[Open] For Your Entertaintment

[justice_is_blond]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Nathaniel, Anders, Merrill
RECIPIENT: All
WHAT: An Announcement
WHEN: Handwavily backdated to just before the war thing
WHERE: Crystal so everywhere
NOTES: Mentions of NPC deaths.

Good evening. This is W— [There’s a lengthy pause.] This is Nathaniel Howe. We’ve found a way to cure the darkspawn taint in Wardens. It might be a foothold into making a new weapon against Corypheus. Please give your attention to Merrill and Anders.

[Anders sounds slightly hesitant as he starts to speak, but picks up speed fairly quickly:] And this is Anders Howe. I... While the news is optimistic, it is cautiously optimistic. We've the foundation of a cure. One of the four volunteers was cured by it. We cannot yet call it a full solution, but it is a start, and coming around this time of rising tensions I feel we could use even some cautiously good news, particularly where the Blight is concerned, considering what's recently been found out. Merrill?

[There's a slight, startled squeak, almost as though Merrill wasn't expecting to actually talk.] We should specify, maybe - the other three volunteers didn't, um. Make it. [Anyone who's ever encountered Merrill in the flesh can probably imagine the nervous wave of her hands or the way she wrings her fingers together a moment later.] And the method and ingredients need to be worked on, some of them are really quite rare. But! It's a cure, that's good news. It could go toward curing those infected with Red Lyrium, too, if- well, if we're right. And I'm pretty sure we are.

Right. [Anders pauses, letting all of that linger for a moment.] So it's not... There's work to be done, but we've found the start of the trail. If there are any questions, we've time to answer them.

Comments

[circleprodigy]

...Maker, I didn't believe it was truly possible. [She knew a search was in progress, but who wanted to get their hopes up?]

This is a significant achievement, to say the least. I'm part of the red lyrium project, so whatever research you can share, I would gladly bring there as well.

[justice_is_blond]

Give me a time limit to do things and sometimes I accomplish... matters.

[His voice is very dry.]

I can share some of it, but some of it is on the, mm, Warden side of things.

[Like notes about Darkspawn magic. And also blood magic which isn't Wardeny but it's still a Secret.]

[circleprodigy]

I quite understand. [Certain things are better kept in the order, but the rest--]

Still, every detail that can be shared will only serve to help us further. This is news that everyone's needed, for so long, and now we finally have it.

[justice_is_blond]

Why don't you come on down to the room I work in, the one next to the infirmary?

[circleprodigy]

Thank you, I can make that happen shortly. How are you on supplies? If you need anything, I can bring it on the way over.

[justice_is_blond]

Honestly, the supply we'll need the most of is going to be rather hard to get. Great Dragon parts. Regular and High dragons can seemingly contain the Blight, but Great Dragons appear to not just have immunity, but convey it.

[circleprodigy]

A Great Dragon hunt, then? I think I can scrounge up a few volunteers for that, if nothing else.

[justice_is_blond]

Eventually, yes. We'd have to locate another, and find a time when the war isn't... quite so pressing, but yes.

[chainlightning]

We've all confirmed that we're not dreaming. By pinching, mostly.

[ So yeah, Merrill can't quite believe it either. ]

It's... the number of innocent people who could have a chance. It's not perfect, but it's better than all of them dying when one out of four could be cured, isn't it?

[circleprodigy]

Oh, dear. Don't give yourselves too many bruises.

[Her amused tone softens.]

You're right, it's definitely better. You've done a wonderful thing, Merrill--all of you.

[chainlightning]

I'm sure Anders has a salve for bruises. [ Probably. ]

I just wish- [ No. They saved one life. There's no point in dwelling on the ones that didn't make it this long. ] Well. We've done it now, and we'll just have to get better at it. Somehow.

[circleprodigy]

You will. You had your breakthrough, now comes the refining of it. If I can be of any help, you have but to ask. I mean that, whatever the inconvenience. Something this important deserves all the attention it needs.

[chainlightning]

[ How does "making sure Merrill isn't executed for blood magic" sound, Inessa? You know, hypothetically. ]

I think we're going to have to end up catching bereskarn or something.

[circleprodigy]

[Oh dear.]

...it's a good thing I know a few disabling spells already, then, but I'll review them anyway.

[chainlightning]

[ It worked and that's the important thing? ]

I've no idea where we'll put them, but that's never stopped us before.

[ You know. With the captured red lyrium darkspawn... ]

[pinprick]

It's possible. Believe me.

[Possible, not recommended.]

I will answer any questions you have, preferably in written form. But don't submit them to the Warden office. I'm...not working there anymore, for obvious reasons.

[Not that he has actually said anything to her, or to anyone formerly under his command, about being the one from whom the taint was cleansed. He's still adjusting himself, and didn't want to explain the minutiae of how it happened until he came to terms with it.]

[circleprodigy]

Right, of course.

[A little awkwardly, how does one deal with a senior Warden who isn't a Warden any longer? It's an area never explored before now.]

I'll send a draft as soon as I have a spare moment to write them. Whatever you can share will be very helpful, I'm certain.

[In person]

[justice_is_blond]

[He takes a breath once the message is done, looking between the two of them before focusing on Merrill.]

Have you figured out how much you're fine with people knowing? I can cover saying it was darkspawn things from Avernus' notes for a while, since it was in part, and I don't think we're going to have another chance at a great dragon soon here, but sooner or later they may realize there's another component beyond that and the things.

[chainlightning]

I hadn't really thought about it, honestly. [ There hadn't been time, when it was happening, and despite having offered to save someone with blood magic before... she still hadn't thought on it. ]

It's... as easy as it would be to not divulge all of it, the three of us can't be the only people who know how to do this. That isn't fair to the rest of Thedas. [ She twists her fingers together a little faster. ] But I'd also really prefer to not be killed.

[justice_is_blond]

[He nods.]

The cure needs to be out there, but there's that.

[Anders can stall. He will, to give her some time, but it's coming.]

We also don't yet know if the amulet was important to the cure or not. So that will be another restriction on testing, because I've no idea how one enchants something to worsen the Taint. We're not in a rush to reveal the... other magic. But it may be a matter of time before it comes out when there's been time to review the notes I've made, and any you've made.

[chainlightning]

Oh- I haven't kept any notes that detail... what I do.

[ Notes seemed like exactly the sort of thing that would get her killed, and it's been years since she first started this line of research. ]

But... I don't want to lie about it, not about this. I won't. So. I suppose it will just... depend on the questions that start coming up.

[justice_is_blond]

I didn't make notes on... that portion either.

[Just about the last thing he needs are pages written in his hand about blood magic being applied to something, but this isn't about risk to him. Anders is quiet for several moments.]

I don't... There isn't much protection I can offer. And my vouching for you might do the opposite of good, but I'll support you in whatever ways I can.

[She saved his husband's life. She'd helped rescue him. And through it all, she's been a better friend to him than he's ever been to her.]

[pinprick]

If this helps in the war effort, [Nathaniel says quietly,] I have a feeling people will look the other way. I cannot speak for the Wardens any longer, but I am certain they would protect you, Merrill.

[chainlightning]

Maybe, [ Merrill murmurs, rubbing her hands together in full now, like she's trying to get warm. She can't help but be skeptical. Maybe they would look the other way if she were a human, Andrastian mage... but she isn't.

At least she's only ever used her blood. ]

Whatever happens- I don't regret it. I'd do it again. So don't feel guilty on my account, okay?

[justice_is_blond]

You know me. I never feel any guilt.

[He gives her a smile as he says it. Her saying not to feel guilty if matters go poorly over this isn't going to stop him. He's good at feeling guilty for things.]

But I'd do it again too. Even though I lost three.

[chainlightning]

[ Oh, she's aware, Anders. There's a little snort and everything. ]

We'll get it all sorted out. Somehow or another.

[doneisdone]

....huh.

[chainlightning]

Hello, Teren! What do you think?

[doneisdone]

Seems....

risky.

[pinprick]

Don't worry. If you do manage to survive it, you'll be very ill and uncomfortable.

[doneisdone]

Well that's reassuring.

[justice_is_blond]

So is drawing breath anymore, really.

[doneisdone]

A fair point.

[chainlightning]

Well, you're definitely not wrong.

[doneisdone]

I rarely am.

[chainlightning]

Do you think the risk would be worth it, for those with no other choice? Civilians?

[doneisdone]

I... suppose. It's likely.

[chainlightning]

I feel like there's a "but".

[doneisdone]

I don't know. Not for me to say.

[in_death_sacrifice]

It sounds as if we shouldn't start celebrating just yet. Even so... this is more progress than we've ever had on the matter. I'm glad to hear it.

[Especially when it comes to the lyrium. The Blight, he's used to, he's resigned himself to what Wardens must face. But red lyrium has been this unconquerable thing hovering in his nightmares, so it's a relief to have a way to deal with that. Or the start, at least.]

[justice_is_blond]

That's, yes. It's not a full victory. The point is that it's a small partial one, however, and that's good news. It's progress where it hadn't been expected.

[in_death_sacrifice]

It's very unexpected. If someone had told me such a thing would be possible back when I joined... I wouldn't have believed it. I'm curious to see how this will function as a weapon against Corypheus, too.

[justice_is_blond]

I suppose the fatality rate doesn't exactly matter if we're trying to use it as a weapon, but figuring out how to use it like that will be... complicated. In matters of quantity, as well as delivery.

[in_death_sacrifice]

I'm sure it will be complicated... and I guess we need to work on one thing at a time. It's enough to know we're on the right path toward something we can use at all, at the moment.

[justice_is_blond]

It is. We've taken the first step down a path that's eluded us for Ages.

[in_death_sacrifice]

The return of the griffons, steps toward a Blight cure... we truly are living in remarkable times. I don't think there's ever been an era with so many powerful developments at once.

[chainlightning]

What about a very, very small celebration? A little toast - "to steps forward"?

[in_death_sacrifice]

Of course, and I don't want to downplay the hard work that's surely gone into getting this far. It's a victory that's well-deserved. So... to steps forward.