CRYSTAL.

[dirth]

FORM: Sending crystals
SENDER: Solas
RECIPIENT: Everyone!
NOTES: N/A

Greetings, Riftwatch. I have a request.

What is your favourite story? Real of fiction, I do not mind. I am simply curious.

Comments

[cozen]

My favorites are tales of the Black Fox—they are a bit real, a bit fiction.

[dirth]

Those are often the best kind. [ Unless you're an elf, in which case? You suck. ] Which is your personal favourite?

[cozen]

I like the story of how he befriended the bounty hunter sent to kill him—have you heard it?

[dirth]

I may have, but I am certain there are different styles and versions. Please, tell me yours.

[cozen]

As I have heard it, the Fox was in Lydes—have you been there?

[dirth]

Only in dreams, I think.

[cozen]

Good choice for a dream. It is beautiful there. And there is a tavern now, on the road where they say Lord Remi met Karolis as an enemy for the last time. They call it The Forged Friendship. It is ridiculous, I think, but the earnestness is a little charming.

—anyway. He had evaded Karolis many times before, always narrowly, sometimes so narrowly it appeared to be dumb luck. Karolis was beginning to think that perhaps the problem was that his schemes to catch him were too clever. Too many moving parts to just happen to go wrong. Clearly unnecessary for trapping a fool.

[dirth]

Charming indeed. [ And it sounds genuine. ] It is often the case that too many moving parts make for a more dangerous game.

[hemitheoi]

The 300 Qunari.

[dirth]

Ah, yes. What version have you heard?

[hemitheoi]

The Qunari one, obviously. Why would bother learning the version where Vints pretend we didn't show them up with nothing but sheer will over their untrustable magic?

[dirth]

Because I am certain Tevinter mages consider their version completely truthful, no matter what others might say.

[ Only a hint of bitterness here, promise. ]

[hemitheoi]

Of course they do. [He is in good company.] My favourite is when the Vints told the Sten that they would hide the sun with magic, and the Arishok told him they would be glad to fight in the shade.

[dirth]

[ Which does, genuinely, make Solas laugh. ]

Truly courageous, I see.

[hemitheoi]

They are what it means to be Qunari. To stand and fight no matter your death, even when outnumbered, to live with purpose truly. We honour their Spears still.

[dirth]

I see. [ It's very difficult to hold back his biting comment, but somehow he musters it. Thranduil must be having an undue influence. ] A lesson for them to learn the hard way, I imagine.

[hemitheoi]

For those that fear death.

[dirth]

And what of those that don't?

[hemitheoi]

Then they don't become Sten, obviously.

[dirth]

Obviously. That was my mistake.

[hemitheoi]

It was. A sten's job is killing. To know death, a thing inherent to all living beings. Perhaps all my brothers do not remember it. But why quibble when it's returned? Best to die a good death, a beautiful death. Only Bas obsess over living forever, them and their obsession about Gods.

This is why Corypheus is a fool. Death is a result of life, one more role that must be taken.

[dirth]

Yes, I had quite forgotten all the fascinating aspects of the Qun. [ Said with a healthy dose of sarcasm, of course. ] There are many reasons Corypheus is foolish and that is not the top of the list.

[hemitheoi]

As if you ever bothered to study it. [ And he isn't at all assumptive, even a little, truly humble and not a total prick about it, is Deimos. ]

Isn't it? It is arrogance made to make you all suffer due to his unwillingness to just die.

[dirth]

I can assure you that I have studied the Qun quite extensively. [ He even speaks it, thank you. ]

[hemitheoi]

[ This now in Qunlat just to be a dick. ] Oh, did you?

[dirth]

[ And, in almost perfect Qunlat: ] Yes. I intend no falsehoods on that front.

[hemitheoi]

[ He snorts, colour him actually surprised. ] Your accent needs work, but you're doing better than most.

[ It probably doesn't, all things told, he's just an asshole. ]