DO IT FOR THE DIVINE | crystal ota

[wythersake]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Isaac, Thranduil, Ilias
RECIPIENT: Y'all
NOTES: Backdated before elf stuff.

• Log
• OOC Info
• IC report tba, will have the info linked above

[ thranduil: ]

We have returned from our discussion with Divine Beatrix’s Right Hand, Sister Esmeral, and while the full summary of our meeting can be read in the report, there were several important points that ought to be brought to the notice of the whole of Riftwatch.

Firstly is the appointment of Brother Armin, who is our new liaison with the Chantry. He will be stationed in Val Royeaux. The agreement made regarding mages and Rifters — one year previous, nearly to the day, how serendipitous — remains mostly the same.

[ he pauses. he will wait as long as he needs for someone else to take over. ]


[ isaac: ]

No decision on Circles.

[ from the chantry, or from riftwatch. hm. ]

For those just catching up: Last year there was a great fuss about phylacteries — vials of blood, very particular, there’s a library if you’re confused —

The Chantry will honour that bargain. To a point. No one’s making phylacteries for our allies right now, so don’t defect, and you don’t need to trouble yourself. Other bits are under dispute: Divine Beatrix won’t support marriage or inheritance. It’s her further opinion that the collective property of the Circles remains the collective property of the Chantry.

I believe I need to return a pillowcase,


[ ilias: ]

— To the Project Haven office, if you please. [ ahem. ] Some of the concessions we made previously have been softened in turn. Riftwatch members will no longer be required to carry magebane or involve a Templar or Loyalist in mage-related disputes.

[ ... and that's it, that's all the good news on the mage front. ]

The Templar Order is furthermore undergoing a reorganization. We have been told there will be no changes to the previously agreed freedom to obtain lyrium, and former Templars will not be ordered to the Divine's side. However, Her Holiness asks that any who do not wish to return cease to use the Templar name and insignia.


[ thranduil: ]

And the Most Holy will have it written into Chantry Law that Rifters are not demons, and legally equal to mages, provided we continue our cooperative agreement regarding information on our particular talents and how they might aid in the war effort.


[ isaac: ]

Let's all begin shouting at once.

Comments

[exequy]

[ This doesn’t exactly count as restraint, considering he’s refraining from getting angry mostly out of spite for other people. ]

They should carry magebane regardless.

[libratus]

I don't disagree, but--

[ But.

That's it, actually. Someone mark that in the annals of Riftwatch history. (Or: help him.) ]

[exequy]

[ Kostos isn’t going to help him. ]

But?

[cozen]

If they begin asking for rent—

[ The only part of this that is even a little bit his business. ]

—be sure to insist on deducting the costs of maintenance.

[wythersake]

How much does a printer's labour go for?

[ there's other stuff to say: that the inquisition did the majority of repairs, that it doesn't make sense to kick over this free watchtower early unless they're given cause, that someone should ask the viscount's opinion, that the collective property of the circles generally includes their work —

someone else can say all that. it's boring. ]

Or a — Maker, what else do we have about here? Blacksmiths? Thieves?

[cozen]

Thieving blacksmiths, I’m sure.

[sarcophage]

[Collective property of my arse: what he feels but doesn't say.]

And here we go.

[libratus]

It might've been worse.

[sarcophage]

It can always be worse.

The templar news seems odd, considering the impending March. You'd think she would want every available body, especially since the Order's already been fractured into blue and red.

[inkindled]

Congratulations to the Rifters. Now they're officially only third-rate citizens of Thedas who can't officially get married. Instead of fourth-rate.

[Like wow.]

I wasn't carrying any old magebane anyways, so. [So: eat it! Chantry!] S'ppose the Circle property thing is meant to be a big 'fuck you', but if they really want to keep a load of dust and molding bricks and things for themselves, happy Satinalia to them. Didn't everyone get what they wanted out of the Circle before they fucked off?

[justice_is_blond]

There have been a team or two who have retrieved items that should by all rights belong to the mages and not the Chantry. If Beatrix has a problem with this, she can come deal with it personally.

[No title for her, tyvm.]

[inkindled]

[He snorts.]

Oh, yeah, like she or anyone else really with her'd stir their arses off their chairs to deal with it personally. Send some goons and call it done.

snooping

[unshut]

[Is that so? How fascinating.]

private to anders;

[wythersake]

Who, precisely, do you imagine is listening to this discussion?

[justice_is_blond]

I deeply hope no one is surprised that they're looking to walk back what little was supposedly gained already. I also deeply hope no Rifter thinks being the legal equal of a mage is progress when the Divine is already trying to take things away.

[libratus]

I would suspect any surprise is more in the opposite direction.

[ Hypothetically speaking. ]

[elegiaque]

Here comes the new boss, same as the old boss.

[rathercommon]

Is the old boss Justinia, in this case?

[wythersake]

[ what do you get demoted to from wife ]

[rathercommon]

Why is marriage such an issue, anyway? And inheritance? I don't understand how that actually limits mages' power.

[justice_is_blond]

They don't want us having strong bonds or connections. Relationships within Circles were forbidden to the point that if a pairing was discovered, one of the pair was moved to a different Circle.

It's easier to beat someone down if they're alone and isolated.

[libratus]

Practically speaking, it restricts our access to wealth and property, and thereby limits our ability to bargain within polite society. The idea is, in part, to prevent dynasties.

[ Or cut off access to more immediate resources one might use to win a war. U kno, whatever. ]

private;

[limier]

The matter is not strictly political.

[hornswoggle]

Provided we continue cooperating.

[ hm. ]

Well, I can't say it isn't all expected. But what happens should Riftwatch's collective take action that isn't so agreeable to the Most Holy?

[wythersake]

[ haha what a funny hypothetical ]

The agreement regarding Rifters is the only one to affect us uniquely. There remain a number of mages engaged in the March and Inquisition; they will continue to exert influence.

[ the collective fate of the circles doesn't begin or end with riftwatch — but riftwatch is an awfully convenient reason to crack down. a unique agreement is also a unique liability. ]