WELCOME TO THE INQUISTION : No Light In the Distance

[mostlyvoid]

FORM: Sending Crystal
SENDER: Cecil and Kevin
RECIPIENT: Everyone in the Inquisition
WHAT: Cecil's second Welcome to the Inquisition broadcast
WHEN: 14th of Guardian
WHERE: Who knows where he's broadcasting from
NOTES: No real content warnings save that Cecil is very weird and very biased about some things, feel free to yell at him. If you want to see the first broadcast, it is

[Hello everyone, it’s that time again. A deep, calming, smooth baritone voice starts to talk to all of you right out of your sending crystals. His voice is deep, and as he begins, sends an eerie chill through all who hear him. As it continues, though, that strange deep voice is actually rather… soothing.]

The night is dark, and full of terrors. Sleep, and fight off the night. Unless, of course, the worst terrors are the ones that come to you in your dreams.

Then even in sleep, you’ll never escape.

Welcome, to the Inquisition.

[He pauses, to hum an intro theme, tapping along to the beat with his foot. After he is finished, he continues:]

Listeners, as many of you are very aware, there has been a lot of excitement happening in Skyhold, and outside of it. Thanks to the brave and intrepid words of more than a few Inquisition Agents - [himself included, of course] - the Inquisition presence in Emprise du Lion has been greatly increased, and efforts to curb the red lyrium mining facilities of the Red Templars, as well as save the people’s enslaved there, are underway!

Felix Alexius, the hero who betrayed his father for the greater good, and helped us crush the Venatori’s - (Ugh, Tevinter)- plots in Redcliffe, has officially joined the Wardens. Well done, Felix! We look forward to your brave and courageous deeds and remember not to get mud on everything.

Also - we have word that Zevran Arainai and his rescues are finally on their way back to skyhold. Phew! Well that is a relief. I don’t know about you, but I was certainly worried about our resident assassin slash beautiful hair model! I hope they killed his kidnappers dead for daring to touch a single hair on his head!

However, listeners, not all news is good. Demons and Rifts have been spotted throughout Thedas, and the shards of the Herald’s mark are proving more dangerous that we originally thought. A rift was opened within skyhold itself, and reports have stated that the rift was caused by the power of one of the shards, embedded in the hand of a Dalish Elf. Listeners - I am incredibly worried, about this. Are not these shards meant to help us close the rifts?

If they can be used to open them, are any of us safe?

Luckily - I’m not the only ones who are worried. The mage council - who, though I have said before I am not entirely sure can be trusted, do make delicious cookies and seem to be on the whole fairly nice - had an emergency meeting in the wake of the event to discuss how to handle these issues. New training regulations and supervision for mages with shards have been discussed, but Listeners - is it enough? Shouldn’t everyone with a shard be under some sort of supervision?

Shouldn’t we all be under some sort of supervision?

An unsigned poster that I found in the lavatory on the third floor has said that there may be someone who can help us. An elf named Solas, who originally brought the Inquisition here, to Skyhold. Has anyone seen him? Does anyone know where he could be? If you have any information, please feel free to contact us via sending crystal, raven, writing out messages in the snow, or sobbing uncontrollably in a lonely hallway on the other side of the castle.

Listeners - as you well know, I cannot possibly tell you everything that is about to happen. Releasing specific information too early, even just to members of the Inquisition, could get word to our enemies before we even arrive! After all - who knows how many of your friends are spies?

How do you know that you are not a spy?

So it is with complete and utter vague words that I wish all the soldiers that are gearing up for a very important march to a very important fortress good luck with their endeavour. Do us proud, and come home safe.

For you,

The Weather. After the music plays, Cecil continues.]

A final piece of news, this time to do with my own little show! After my last broadcast, I’ve been working hard to be able to bring the news to you in a more effective, transparent manner - and to help out, I have a new apprentice! [He sounds very very excited about this.]

Everyone - is Kevin! Kevin, say hello to our listeners!

Hello, all you wonderful listeners. But, Cecil, let’s not focus on what’s old or new. It makes us think too much of a past. A past we can do nothing- absolutely nothing- for now. We are the present, Cecil. Even better, that means we are the future. A united. Future.

Yes - that’s very true, Kevin, but we must always remember Tradition! Tradition is important, tradition binds us together just as much as the future does! And that brings me to my main point, today.

Listeners - there has been a lot of talk throughout the Inquisition of late, about the place of Andraste and the Chantry in the Inquisition, and I feel like I need to remind you exactly why were are here and who we are here for! This entire endeavour was started by the highly esteemed and tragically late Divine Justinia, and it is through her wisdom and sacrifice that the Inquisition even exists!

We are here to fight a great evil, that threatens our very lives and ways of life - let us not lose those ways, just because of that threat! Keep your traditions! Keep your beliefs! They are safe, and sacred, and will guide you through the coming war! It doesn’t matter what you believe in. Unless it is the Black Divine, or the Qun, in which case, I urge you to turn yourself in to the nearest superior officer.

Oh, Cecil. You charming little joker. You. One of our dearly lost Herald’s most inner circle, the dashing Iron Bull himself, stands as a pillar of this Inquisition. Thanks to the strength, the inner peace, and certainty, he draws from the Qun. We must be careful not to let silly old prejudice from the past sneak in to darken our bright and glorious future. We really, really. Must.

[Cecil makes an awkward sound as if he’s very sure that he would quite like to keep his prejudice, thank you, but eventually says:] Yes. Of course, that’s true. The Iron Bull has been a great asset, from the beginning.

Still. You might want to let someone know.

The important thing, Listeners, is that we believe in the Inquisition. We believe in the Right and the Left hand of the divine, we believe in the need to do what is right, when no one else will.

We all have so much to lose. We all have so much at stake. But Kevin is right - we all have a great future, ahead, too. If we are brave enough to reach out, and secure it.

Be brave, Listeners. Be brave, and keep fighting back the night.

Goodnight, Inquisition.
Goodnight.

Comments

voice

[equanimiti]

Hear, hear.

[ He hadn't intended on commenting at first since he's been avoiding the sending crystals for obvious reasons. However, he feels compelled to do so after that shameful tirade. ]

As long as we do what's fundamentally right, our differences in faith means nothing. We strive to make this bleak world a better place for all people. That much I'm certain.

Re: voice

[mostlyvoid]

Ah, Templar Alayre! It's wonderful to hear your voice again - you certainly sound much better.

[justdesert]

I couldn't agree more. An open mind is the very first step towards inner peace.

[serannas]

[ This man is... strange to say the least. And did he have to say that about the mage council? Sure, others must be thinking it too, but when they say it out loud, that could lead to problems. They've been working so hard lately! She would hate for more pressure to come down upon them now. Despite all that, what she latches onto is one of the first things he said. ]

You shouldn't say that about Felix. You don't know what his relationship with his father is like. That's between the two of them.

[ That's her sweet babboo, yo. ]

reaction;

[blightedson]

[He's not replying publicly because he doesn't want to draw even more attention to his father, but the fact that she stood up for him makes him grin like an idiot for at least an hour.]

[mostlyvoid]

What did I say about Felix? [He honestly doesn't really remember. That was a whole five minutes ago, Ellana, what do you expect from him.]

He did well! He helped defeat an evil man! Just because that evil man was his father isn't important. I was praising the Warden.

Voice

[the_effect_she_has]

[See an opportunity, grab an opportunity.]

What the Inquisition really needs right now, is something to draw us all together. A common cause. I saw mages and templars fighting together, side by side, on the hills of Suledin Keep. I saw people of all faiths, covering one another's backs while we were being attacked by all manner of creatures. I think it is important to remember that despite our differences, we have one enemy. Corypheus.

[A pause, a deep breath.] Perhaps we need more unifying long term goals. Right now, refugees from all over Thedas who have come to us for protection are living in what can rightly be called a tent city. This doesn't just include humans - it includes elves, dwarves, Valshoth and Tal Valshoth. Not only that -- our own soldiers, my fellow scouts, are living in tents. The healers themselves are working out of tents. This is not right. We should be building permanent shelters.

We should be coming together, to raise the funds, to find the materials, to shelter one and all who come to our gates.

Re: Voice

[equanimiti]

[ Hesitant to speak upon this matter at first, Alayre finds the will to speak when he hears that bit about fundraising for the refugees. That's probably the best idea he's heard yet. ]

This is an endeavor the Order would gladly support. Skyhold still has holes and patches everywhere and we have far too many tents around. The living conditions are quite poor and winter is still among us.

Re: Voice

[justdesert]

Delightful! Your name, young...miss? It's always so exciting to hear from those that appreciate the value of working hard. Unifying towards productive goals instead of wasting all this glorious energy on silly disputes of the past.

[mostlyvoid]

But we have a common cause! And we must remember that above all, we're an army. We can't possibly hope to shelter every refugee in Thedas. Surely Corypheus comes before everything else?

[foxsays]

Some of us have those shards, and the Dalish mage is a friend of some of us too. Maybe be a bit more sensitive before you open your mouth.

[Punching a sending crystal will do absolutely nothing but it's honestly tempting.]

Putting people under supervision is unnecessary if you base it on what might happen - you might choke on your dinner tonight, that doesn't mean you should never eat again.

[justdesert]

But if the food makes you sick, surely you'll think twice before taking a bite again.

We are simply looking at the facts, my lady. Sadly, we cannot control what they are.

[mostlyvoid]

Well, of course, but that's why we eat together! So that if anyone chokes, we can attempt to save them from a grisley, blue-faced death.

The shards are - unfortunately - something we know little to nothing about, and have proven to be dangerous to the bearer, as well as to everyone else. I understand that it is a difficult truth to come to terms with, but it is the truth.

[gatheringstorm]

Do we seriously need even more shit-stirring over the sending crystals than there's already been lately? You can't say you believe in the Inquisition, then turn around and slander mages and rifters alike as though we're not part of it. There's been more than enough strain without adding to the paranoia.

And lastly, fuck the Qun.

[justdesert]

Korrin! What a delight to hear your voice. How were the spirit gatherings?

[mostlyvoid]

[Cecil sounds a little sad when he replies:]

Korrin, I assure you I meant no slander, in any regard. Either to the mages, or to the rifters. The rifters themselves are, I am sure, upright citizens and non-citizens - but the shards themselves obviously aren't entirely in their control.

[And then, in a quieter voice, as if he's trying to speak without Kevin hearing despite the fact that a) he is in the same room and b) he would be able to hear this over the crystals anyway:]

And I'm sorry for my apprentice's... interruption. I will speak with him.

Cecil Action

[justdesert]

Oh, that was fun!

Re: Cecil Action

[mostlyvoid]

[Cecil gives him a broad smile.]

Yes, that went rather well. [But then the smile fades.] Though - You really should be careful, Kevin. Someone might think that you're a Qun sympathiser, the way you spoke today.

voice | so much anger all the time, i am so sorry

[fightingale]

( The disdain in her voice is sharp, a ready blade in a ready hand, but it is outmatched by the incredulity that breaks over her words. )

The shardbearers, whether they are native to our lands or have joined us through a rift, carry a burden that could threaten their very lives. They have worked with us, the vast majority of them engaging in a battle that they need not have committed themselves to. They have saved lives, including your own, simply by joining with us, and you would see them— what? Bound? Limited? When you speak of supervision, it smacks of restriction and of limitation. You would speak of imposing the same unfairness against them that history has seen imposed against the Dalish and the mages?

You speak of a united future, and you speak of tradition, as if tradition has not caused pain and suffering across generations. As if history does not have ingrained injustices that must be stopped. Do not be so callous.

You lip service compliments to Most Holy and to the solidarity of the Inquisition do you no credit, when prefaced by such foolish arrogance.

Re: voice | so much anger all the time, i am so sorry

[mostlyvoid]

[He really did step in it, but his voice is still cheerful when he replies. He just basically completely ignores 90% of what she said and answers to the parts that he wants to, in true Cecil fashion.]

Oh - no, no! After all, as much as I wish the circles would return to their former state, I don't think that kind of a system would work for them, anyway. And there isn't really anything that's been done to the Dalish, in terms of regulation, so I don't think there's a good point there...

No, not at all. All I mean is this: the shards are dangerous, to the bearers as much as to the rest of us! Shouldn't they all have friends with them, to make sure that if something happens, they can be saved before the worst comes to pass? As I've said to others, I am sure every one of them are moral, up-right people!

But really, we all should be supervised, to an extent. How else do we know that we're all on the side, if we're not all watching each other's every move?

Voice

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Doesn't this mean we have to be brave enough to forgive people for accidents? Because I can assure you, what happened with the shard was in fact an accident. I was there, and I saw the whole thing.

[Her voice was quiet, calm, and with a hint of a smile.]

But I like the thought of everyone coming together, no matter where they come from, whatever world, whatever organization. We are stronger together, because we recognize that we are all ... just people. We make mistakes, but we get back up again.

You boys have a definite voice here. You want to do the right thing, I can see that. The truth is important -- but so is hope. Perhaps ... we can spread both?

Re: Voice

[mostlyvoid]

It may have been an accident, but it was an accident that threatened the lives of everyone in Skyhold. It isn't the same as simply falling down the stairs.

And I'm always hopeful!

[fleurdesel]

Cecil.

[ Exasperated instructor sigh #3, more exasperated and tired than fond. ]

Do you require an official statement from those of us with actual experience with these incidents?

[mostlyvoid]

Councillor Adelaide!

An official statement would be wonderful, and I would be sure to update the public with it as soon as possible.

[eolasemah]

[Although Sina missed the broadcast itself, on account of Nari moving the crystal out of the tent (thanks Alayre), word does get back to her. Whenever she's conscious, she is markedly more anxious and morose, and easily lost in frowning thought.]

[aggregiopavali]

Must we go through this every time you have a thought?

[mostlyvoid]

Why hello again, friend! You still have a lovely voice. And of course not, I've had many more thoughts between broadcasts, but rest assured, I'll be doing my best to increase the regularity of my reports!