the last temptation is the greatest treason

[faithlikeaseed]

FORM: crystal meth
SENDER: Myrobalan Shivana
RECIPIENT: Team Tranquil/anyone helping out with curing Casimir
WHAT: Ethicsfest 9:44 kicks off with a doozy
WHEN: Post-Ghislain, waves hands
WHERE: right here, right now
NOTES: to be added as needed

Hello to all of you who’ve been helping restore Casimir. We’re very near the end of this; all that remains is the final ritual, and thank you--beforehand--to those who will assist with that.

Enchanter Averesch has advised, and I agree, that Casimir be kept under observation until we’re sure [or near enough] he’s stable--and that we not publish the cure before then.

But there will be no hiding what we’ve done in the end. Word will get back to the Chantry. My question to all of you is how it will get to them, and how far and fast we spread knowledge of the technique before it does.

[He doesn’t need to say: This was knowledge worth going to war over because why else did they conduct this research in absolute secrecy. But it’s there.

More ruefully,] We also ought to prepare an explanation to the rest of the Gallows, speaking of not hiding what we've done.

Comments

[elegiaque]

I have to think it should be public enough that quietly having him smothered by someone won't be enough to quash it when they get wind.

[justice_is_blond]

I agree. I feel like we should give Casimir a couple of days to breathe, two or three, but then notify people of what has been done far and wide for his protection.

[elegiaque]

Exactly.

( not that she enjoys being on the same side as anders, particularly, but she's matter of fact: ) If it can be quashed, it will be. And there's one simple way of doing that. He's safest with witnesses. A lot of them.

[faithlikeaseed]

I'm of a similar mind--but we need to be mindful this might not--hold. It might not be permanent.

Or he might be at higher risk for repossession. [There is a too-long pause because don't think about abominations. Don't think of Evrion in the mud.] It would go very badly if we announced a cure prematurely.

[elegiaque]

Announce that, then. Isn't it significant that we got even this far? That it can be done at all, that we can learn more?

[justice_is_blond]

Even if it does not hold, [and he works here to keep any emotion from his voice,] the news will give hope to those who have lost people to Tranquility. And the longer it's kept quiet the more people will read into the silence when the news comes out.

[exequy]

Three is not enough.

[elegiaque]

So we need to buy some time.

[exequy]

While Coupe is absent we may get it at a discount.

[elegiaque]

( that's another worry, but not for this conversation so she smothers it— )

Yeah.

( an exhalation. )

What's the likelihood someone else in the Gallows takes it into their heads to do Andraste's work?

[justice_is_blond]

I was thinking a difference between publishing the cure itself and publishing the news of the cure.

[exequy]

Either way. He will likely need more than three days before we risk anyone being sent here to investigate. Someone will come, and they need to find a mage who gives them no cause for concern.

[justice_is_blond]

That's a fair point.

[He's quiet for several moments.]

How can we cover it up as much as possible to give him more time? I've no objection to using my position as Healer to claim he's ill and unable to work, if that will help.

somewhat later,

[faithlikeaseed]

It remains how we're going to break this to the rest of the Gallows--and Skyhold.

[Uncharacteristically, he doesn't volunteer himself for that right out of the gate, simply--leaves it hanging.]

[justice_is_blond]

When Kostos says Casimir is ready, I suggest we simply put up a notice on the board here, send one by raven to Skyhold, and then send more letters and notices in every direction, as far as we can spread it so no one can simply kill those involved and pretend it never happened.

[faithlikeaseed]

[He breathes out, slowly.] And what do we say in them, to avoid an immediate riot?

[justice_is_blond]

A rough idea would be something along the lines of "For many Ages, the specter of something worse than death has hovered over mages. Tranquility has been wielded like a whip, a threat, and has torn many from their loved ones. Now we have a cure. Those who choose Tranquility because they find comfort in it can still have it, but a measure of the fear many have lived with for so long has been defeated."

[He clears his throat.]

Obviously that's not... refined. But I think it important to state why the cure matters so much to us, and frame it as something to help rather than a measure of defiance.

overlooking canonically the Inquisitor can make folks Tranquil in DAI, w/e

[faithlikeaseed]

[Not refined, no.

He makes himself think about it that way.]

It may be better to focus on the current Tranquil themselves--no one's making Tranquil now, [hopefully,] and freedom from fear for the future implies...much.

[justice_is_blond]

I don't know that we can safely assume no one is making Tranquil now.

[His voice is grim.]

The other... It sounds like you're saying I'm being too optimistic. That may be the first time I've ever been told that.

[elegiaque]

If we're asking forgiveness instead of permission, someone should probably go to Skyhold and ask it. In a sort of a, argue the case for not actually needing any way.

[faithlikeaseed]

Good thought. I-- [The words stick in his throat and he makes a noise of quiet frustration.] Who d'we have who'd be suited to that?

[elegiaque]

Averesch, Anders and I are right out.

[faithlikeaseed]

'Fuck you, we've already done it,' might be just the argument we need.

[No, it's not, but,]

The Provost's not an option.

[elegiaque]

( 'i've already told him he's not allowed', no— )

No, he's very shocked at all these goings on he had no idea about.

[exequy]

[ Like, true, but shut up? ]