country doesn't starve.

[wythersake]

[ talking over kostos, like an asshole, ]

I suppose that what I don't see is how it's different from inciting slaves to rebellion. I'm not opposed to the latter, it's terribly noble, but let's not fool ourselves about the consequences. Both courses promote chaos. To act against the Imperium in any manner outside the Magisterium promotes chaos.

[exequy]

[ Shooting down ideas is the opposite of the purpose of this exercise. ]

I can add it to the list of things we need to know.

Understanding how previous slave rebellions occurred and how they failed, too. I am sure someone has written a book.

[exequy]

[ wow take that back ]

[hassaran]

I agree, that's why I'm not suggesting we incite a slave rebellion, either. Unless Skyhold decides that chaos and the chance of greater change is more desirable than a faster victory and return to the status quo.

[wythersake]

A faster victory, if any victory could be had. The Venatori want to trade the status quo for the glory days — that's harder to dismiss when they've proven they can take a city. The nobility are all descended from Corypheus' old friends, aren't they? What can we give them that he can't?

[ see, they're brainstorming again, isn't everyone proud ]

[rathercommon]

[ HOT DAMN ]

I could start doing that research.

[exequy]

Maker help us.

[ haha jk.

The Maker doesn’t help anybody. ]